Is Homeschooling Right for Your Child?

Today, on Redhead Mom, we’re answering the question, “Is Homeschooling Right for Your Child” as part of a sponsored guest post.

Opinions about homeschooling have changed drastically in the past twenty years. Not only have views changed but homeschooling itself looks very different than it once did. Homeschooling resources, including textbooks and workbooks, have become much more sophisticated with the help of the Internet. There are even online homeschooling programs and curriculum options to help parents structure their children’s schooling. All these things combined have led to more and more families to transition from public schools to homeschooling.

Many students have gone on to be incredibly successful after receiving a home school education. On average, homeschooled students score higher on standardized tests, including the ACT and SAT college entrance exams. This does not mean homeschooling is for everyone. Plenty of children excel in a classroom. However, homeschooling can be a great option, as well. Here are a few things to consider if you are deciding whether homeschooling is right for your child.

Know Why You Are Considering Homeschooling for Your Child

For parents who are thinking about homeschooling their child for the first time, there is likely an overarching reason that has led them to pursue alternative methods to public school. Here are five reasons why you may be thinking about home school for your child.

1. Consistency

Some families who frequently move around will choose to home school for a sense of consistency. Rather than having to transfer schools and change teachers, home school will remain the same. This is especially beneficial for military families that are re-stationed often.

2. Quality of education

You may be considering homeschooling because you want a better education for your child. Many public-school districts provide wonderful educations to all students. Unfortunately, not all districts are the same, and some fail to give students the necessary resources for them to be successful. By moving to home school, you have much more control over your child’s education. State sponsored grammar schools in Bexley in London are some of the best perfoming in the UK.

3. Personalized learning

Similar to wanting to increase the quality of your child’s education, you may want to give your student a personalized learning experience. Some students struggle with certain subjects, while others may have ADD or ADHD. Unfortunately, they may not receive the help that they need in a classroom setting. Parents who home school their children can give them the specialized assistance they need to master subjects and succeed in school.

4. Family relationships

Many parents will think about homeschooling their children because they simply want to spend more time as a family. Between work, school, and extracurriculars, it is easy to get swept up in busy schedules and realize you barely get to spend quality time with the family. For parents who work full-time, homeschooling may not be a feasible solution, but stay-at-home moms and dads have the flexibility to make home school possible.

5. Safety

Bullying and cyberbullying can have significant threats to a child’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Unfortunately, there is only so much we can do as parents to keep this from happening. If the bullying gets bad enough, parents may decide to take their child out of the situation and home school instead.

In addition to bullying, peer pressure and unrealistic societal expectations can take a toll on a child’s overall wellbeing. Homeschooling offers a safe environment for students to focus on their courses.

Conduct Research on All Things Home School

Once you begin considering home school as an option for your child, you should do your research before deciding on whether it is the best fit for your family. Every state has different homeschooling laws, so you will need to make sure that your family can meet your state’s requirements. For example, some states need parents to acquire a certificate while others want parents to have met a certain education level.

After ensuring that your family can stay within your state’s homeschooling regulations, you will want to research different homeschooling curriculum and methods. There are plenty of online resources, forums, and blogs, so you can read different points-of-view and find out what is best for your child.

Homeschooling looks different for many families, but the important thing to remember is that it doesn’t have to look like a traditional classroom. Some parents choose to implement an informal homeschool method. Deschooling is when students take some time to unlearn the expectations and culture of the classroom and rediscover their inherent curiosity. During this time, they may watch documentaries or read a variety of books. Parents and students could also spend time cooking, which teaches students measuring, fractions, and reading. Many people will do this for several months; however, you may also decide that you want to continue this style of learning because that is how your child learns best.

On the other hand, some students need a more structured homeschooling curriculum. There are many different online homeschool curriculum programs. One example is Acellus Power Homeschool, which provides parents course materials, video lessons, and other resources to continue teaching students what they were learning in the classroom.

Researching all the different homeschooling methods is a great way to familiarize yourself with what is out there but remember there is a learning curve. The best part of home school is that you can find the best technique for you and your child.

Be Aware of the Potential Negatives of Homeschool

Before implementing home school for your child, you must weight the pros and cons. There are many advantages to home school, such as flexibility, safety, and personal learning. Like everything, though, there are some negative aspects of homeschooling. For example, home school puts more stress on you as a parent since you will now be overseeing your child’s education. Home school can also be expensive because you will have to buy more school supplies, textbooks, and course materials.

Parents must ensure their children are properly socialized with peers and participate in extracurriculars like sports. Despite the increasing rate of families switching to homeschool, they can still face some scrutiny from outsiders.

Your homeschooling student can still receive a wonderful education, but it is important to understand that it can be challenging, and like every new thing, it will take an adjustment period to feel comfortable. By doing your research and understanding why homeschooling might be right for your child, you will be able to decide whether it is the best option for your child.