Homeschooling Advantages

There are a multitude of homeschooling advantages for both children and parents, but parents must consider both the advantages and disadvantages before deciding whether or not to homeschool their child.

There are many homeschooling advantages for parents and children.

Homeschooling offers many benefits for children of all ages and ability levels. It also benefits parents by providing them with greater control over their child's education and provides more family time.

Customized Learning: Homeschooling enables parents to provide individualized instruction to their children, which is especially beneficial for gifted children or those with learning disabilities. Parents can also design lessons plans for high school students around career choices to better prepare them for college or the workplace. Homeschooling parents can incorporate hobbies and other interests into their child's lesson plan to increase interest in academics.

Less Environmental Distraction: Many children learn better at home than at school due to an increased ability to focus on schoolwork. A quiet house means fewer distractions during study time. Children with a pervasive developmental disorder or attention deficit disorder who experienced great difficulty concentrating and staying on task in a public school setting often excel when homeschooled.

Individualized Attention: Homeschooling allows more one-on-one time between the student and parent/teacher. This allows for improved communication, encourages a greater family bond, and relieves much of the pressure that public school places on children.

Less Exposure to Peer Pressure: Peer pressure and bullying are a major concern in the public school system. Homeschooled children are not exposed to these potential threats, and some homeschooling parents believe this creates happier, calmer, and more secure children. On the other hand, some worry that a lack of exposure to these threats does not prepare the child for similar encounters in the workplace later in life.

Control over Academics: Parents of homeschooled children have the ability to control what their child learns, how he learns, and when he learns. Parents can place emphasis on academics the child will need to know later, such as geography and finance, or parents can focus more on liberal arts or on a rounded academic curriculum. Christian homeschoolers can monitor certain science topics, such as evolution, to balance those with biblical beliefs. Many parents feel that having control over what their child learns and the ability to prevent clashes between academics and religious beliefs are two of the most important homeschooling advantages.

Children with special needs benefit from some homeschooling advantages more than other children do.

Physical Disabilities: Children with physical disabilities can receive the individualized attention needed to master their schoolwork in an environment that is convenient and adapted to their specific disability. Physically disabled homeschooled children need not feel isolated from their peers by attending special classes. Moreover, homeschooling is more flexible than public schools, allowing for physical therapy or other appointments without causing academic disruption.

Learning Disabilities: Learning disabled students have the option of working at their own pace when homeschooled, and they have access to one-on-one attention when needed. Parents can design the homeschool curriculum with their child's learning style and academic strengths and weaknesses in mind. One of those most obvious homeschooling advantages is that no child will fall behind in a homeschool environment, as there are few or no other students vying for the teacher’s attention.

Gifted Children: Gifted children excel in homeschool environments where they are encouraged to work at their own pace and follow extra-academic interests. Homeschooling allows parents to spend time nurturing the special skills or interests of their gifted child. Homeschooling also enables parents to notice when the curriculum is too easy for their gifted child or when the child is stressed by a curriculum that is too challenging.

The decision to homeschool a child is a significant one that can have a long-lasting effect on the entire family. Parents should speak with their children and carefully weigh both homeschooling advantages and disadvantages before starting a homeschool program.

Some disadvantages of homeschooling worth considering:

• Children who have been attending public school may miss friends and activities left behind once homeschooling begins. In some children, this can lead to depression and a lack of cooperation with homeschooling attempts.
• Homeschooling is expensive, and families on restrictive budgets may not be able to handle the added expense of costly homeschool textbooks and other materials.
• Homeschooling is time consuming for the teaching parent. Even though homeschooling days do not normally last as long as public school days, the homeschooling parent must continue to work even when daily instruction is over. A lot of planning and grading is required for structured homeschool programs.
• Homeschooling parents may tire of being at home all day, or may desire time away from their child. While public school allows parents these freedoms, homeschooling parents may not get much time alone.
• It can be difficult to find sufficient socialization opportunities for homeschooled children, especially for families who live in rural or isolated areas. While some school districts allow homeschooled children to participate in district sports programs, others do not. This may mean seeking alternatives in the community with substantial fees. For example, joining a community soccer league may cost a family as much as 600 dollars per year, per child.

While there are many homeschooling advantages for both children and parents, there are also a number of important disadvantages. Parents must consider the effect homeschooling will have on their personal lives and relationships as well as the effects it will have on the homeschooled child.

For many families faced with the decision of whether or not to homeschool, the homeschooling advantages outweigh the disadvantages. However, every child and every family is different. Talk it over with your spouse and children before finalizing your decision.

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