Homeschooling has become increasingly popular in recent years as more parents have questioned the traditional way of schooling and have found potential benefits in removing their children from mainstream schooling. Because of its status as a relatively new form of educating children, homeschooling does not come without its challenges. This article will explore the pros and cons of homeschooling and attempt to answer the question ‘is homeschooling easy?
’ by highlighting challenges and advantages of the educational choice.
What is Homeschooling?
Homeschooling is the practice of teaching one’s children at home or in a family-run school. It is usually done as an alternative to enrolled in a school and can involve either formal or informal education. homeschoolers, as they are known, often build their own curriculum, often with the help of curriculum companies and other vendors.
Homeschooling is largely state dependent and homeschooling laws vary from state to state.
What Are the Benefits of Homeschooling?
Homeschooling offers many potential benefits to both parents and children such as customised schedules, flexibility, being able to cater to the individual needs of each child, and the ability to put education into a family-oriented context. Homeschoolers may also benefit from increased parental guidance and higher levels of academic achievement due to the individualised approach of homeschooling.
Additionally, homeschoolers are able to take part in highly effective educational experiences such as virtual classrooms and interact with like-minded peers through online communities.
What Are the Challenges of Homeschooling?
Despite the advantages of homeschooling, there are also some challenges to consider when making the decision to homeschool. First and foremost is the time commitment; homeschoolers must think carefully about how much time they can unfortunately put into the responsibility of homeschooling. Similarly, the financial costs associated with homeschooling can also pose a challenge for potentially budget-conscious parents.
For example, some state educational laws may require an annual fee for homeschooling, and homeschoolers may have to pay for textbooks, supplies, and technology. Additionally, homeschoolers may need to hire tutors if gaps in their own knowledge cannot be filled by a parent or guardian.
Finally, the socialisation of homeschoolers is often a point of concern, and while homeschoolers are often able to join extracurricular activities such as book clubs, sports teams, and field trips, there may be specific measures to take to ensure that homeschoolers remain socially well-adjusted.
What Are the Best Practices of Homeschooling?
Considering the challenges posed by homeschooling, it is important to take a thoughtful approach when developing a homeschooling strategy. First and foremost, it is important to assess the individual needs of one’s children and create a plan that speaks to those needs. Homeschooling does not need to be tied to a traditional classroom but instead can be tailored to suit each child’s learning style.
Additionally, it is important to consider the activity-based opportunities available to homeschoolers; field trips, museum trips, and game nights are just some of the ways homeschoolers can supplement their education. It is also important to create certain boundaries for homeschooled children.
Having a routine with specific start and end times for the day’s activities goes a long way in ensuring that homeschoolers do not become overwhelmed by too much freedom. Finally, it is crucial to monitor the level of engagement and stress in children so that managing their education does not become a burden.
Are Homeschoolers Well-Adjusted?
Homeschoolers may face various challenges when it comes to adjusting to a new educational environment. Despite this, homeschooled children are no less likely to be successful in life than non-homeschoolers.
Multiple studies have shown this and have also indicated that homeschoolers tend to be more well-adjusted than their counterparts in public and private schools. One of the reasons for this positive adjustment is the close and dependable relationship between homeschoolers and their parents. Homeschoolers are often able to have more meaningful conversations with their parents, as parents have more time and attention to dedicate to their children.
Further, homeschoolers may be better equipped to handle life after school as they have already overcome the challenge of developing their own self-discipline, independence, and work ethic.
Financial Costs of Homeschooling
The financial costs of homeschooling are often of concern for potential homeschoolers, particularly if they are on a budget. The exact cost of homeschooling will depend on the individual needs of each student, but can range from books and supplies to hiring tutors. Parents will need to factor in the costs associated with curriculum, materials, and any extracurricular activities their children may want to take part in.
The price of resources may be increased when residing in a state that requires an annual fee for homeschooling. Additionally, if parents do choose to hire tutors to supplement their child’s education, they should also consider various other costs that may be incurred such as examination fees and travel.
Of course, many of these costs can be offset by indulging in activities such as online group classes and online communities.
Is Homeschooling Easy?
Homeschooling is not easy, and like all worthwhile endeavours, it does come with its difficulties. Parents must consider their own level of commitment and ability to provide form of education for their children.
Similarly, the financial costs of homeschooling and the potential unavailability of external resources must also be taken into account. At the same time, when done correctly, homeschooling offers potential advantages to both parents and children which may be well worth the effort invested. Homeschooling provides an environment with individualised learning, tailored to one’s own child’s needs, and the close and dependable relationship between parent and child is likely to benefit the child even after they have grown.
Conclusion
In conclusion, homeschooling is not an easy task but, when done correctly, it does offer both parents and children a wide range of potential benefits. Homeschooling offers a multitude of educational opportunities, the means to a culture-centric education, and potential for higher levels of academic and social success.
Despite this, it is important to be aware of the commitments and challenges that come with homeschooling, and balance them carefully with one’s own preferences and needs.