Advantages of Homeschooling

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10 Advantages of HomeschoolingHmm… With so many advantages, it’s difficult to narrow the list. Peer PressureHomeschoolers do not face the same social pressures faced by their public schooled counterparts. Anyone who has ever worked with a large group of children has seen how group dynamics can change the behavior of individual children. The child who might not normally behave in a disrespectful manner may do so simply to gain the admiration of more “popular” children. Of course, we all know the stories of drug and alcohol use and sexual pressures that students face. When I discuss these topics with my children, I point out that all of those pressures existed in the “olden days” when I was in school. I know the pressures today are even greater.HealthWhen cold and flu season rolls around, homeschooling families may be more likely to dodge the viral bullet. It is also easier for homeschooling parents to be sure everyone is maintaining a healthy diet and getting sufficient sleep. When illness does strike your household, school does not have to stop. Maybe instead of trudging through all subjects, you will spend time curled up on the couch reading aloud from some wonderful books.Personal ConvictionsActions speak louder than words. When parents decide to homeschool their children, the children see that family is important. It isn’t just rhetoric. They see that their parents have put family and personal convictions above societal norms and added income. When you are able to incorporate your religious convictions into all areas of study, your children see that convictions are not something you have for a couple of hours on a Sunday morning.Appreciation of Others Children are not born racist. They are not born believing that people must be in a certain socio-economic bracket in order to be worthwhile. They are not born believing that people with disabilities are undesirable. Sadly, those can be learned attitudes. They can be subtle and insidious. Homeschooling allows for students to live and grow without placing people in pre-conceived categories. Books, Books and more BooksSo many books, so little time! The homeschooling parent is able to pass on a love of literature. Read aloud time often becomes a family event. There are so many good books available that it’s difficult to understand why anyone would settle for literary junk food. As a homeschooler, you are able to guide in the selection of books that will nourish the spirit and mind. A side benefit is that the parent gets to enjoy classics that he/she missed as a student.Plus, your spouse will never have to guess what to get you for special occasions. You only want bookshelves!Life SkillsThere is more to becoming a functioning adult than academics. Homeschooling allows the parent more opportunity to spend time teaching valuable life skills. Basically, think about the skills you want your child to possess before they move out on their own; then teach those skills. Cooking, cleaning, budgeting, and basic home repairs are all valuable skills in the “real” world. When other college freshmen are walking around in pink clothes because a red shirt was washed with whites, your child will thank you. Plus, you will be glad to know that your child can prepare a meal to ward off scurvy.Family ValuesNo two families look exactly the same. Why should their children’s educations? If you have a heart for missions, homeschooling will allow you to share that with your children. You will have the opportunity to learn about various missionaries. Even families with young children can enjoy finding local mission opportunities. Numerous homeschooling families take time to deliver for Meals on Wheels one day a week or volunteer at a local food pantry. Families with older children may get to take a short-term foreign mission trip together. Shared ExperiencesIf mom and dad are each going off to their separate work places every day and the kids are each going to their separate schools, there isn’t a lot of time for making shared memories. Years ago, the term “quality time” became a popular way to alleviate parental guilt. The thought was that it didn’t matter how much time you spent with your children as long as it was “quality time”. I’m going to go out on a limb and say that quantity matters. Shared experiences matter. The mundane activities in a child’s day-to-day living matter. Creative Learning MethodsIf your child has an interest in audio visual, you could have them volunteer to work with the audio-visual dept. at your church. Life experiences can often count as “school”. If your child has a love of animals, he may volunteer at a local animal shelter. By the time the high school years roll around, many homeschoolers choose to find a part-time apprenticeship in an area that interests them.No Child Left BehindWhen public schools adopted a “no child left behind” policy, it was seen as a novel concept. Homeschoolers have always done that! If a student is having difficulty learning to read, the homeschooling parent keeps working until it “clicks”. There is no pressure to keep up with the class. Every child is afforded the opportunity to move at his level of academic readiness.

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