In this day and age, homeschooling is nothing new. However, the rapid development of this phenomenon is noteworthy. Many parents are strongly contemplating homeschooling their children.
Homeschooling has become popular among parents, particularly in the West. Even some people who did not want to homeschool their children were forced to do so thanks to Covid.
However, before you jump on the homeschooling bandwagon and decide whether or not to homeschool your children, it is crucial to understand its significance.
As this is a very major decision that will affect your children's future, you wouldn't want to make an impulsive choice. Everything regarding homeschooling young children has been thoroughly explored in this article.
What exactly is it? What are the benefits and drawbacks? And the right way to go about it?
By putting everything into perspective, you may make a reasonable and rational decision for your child even if you are completely clueless about the subject.
In This Article
What is Homeschooling?
To put it simply, homeschooling is "when you teach or educate your children at home without requiring them to attend a school or any other academic institution".
According to the stats: The number of elementary-aged children who are homeschooled has rapidly increased during the last few years. This has also become legal, and many parents prefer to educate their children at home rather than enrol them in school. In homeschooling, parents set their curriculum and educate their children in all courses. Most parents consider homeschooling their children from kindergarten to grades 1–3, however, some opt to homeschool their children through high school.
In certain cases, parents would hire private tutors to teach their children at home rather than doing it themselves. This is also a part of homeschooling.
Since the early 2000s, the majority of children, particularly in the US, have been homeschooled.
You don't need any specialized training or legal standing to homeschool your child. As long as they are imparting accurate knowledge, any parent or tutor is qualified to teach.
Even though there are many compelling reasons for parents to choose this path, homeschooling has significant drawbacks as well that shouldn't be looked down upon.
Advantages of Homeschooling Young Children
One-On-One Learning
In a school, only one teacher is teaching several students simultaneously. This causes undivided attention to each one.
In homeschooling, all the attention will be to only one or two kids. This way you can focus on their shortcomings and help them ace them.
You Choose Your Syllabus
You have the choice of what to teach your child when homeschooling. You might take into account their interests and concentrate more on the courses or areas they are finding challenging.
This way, you can select a curriculum based on your child's abilities rather than burden them with concepts that their brain cannot comprehend.
Parent/Child Bonding
Homeschooling offers a great chance to increase the bonding between you and your child. You will have more family time and can plan family trips as well without worrying about their school.
This will serve as a great opportunity to interact with your child and learn their interests and their passions.
Safety
As your child will be at home under your supervision you will not be constantly worried about their safety. You can keep a check on their health and keep an eye on their activities.
Additionally, your child will be away from any bad company and will not be exposed to any wrongdoings.
Disadvantages of Homeschooling Young Children
No Extra-Curricular Activity
The major drawback of homeschooling is that your child will not be able to participate in any physical activity. Sports and other extracurricular activities are important in the development of your child.
Homeschooling will restrict that. However, you may still allow them to play outside and indulge in healthy activities at home.
Limited Outdoor Exposure
While being homeschooled, children will spend all of their time at home making them sick and frustrated. They may get cranky while being indoors. This can also affect their confidence and their ability to socialize.
No "Me" Time For Parents
Parents will have to compromise their “me time” when homeschooling their kids. So you must be aware of this reality check.
Your kids will be with you all the time demanding your constant attention and you may rarely get enough time to plan something solely for yourself.
How Can You Homeschool Your Kids?
Now that you are aware of both the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling and have decided to adopt this practice, you should be aware of the proper procedures.
Your mind may be flooded with a lot of queries and worries.
Whether you're making the right decision?
Will it be challenging?
Can you educate your child with the same professionalism as a professional teacher? So, breathe out.
Homeschooling is easier and less complicated than you would assume. It will improve the bond between you and your child. Together, you'll spend more time and develop a very strong relationship.
So, there are a few things you can do to ensure a positive homeschooling experience for your child while not jeopardizing their education.
Set Up a Separate Space
Dedicate a separate space or a study room where you can teach your child. Make that place fun and attractive with wall art or motivational quotes.
Keep all the distractions like toys, video games, or television out of reach of that place. Invest in a good quality study table and chairs. Purchase a bookshelf and store all their books and stationery there.
Watch here: How to set up for homeschool space?
Study Equipment
You will be needing all the basic school supplies at reach for your kids.
These basic study supplies include:
Notebooks
Pencils
Colors
Pens
Erasers and sharpeners
Rulers and drawing materials
A whiteboard and board markers
Any other thing you may find necessary for your child
Curriculum
Choosing a curriculum or course is the most important and challenging step of all. If your kid has never been to school and has just started then you will have numerous options to look from.
To make it simpler you can consider doing research or a survey of other homeschooling families. You can search for what kind of education you want your child to give and what you want them to learn.
This will make it easier for you to decide what curriculum to choose. Moreover, you can ask your child as well if they have any particular interests and include that too.
Make a Schedule
Establishing a timetable is yet another key component of homeschooling that will make everything go much more smoothly. You can create a schedule that includes breaks and days off.
A timetable is a great approach to teaching your child the importance of punctuality and habitual behavior. It is best to create a morning schedule so that your child develops the positive habit of waking early and going to bed early.
Mornings, on the other hand, will have little to no distractions or other engagements, so there will be no reason to miss lessons.
FAQs
1. How long homeschooling can be done?
Homeschooling can be done until your child graduates and enters college. But it's not always the case. Some parents pursue homeschooling for their children for most of their education and never let them go to the public and private sectors. So, it depends on you and your child how long they want to pursue homeschooling.
2. Are homeschooling kids behind public school kids?
The beauty of homeschooling is that your child can learn according to their temperament and learn less or more than any public school kid. It's all dependent on how much they can absorb and learn in a specific period.
Takeaway from Sheasmother
Other than the pandemic, there are many different reasons why there is a rise in homeschooled children and why parents are thinking about homeschooling their children. There are several factors at play here.
Every parent has a legitimate reason for doing this. Whatever your reasoning, you should be aware of both the good and bad effects it will have on your child so you can make an informed choice.
Comments