Aspen & Oak

Homeschooling has become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional schooling, with many parents deciding to take their children’s education into their own hands, mine included.  Although I could discuss the benefits of homeschooling and how we came to our decision, I respect that every family situation is unique, and homeschooling may or may not work for everyone.  This post will explore the pros and cons of homeschooling to help you make an informed decision for your family.

Pros of Homeschooling

1. Custom Fit Education
   • While traditional schooling offers more of a one-size-fits-all approach, home-schooling can provide a customized learning experience for each child.
     • Tailored Curriculum: One of the most significant benefits of homeschooling is the ability to tailor the curriculum to your child’s individual learning style, interests, and pace. This personalized approach can enhance understanding and retention of information while keeping learning enjoyable for your child.
       Flexible Scheduling: Homeschooling allows families to create a schedule that works best for them, accommodating work schedules, family vacations, and other commitments without the constraints of a traditional school calendar.  For example, in our home, we choose to have very short lessons, nearly every day of the year, as opposed to traditional school, which has long days of classes over a shorter school year.  
2. More Time Together
   • Homeschooling gives you a way to spend quality, focused time with your children, building a stronger family connection.
     • More time together: Dedicating time to homeschooling, allows you and your children to have more focused quality time together.  
     • Shared Learning Experiences: Parents and children can learn together, exploring subjects that interest both parties and have discussions to enhance learning, promote communication, and collaborative problem-solving.  Families can also participate in educational activities together such as conducting science experiments, exploring nature, or visiting a museum, to name a few examples. I myself have enjoyed relearning subjects that I’ve completely forgotten about. For example, my oldest one and I recently read a book about rainbows and we learned some interesting facts. One such fact is that rainbows are actually circular in shape, but normally we only see part of the rainbow! Studying together not only allows us to model enthusiasm for learning, but also teaches our children that we may not have the answers for everything, but we do know where to look for those answers.
3. Practical Knowledge
   • Traditional schooling mainly focuses on academic subjects.  With homeschooling, you can enrich your child’s education by including practical life skills and real-world experiences into the curriculum.
     • Practical Education: Homeschooling can incorporate life skills that are sometimes overlooked in traditional schooling, such as critical thinking, budgeting, and cooking.  In our home, we have incorporated gardening, basic cooking, and swimming into our five-year-old’s curriculum.
     • Real-World Learning: Field trips, internships, and volunteering are often easier to arrange and can provide valuable hands-on learning experiences. 
4. Safer Learning Environment
   • Homeschooling provides a safe and controlled environment, free from bullying, peer pressure, and other negative social dynamics that can occur in traditional schools.
   • For children with special health needs or those who suffer from anxiety or other conditions, homeschooling can offer a more comfortable and accommodating learning setting.

Cons of Homeschooling

1. Time Committment
   • Homeschooling can require a huge amount of time and commitment… depending on how you approach it.
     • If you would like to try to replicate a traditional classroom experience in your home, then it will require a significant time investment from you, as you must plan lessons, teach, and assess your children’s progress. This can be particularly challenging if you are working or have children of multiple ages.
     • If you decide to use one of the many established homeschool curriculums out there, the most planning you will do is decide which curriculum to use. Once you decide, the lessons will be planned out for you and it can be as simple as open and go.  In our homeschool, we use a combination of published curriculum along with 1-2 days of lessons that I plan myself. 
     • There is also an “unschooling” route, in which the amount of planning can be minimal as it is a child-directed approach.
     • Whichever route you choose, the amount of time spent preparing for each day’s lessons can vary widely, depending on which method you choose.
2. Limited Social Interaction
   • Fewer Peer Interactions: Homeschooled children may have fewer opportunities to interact with peers, which can impact their social development and ability to build friendships.  Fortunately, with homeschooling on the rise, there are increasing numbers of homeschool communities and co-ops.  I found my local homeschool community through a quick web search.  The children in the community get together regularly, participating in extracurricular activities and free play time together.  Some homeschooling parents choose to take their children to the park to interact with other homeschoolers or with other non-homeschooled children when they get out of school.
   • Extracurricular Activities: Access to sports teams, clubs, and other extracurricular activities may be more limited for homeschooled children, although as mentioned above, many communities offer resources to bridge this gap.  Our oldest participates in team sports on the weekends through our local community center.
3. Resource and Financial Constraints
   • Cost of Materials: While homeschooling can be cost-effective, it often requires purchasing educational materials, books, and other resources, which can add up. In the U.S., some states offer different types of funding for homeschooling families.
   • Potential Loss of Income: If one parent needs to stay home to homeschool, the family may lose a source of income, which can be a significant financial burden.
4. Lack of Formal Structure
   • Inconsistent Education Quality: Without the oversight of a formal school system, the quality of education can vary widely depending on the parent’s educational background and teaching ability. If this is a concern, there are many homeschool curriculums available that have been designed by teachers and other educational experts.  
   • College Admissions Challenges: Some homeschooled students may face challenges in the college admissions process, although many institutions are becoming more accommodating and understanding of homeschooling backgrounds.  If college is the goal, keep detailed records or syllabi for each course, as well as create a portfolio of your child’s work to demonstrate their college readiness. Also consider having them enroll in college-level courses before applying to colleges, to show they are ready for college-level work.

Conclusion

Homeschooling offers a unique and flexible approach to education, allowing for personalized learning in a safe home environment. However, it may also require significant time and effort from parents and may present challenges in socialization, cost, and educational consistency. Parents considering homeschooling should weigh these pros and cons carefully and consider their family’s specific needs and circumstances.

Additional Resources

Here’s a list of external links that may be helpful in your homeschooling research:

Find out your state’s specific requirements for homeschooling

Find out if your state offers funding for homeschooling

What homeschoolers should know before applying for colleges