When it comes to education, there are undoubtedly many different approaches that institutions and parents can take to best cater to the needs of their children.
One of the more common methods outside of the mainstream education system is homeschooling – something that is becoming more and more common.
But why do people homeschool their children, and what does it entail?
Why Might Parents Homeschool Children?
Of course, in modern times there are many reasons why parents might choose to homeschool their children – and these are often as a response to the specific needs of the child themselves.
Educational Needs
Depending on the area wherein the students live, and the quality of the education available, parents might choose to homeschool their children to ensure they receive a better education than they could otherwise get in mainstream schooling.
This could also be as a result of any specific learning needs or conditions that the students might have – such as learning disabilities that might otherwise hinder them from learning in mainstream schools.
Medical Conditions
If the child has severe medical conditions that limit their movement, their immune systems, or their ability to learn under normal conditions, then the parents might choose to educate them at home as a means of keeping them safe and protected.
It can also be used as a means of making it convenient for the child and the parents – something that is the case if there are severe disabilities that make travel hard.
Control Over Curriculum
Parents might also have specific ideas about what their child should be learning, and if these expectations are not being met, then they might choose to homeschool their child.
This need to control the curriculum could be based on political, religious, or personal beliefs held by the parents, and is certainly one of the more common reasons why people in the western world homeschool their children.
To Avoid Stress
Some parents might also choose to remove the stress from mainstream education by homeschooling their children.
While this might seem controversial – in the sense that the stress can better teach them for the future – some parents feel that more hands-on, stress-free environments are more conducive to learning, at least where their child is concerned.
Better Scores
It could also be to improve their education. This might sound strange, but homeschooled children have been proven to actually score higher on standardized tests.
While there are a lot of skeptics about this approach – with people saying that it is easier for children to cheat or have help – the numbers do count for something.
Controlled Learning Pace
Homeschooling also ensures that the learning progresses at a more controlled pace, and unlike mainstream school, they can spend their time learning one subject at a time.
This is especially beneficial for children who have certain medical conditions – or learning disabilities – wherein they might struggle with the volume of information they would be exposed to in mainstream schooling.
Easier College Transition
Surprisingly, it has also been shown that children who are homeschooled have an easier time transitioning to college level study – namely because they are used to learning in independent environments.
There is also the fact that they are spending more time around adults – i.e. their parents – which can help with maturity, not to mention less fear with regards to approaching education.
Does Homeschooling Prepare Kids Better?
One curious piece of information surrounding homeschooling, is that surveys have shown that they are actually better prepared for adulthood than their counterparts in mainstream schooling.
Due to the mixture of school work, family time, domestic responsibilities, and a better work-life balance, homeschooled students have been shown to not only function better in the adult world, but be more well-rounded individuals with higher levels of satisfaction and happiness in their daily lives.
Are There Downsides To Homeschooling?
Of course, as with anything, there can be downsides to homeschooling children.
Poor Socialization
The main downside of homeschooling your child is that they have less chances for socializing than their counterparts in mainstream schools.
Socialization is incredibly important for the long term development of children, and it can have distinct effects on their personalities later in life, their personal happiness, and their life skills in general.
One of the things that life requires of us is the ability to work and get along with other people – after all, this is how a society functions – but those who have not had the practice might find later life harder, especially the working world where they might be expected to work as part of a team.
As well as this, they might also have problems forming romantic and personal relationships once they reach adulthood.
Dependent On Parents
It is also heavily reliant on the parents, their dedication to teaching, their understanding of the curriculum, their own intelligence, and their relationship with their child.
If any of these factors come up lacking, then the child’s education will undoubtedly suffer as a result – something that could create problems for their future and their development as effective members of society, and contented human beings to boot.
Procrastination
There are also arguments that, without the more rigid structure of mainstream school, procrastination and lack of focus are more common.
As such, it is important for parents to differentiate between home and school, and set boundaries for their children.
Final Thoughts
And there we have it, everything you need to know about homeschooling.
It is certainly true that, in the modern world, there are all manner of approaches towards learning – with specific scenarios being devised to meet the needs of all children in education.
Of course, while there are many, homeschooling remains a popular one, especially for those with unique situations that need to be addressed.
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