When a lot of people hear the word "homeschool," an image of a socially awkward student that wears out of style clothing tends to come to mind. I am sure that there are still parents who decide to homeschool their children and keep them inside of a social bubble, but this is a choice, not something that happens just because a family doesn't send their children to a regular school (public or private).
I was homeschooled K-12, and only once or twice did I ever imagine what it was like to go to a public school. My siblings and I played music, were involved in sports, went to camps, and had friends. However, it is an insane amount of work and pressure on the parents who decide to homeschool. There is always the question of what curriculum is best, setting schedules and boundaries, making sure they also get social interaction, and will have the right credits to get into a good college.
It takes research, trial and error, and a lot of patience, but sometimes, it is also what is best for you child, especially if they are struggling. Being able to learn at my own pace and create my own schedule helped to prepare me for university where my education was entirely on my shoulders whether I would succeed or not.
I am not a parent, I am just speaking from experience as a homeschooled kid. If you want more information on pros and cons of homeschooling from a Mom who has written about it, check out the article below!
Pros-
Much more flexibility during the day. The child doesn't have to sit in a desk for 7 hours. You can work at their pace. You can take vacations during the off season (We always went mid September or April)
If you want to teach them how to cook, or how to change a tire, you can totally integrate that into your curriculum.
Your child doesn't have to wait for the teacher to help 20 other students before they get help. 1-1 assistance can be a game changer for some struggling learners.
No state testing! (Except ACT/SAT if they go to college) The stress that young children go through multiple times a year can be detrimental to some, and is completely unnecessary. (See my previous blog on state testing)
Family time. I grew up actually enjoying spending time with my siblings. Yes we had other friends, but we were also each other's best friends.
Cons-
You've got to be committed. You've got to have the patience to teach your children what they need to be taught, every single day. There is no sending them away for 8 hours so that you get a break.
It costs money to buy the curriculums and work books, especially if different children need different curriculums. You might have to try a few before finding what is right for you.
You have to be more intentional about getting them into sports or music or whatever they are interested in because they won't automatically be getting that social interaction with peers like they would at a public school.
There are obviously many more pros and cons but these are the ones that I found were the most important.
At the end of the day, you have to do what is best for your child, and your family. Every family is different, and every child learns differently and at a different pace.
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