Starting a new journey like homeschooling can be terrifying
But there are so many benefits of homeschooling that cannot be ignored
I chose to homeschool my kids shortly after they were born
Which was a pretty scary decision
But I knew the benefits of homeschooling firsthand because I was homeschooled from 1st to 12th grade
There were so many things that I learned but was not normal for everyone my age to know.
I learned:
- How to learn using the resources available to me
- How to enjoy learning and
- Experienced many benefits of homeschooling while I was still in school.
Academic Freedom
The first thing that pops in my mind when I think of the benefits of homeschooling is the academic freedom
I was able to be involved in choosing what I learned about and how much I learned
My mom gave me the freedom to choose how much I got done, as long as I got done the minimum
And she encouraged my passions every chance she got
I did all of the state requirements:
- Math
- Science
- Writing
- History
- Social studies
- Etc.
But I also was able to start learning the things I needed for my career choice
At the time I wanted to be a wild animal trainer
So I was able to volunteer at a zoo and one of my courses was animal behavior
Sure I didn’t always like every subject, but I was given the freedom to choose more things that I liked than things that I didn’t
Create the Perfect Pace For Individual Children
Another one of the amazing benefits of homeschooling is that you can go at a pace that works well for your child
I was a fast learner and I like to get things done quickly
And that showed in my schooling because I was able to get all of my work done at my pace
Because I was able to move quickly, I was able to complete my work in a couple of hours a day and take Fridays off
And I typically finished the goals for the school year way before the normal summer break
Because I knew that I was able to complete my work at my speed, I was more encouraged to get it done so I can do other things
On the flip side, I would never be left behind because the case is based on what I needed
I was never very good at history, so we were able to put more emphasis on helping me with that without risking me getting left behind
Efficient Learning
Public school is based on one or two teachers with a 32 kids
There is no way to really be efficient with the time that they have which is why the school day last so long
When I was in high school, my school day usually last between two and three hours
Since homeschooling is tailored to the needs of your child, they learn what they need to learn more efficiently
It will still need to be daily accountability, and skipping school shouldn’t be a regular option…
But I know that I was more efficient when I knew is that the quicker I was able to get it done the quicker I can move on
Meaningful Learning
One of the number one complaints that I hear from both kids and adults is why do we learn what we did in school
One of the benefits of homeschooling that I have experienced is that most things that I learned I knew how to use it
I learned how to use math in order to cook or budget
I learned how to use historical events to find patterns and understand what is happening
I am able to read a clock or cursive writing when many people my age can’t
And I know why I should know how to do it
One of the benefits of homeschooling is that we are able to teach the skills that kids need to know using real-life examples new experiences
Kids wouldn’t wonder why they needed to know math if they’ve learned math and then learn how to do their taxes or how to budget at the grocery store
In addition, most styles of homeschool allow for you to base their learning on their passions
Would a child is passionate about something that they’re learning it is more meaningful for them
Take Breaks When Want or Need
Do you know how full zoos and theme parks are on holidays?
Super full and super busy!
One of the benefits a from school line is that we can take breaks when we wanted to
I remember my mom taking us to the zoo all the time and I
And we went when most kids were in school so it wasn’t
Which meant we get to do more while we were there!
Mental health and sick days are also a lot easier because you’re in charge
Since my mom made our minimum goal a little bit more than what we would need in order to finish the year on time
Taking a day off here and there was not a big deal
Being able to care for your child’s needs is one of the best benefits of homeschooling!
Base Learning on Passions
One of the styles of homeschool is called units studies
You can’t tell me this when everything that your child learns is based on a topic
The topics are completely up to you
Soes your child like dinosaurs?
Build all of their schooling around dinosaurs!
You can teach math using board games
There are unlimited ideas on how you can base their learning on their passions so that schooling is more enjoyable
And when kids enjoy learning there are more motivated to learn in general
Shorter School Days Required
As mentioned before, school days are not as long as a homeschooler
Instead of spending six or seven hours in school as a high schooler, and then coming home to 3 to 4 hours of homework…
I was able to get all of my schooling done between 2 and 3 hours usually with no homework
It’s me my mental health better because I didn’t struggle through every day knowing that it’s going to be exhausting just to repeat it tomorrow
You Can Add Life Skills
One of my favorite benefits of homeschooling is that you can add life skills to your curriculum
Make cooking one of the things that they learn
Or taxes!
We are better able to equip our kids for life because we are able to help them with everything they need in order to be successful adults
What About Social Skills???
Social skills there was one of the number one complaints that people have about homeschooling
How are kids going to be good with relationships and friendships if they are always home?
Simple answer
They’re not always home
I made friends through:
- Homeschool co-ops
- Dance class
- Volunteer work
- Church
- Homeschool programs at local schools
- And there are many more options
Just because the bulk of your work is at home doesn’t mean that you have to spend your entire life at home
It actually means the opposite
I got my first job out of high school because I had work experience in High school!
It is true that many homeschoolers don’t know all of the resources available to them to build social skills, but it doesn’t mean that they aren’t there
Find things in your local neighborhood but they can do
Talk to schools about getting them involved in sports
I was able to participate as a cheerleader at a baptist school
And I got an accredited degree from a local school that had an actual home school program
We sent in all of the records and proof of my work, and I got a degree from them
There was only one class that I had to do on top of my normal
What if I am not confident in a subject?
I find that most people in my generation really struggle with subjects like math
It can be scary to think about teaching your kids when you don’t even know it
but there was never a time when I got upset with my mom because she didn’t know something
I actually loved it when she said “I don’t know” and then we looked at it together
I learned skills that were Priceless in college
I learned how to learn
How to research
How to work backward
And because my mom didn’t always know the answer, I was able to learn how to find the answers I need to
So it’s okay if you don’t know everything!
Learn together!
Because learning how to learn is one of the benefits of homeschooling that will help them for the rest of their life!
