Is Homeschooling Right for You?

by: Helena Gray

Although my little girl is only a year old, I have thought about the ramifications of homeschooling for many years and have still not decided what I am going to do a few more years down the road when I finally have to make up my mind.  In the meantime, I thought I would share with you some of the considerations that I am reflecting on and maybe they can help you with your decision.

Homeschooling Advantages:

• You get to monitor exactly what your child learns on a day-to-day basis.  They will not be taught in any method or subject that you do not approve of.
• Homeschooled children have the opportunity for much more one-on-one time with their “teacher” than the average child and therefore can learn some things much more quickly.
• You do not have to wait for a school break to take a vacation, so you can get better rates on flights and hotels and travel when you want to.
• If you move frequently, you do not have to worry about your child enduring the trauma of entering a new school mid-year.
• Although a scheduled learning time is best, a homeschooler’s day can be flexible if need be.
• There are many, many homeschooling support groups and materials available in almost every community.
• You always know what your child is learning about currently, and can therefore apply that knowledge in everyday activities.  For example, if your children are currently learning about monocots and dicots, you can supplement their learning by taking them out on a nature walk or to a botanical garden.

Homeschooling Limitations:

• Without daily peer interaction, children can lack the socialization that occurs naturally in school.
• Unless they are interacting with other homeschooled children, they might feel “left out of the loop” by their school-bound friends who have a different circle of friends and different interests.
• They may be teased by their peers.
• Some children don’t learn as well from their parents as they do from others or they don’t take their parents as seriously as they might another adult.
• You might not be as good a teacher as you thought you would be.
• The variety of teaching methods children are exposed to by having a variety of teachers increases their possibilities for learning.  I remember how difficult learning math from one teacher was and then thinking it was easy with a different teacher.
• Unless you actively seek out activities to join, your child may not have as many opportunities to display their talents to their peers as they otherwise would.  I remember loving that I was the best artist in almost all of my childhood classes.

Other Options:

It is not as black-and-white as it may seem.  There are some middle-of-the-road approaches that might work best for you.  Here are a few to consider.

Volunteering:  My mom really wanted to home school my brother, but he was already having a difficult time socializing with his peers and she felt that if she kept it home it would hold him back socially.  So instead, she volunteers in his classroom.  She likes to be able to keep in touch with what he is learning and he and his friends really enjoy having her come (he is only 10).  As a result, he gets better grades and more attention from his teachers.

Supplemental Learning:  If you decide to send your children to school, it is very important to continue to take an active role in their education by communicating with teachers and asking your children what they learned that day.  If they are struggling in an area, you can make a big difference by trying to teach them the material in a new way.  Perhaps every day after school you can have a set time to either review what they learned in school that day or introduce topics that you feel are important for their lives.

Supplemental Socializing:  Often, parents who homeschool their children have a plan that incorporates fun with neighborhood kids or peers.  As a homeschooling parent, you definitely have double duty.  Not only do you have to plan out each school day, but frequently you must plan out the methods and circumstances under which your children will play with other children their age.

Homeschool Associations:  You don’t have to do this alone! In many communities, homeschooling parents get together to swap ideas and let their kids interact together in structured and unstructured playtime.  These groups may also help get kids involved in organized sports, talent shows, plays, spelling bees, science/art fairs, writing competitions, music performance, and other extra-curricular activities.

College or Trade Schools:  It may be worth considering sending a self-motivated teenager to college or a trade school rather than high school.  Once considered very odd, this practice is becoming more and more common.  This option is not for everyone though, since college is so much less supervised than high school.  I went to college at age 16 instead of attending high school and ended up getting my degree sooner than most of my peers.  I have never found a lack of a high-school diploma (as opposed to a GED) to be a disadvantage.  My sister attended a nursing trade school during her final high-school years and also agrees that it was the best thing she ever did.

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