Homeschooling is not just about education – it is a way of life for many families. It can be difficult to make the decision to keep a child out of the traditional school system in favor of teaching at home and in the community. Read on to learn more about the pros and cons of homeschooling.
Pros:
Learning At Their Pace
Not all children learn the same way. There are many approaches to learning, and often times this is not recognized or supported in schools. This is especially the case in public schools. When it comes to a homeschool routine, it is necessary to report that you have covered certain subjects for a specific number of hours each quarter or year. How you break this down to fit your family’s schedule and child’s unique needs and the pace is up to you and your child. Even within one family, it is possible to have some children sitting down for a few hours at a time and others who learn in shorter increments.
The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling
Spending More Quality Time with Family
When you teach your children at home, you get to spend time with them that you ordinarily would not. Children are in school and in transit for about 8 to 10 hours each weekday. Add in the parents’ schedules and it can be tough to have much time together. Children can each have individualized attention and education that is tailored to each of them.
Cons:
Socializing
This is number one of the reasons why many people refuse to homeschool. It is believed by the general public that homeschooled kids are not given a chance to play with and be around their peers. While parents do have to get creative and work harder to get children together, it is not necessarily a problem. They can meet people of all ages while out and about in the community. Such children are able to learn how to interact with people in the “real world”. There are even homeschool groups that are offered in most communities.
Difficult Subjects
If you happen to have a hard time understanding some subjects, you may feel as though you are not prepared to homeschool. People who have not been to college or graduated from high school may think that they are not capable of teaching anyone else. However, there are resources out there and you can trade teaching “services” with parents in your local network. The fact that you do not have a degree in education does not have to be a barrier.
