Homeschool ID Cards
ID Cards for Homeschools
Our homeschooling adventure begins next month. Our son is going to be at the PreK level and is very excited about all the pencils and other supplies that are appearing. We've already done a little bit of school, mainly lots of hands on things and a few worksheets, and he loves it. Seems since mommy is in school, he wants to be too. Plus, he seems much happier.
His older cousins have ID cards for their school. Our little boy loves them and keeps pestering me for one of his own. So I started wondering if I could get ID cards for our homeschool. I searched for some information and found where I could make them for free. We chose a name for our school, and my son is delighted at everyone having ID cards. We even had to make a special trip to the landlady to show her!
Do we need ID cards?
Do we really need ID cards? Does any homeschool? The answer is like a school name or motto: the choice is yours.
At the PreK level we probably don't need ID cards at all. But they are fun and our son is very happy. There is also a good chance that we can get discounts as a homeschool at various places such as Wal-Mart, Barnes & Noble, or Staples. It depends on the store and your location, but it never hurts to ask. Not to mention: anything that lets us take our son to the nature center or museum for a better price is worth having!
If you don't need these kinds of discounts or they aren't available in your area with just a card, you can still benefit from having an ID card. Some areas are enforcing a daytime curfew. If you have an older child who has gone for a walk or to the library, they could run into trouble with truancy officers. An ID card might be just the thing to keep your family from having problems. You can often add a phone number to the card, so if there are further questions the officers can simply call.
It never hurts to have an extra photo ID. The cards can be used as ID for students who are taking the SAT and can even be used when traveling. And of course, it can be just plain fun to have IDs.
How to Get ID Cards
So if you want ID cards for your homeschool, where do you find them?
There are many places that you can make an ID online and simply print it at home. In our case, I headed for the Homeschool Buyers Co-Op and made free IDs there. Then I printed and laminated them. There is also the option to buy them made of PVC plastic.
Other sites are available that will let you make free cards with various options or that will allow you to order plastic cards. A search will lead you to many different sources.
You may be concerned as to whether a card you make at home will be seen as legitimate. Most places that accept student IDs as well as most officials will see them as legitmate. Why? Because anyone can go online and order an ID.
If you become a member of a local homeschool co-op, HSLDA, or a group like Georgia Home Educators Association then you will have member cards from these official groups as well should you need to show them.
