The decision to homeschool one’s children is a major undertaking, requiring dedication and commitment from both the parent and the child. Though traditional schooling is still king, there are a number of reasons why homeschool is becoming increasingly popular among parents. Among its advantages, homeschooling establishes a more personal relationship between parent and child, allows more control over educational choices and goals, and gives parents higher-than-average levels of control over their child’s learning environment.
Reasons Number 1-3: Personal Relationship & Quality Time
A major advantage of homeschooling is that the parent-teacher relationship creates a deeper connection between parents and their children. Unlike traditional schools where a parent may have very limited time to talk with a teacher about their child, parents who homeschool have the advantage of spending more quality time with their children and developing a bond that transcends the educational process. Since parents have more direct support for their children, it can help build a much closer relationship that can benefit the entire family.
Furthermore, this also helps establish strong communication channels between the student and the parent, creating an easier environment for when issues arise. Time is another advantage of homeschooling.
With more freedom, parents can ultimately determine the best schedule for their children. This can be beneficial when parents want their children to focus on certain subjects more, or allowing their children to explore different facets of their personal hobbies and interests.
Additionally, parents can also tailor an academic experience that works best for their child’s natural learning style. With the traditional academic setting, children are often taught at an average pace, leaving many children behind or unable to keep up. The more personal learning environment that homeschooling provides also allows children to develop their own sense of independence.
Without the external peer pressure and judgement from their peers, children are free to explore their individual interests and learning styles in a more calming environment – making it easier for their parents to be more involved and supportive.
Reasons Number 4-6: Control Over Educational Goals
Another great advantage of homeschooling is that parents have more control over their children’s educational goals and objectives. Parents no longer have to worry about curriculum and teaching methods that are designed for a mass audience.
Instead, they can tailor the curriculum to fit their own children’s specific needs and interests. This also allows parents to focus their children’s learning on areas where they are happy and successful, while also allowing them to spend more time exploring other topics they may not have been able to experience in the traditional academic setting. Since homeschooling programs are more flexible when it comes to teaching times and subject mastery, it allows parents to tackle topics at their child’s own pace.
This is especially beneficial for children with learning differences, as it gives them the opportunity to explore material at their own speed without feeling like they are lagging behind. Furthermore, it allows parents to adjust the curriculum if their children are struggling or have an easier time with certain concepts.
In addition to this, homeschooling also allows for a greater degree of experimentation and exploration, both in terms of educational material and in terms of the educational process. This freedom from the rigidity of traditional schooling can make exploring different subjects and learning experiences more exciting, while still allowing parents to maintain ultimate control over what is taught and how.
Reasons Number 7-9: Control Over Learning Environment
Homeschooling also allows parents to have a higher degree of control over the learning environment for their children. Since children are learning in their homes or family-approved facilities, parents can ensure that their children are being educated and protected in a safe and healthy environment. Parents no longer have to worry about bullying, drugs and alcohol, or poor behavior from their peers, as these issues are generally not found in homeschool environments.
Another advantage to homeschooling is that it helps reduce the amount of educational discrimination that is often found in traditional classrooms. Children who have learning differences, who are gifted, or who have special needs are all free to learn at the pace that best suits their individual learning style.
Since homeschooling environments are more accepting and understanding of each child’s needs, students are more likely to feel comfortable and accepted. Since parents are more involved in their child’s education, they can also be sure that their child is receiving instruction in alignment with their family values, beliefs, and religious views. With traditional schooling, these topics may not be included or if they are, parents often have little say in what is included in the curriculum.
With homeschooling, parents are the ones making the decisions and can ensure that the material their child is receiving is in alignment with their values.
Reasons Number 10-13: Acceptance Into Higher Education
Despite the common belief that homeschooled students do not fare well in higher education or the job market, this is not the case. Research has actually shown that homeschooled children often outperform their peers in traditional school when it comes to standardized tests and college admissions.
Furthermore, many universities have begun to recognize the academic achievements of homeschooled students and have taken steps to ensure that these students are given the same opportunities as those from traditional schooling. Homeschooled students are also given more flexibility when it comes to their future pursuits. They can easily switch between different educational paths, with the support of their parents, and can more easily apply to different universities or take college courses at an earlier age.
Additionally, homeschooled students tend to display greater levels of maturity, allowing them to be more successful in higher education and the workplace. Finally, research has also found that homeschooled students are often more comfortable in social situations than their peers in traditional schooling.
With more opportunities to interact with adults in the homeschool setting, homeschooled students often show greater levels of confidence when engaging in social situations and are more prepared to handle the challenges of life.
Conclusion
Homeschooling can be an incredibly rewarding experience for the whole family, providing significant advantages to both parents and children. Parents gain more control over their child’s education and environment, while children are afforded more freedom and flexibility to explore advanced topics at their own pace. Additionally, homeschooled children often show greater levels of confidence and creativity, as well as better academic and social outcomes after leaving the homeschool environment.
With all of its advantages, it’s not surprising homeschooling is becoming an increasingly popular choice for parents everywhere.