Deciding whether or not you want to choose homeschooling for your family can be difficult. Everyone is different, and while it might be the right choice for others, it might not work as well for you. This list of 8 pros and 8 cons might be able to help you decide whether or not you want to homeschool.
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8 Homeschool Pros
1. Less Commute Time
Homeschooling means you don’t have to leave your house every single day. That means no more rushing around all morning and being stuck in traffic when you don’t want to be. You get to decide when you leave the house and for what reason.
2. Freedom of Choice
The beauty of homeschooling is that you get to choose when to do school, the pace at which to do school, and also when to be in nature or have a field trip. If you see your kids are having a bad day or really struggling, you can postpone lessons and get them into nature to help ground them.
3. Control Over Curriculum
One reason a lot of people choose homeschooling is because they get to choose exactly what they teach their kids. Yes, there may be certain requirements from your state, but there is still so much more freedom in what you’re able to choose when it comes to curriculum.
There is a definite bias in the school system, but if you choose to homeschool, you can teach from your worldview. It also makes it easier for those kids who have learning disabilities to be able to thrive while doing school.
4. Savor Childhood
Your kids can savor childhood and choose what they learn with your help. Childhood, sadly, isn’t valued as it used to be, and thanks to technology, kids are growing up faster than ever. Homeschooling can help you and your kids embrace childhood and lean into their interests with child-led learning.
Because you won’t have 30 students to teach, the amount of time you do school each day will be far less than that in a public or private school setting. Your kids will have more time to play, imagine, and explore outdoors.
5. Less Peer Pressure
When it comes to homeschooling, you can be sure peer pressure will be almost gone. Your children will still be able to be around those their age, as there are plenty of extracurricular activities available for them. But it can be on you and your kid’s terms, which eliminates most of the peer pressure. Your kids can live a childhood free from drama and bullies. It is a relief to protect them from the problems that can be caused by an institutional setting.
6. Class Time Flexibility
There are a lot of reasons why you might need to be flexible with your school time. Whether you’re living out of a camper, visiting other countries, welcoming a newborn baby, or have a family member with an illness; The flexibility that homeschooling provides can make life so much easier.
7. A Family-Oriented Life
If you want to be a close, tight-knit family, then homeschooling is a great option for you. It’s easy to combine subjects for family-style learning, take advantage of reading aloud, go on more adventures, and really give your kids good memories of growing up close to one another.
8. Makes Slow Living More Possible
If the fast-paced life that appeals to so many doesn’t hold the same luster for you and your kids, then homeschooling could be a perfect fit for you. No more rushing out the door every morning. No more events and activities all day every day. You can pick and choose what you do, learn to say no, savor the little moments, and live a slower-paced life.
8 Homeschool Cons
1. Time Commitment
Because there are so many different philosophies and curriculum options, homeschooling can take a lot of time to research. Depending on if you choose an open-and-go curriculum or something you have to print out and prep at home, it could also take a lot of organization and time to curate.
2. Cost
The cost of homeschooling depends on many factors; what curriculum you choose, whether one parent chooses to quit their job, whether you have a lot of supplies at home or you have to purchase them, etc. Whereas if your children are in the local school system, then the cost is typically lower and there are more facilities available because there are so many kids to use them daily.
That being said, homeschool doesn’t need to cost a lot. Utilize your local library as much as possible, find free printables online, buy second-hand books and curriculum, and find free events in your area to help lower the cost.
3. Career Change/Might Have To Stop Working
If you are already a one-income family, then this doesn’t apply to you, but homeschooling is a definite time commitment, which usually (but not exclusively) means that one parent will have to quit their job. Even if you work from home, you might want to consider delegating some tasks to someone else, like a part-time nanny, housekeeper, or a family member who is willing to help you out.
4. Less Social Interaction(?)
The question that everyone worries about when they find out you homeschool is “Do they get enough social interaction?” It can come from an attitude of genuine concern, even if it is none of their business. But is it really true? Do they see less of their peers on a daily basis? Potentially. There are, however, lots of opportunities for socialization, such as co-ops, nature groups, field trips, church, trips to the library, etc. Also, some might argue kids who are homeschooled are more well-rounded socially because they interact with people of all ages on a regular basis as opposed to only their same-aged peers.
5. Likelihood of Burnout Increases
As a parent, you love your kids and want what’s best for them. Homeschooling might still be the best option for you, but you will want to plan for burnout. Adding more to your plate by homeschooling and still trying to be the best parent you can be isn’t easy. You might have to learn to ask for help or know when to take a break.
6. Pressure on Parents
Having a lot more control of our kids’ childhood is a relief, but it is also a lot of pressure to get things right. As a parent, you will often ask yourself questions such as; “Am I doing enough?” “Are they learning what they need to?” Although a regular examination of your homeschool might be helpful, you will need to learn to be confident in your decision. If you can’t find ways to ease the pressure, homeschooling might not be for you.
7. Other People’s Opinions
Homeschooling isn’t necessarily mainstream, so there will likely be those in your life who will not understand your reasons to decide to homeschool. You cannot always control outside pressure and other people’s opinions, and it does make it a con as you will have to remain resolute if you choose homeschooling for your family.
8. Required to Research and Follow Specific Homeschool Laws
Some states/countries have more strict homeschool laws than others, but regardless, you will have to do some research and abide by the laws where you live when it comes to homeschooling. Thankfully, there are businesses that can make your life easier and help you when it comes to abiding by the laws and filing with the school district every year (if necessary). Be sure to check out Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) for support.
To Homeschool or Not to Homeschool?
Hopefully, those pros and cons gave you some food for thought.
Homeschooling is not something to rush into, but it can truly change your’s and your kids’ lives for the better. It could be just the lifestyle change you all need.
It may also not be the right fit for your family. Or you might just not be in a season where homeschooling is even plausible.
Go with what your heart is telling you. If you’re a Christian, pay attention to which way God is leading you.
Don’t forget to leave a comment below and share this post with all your friends who are considering the option of homeschooling.