A Look At Why Families Homeschool
There are many reasons why families choose to homeschool. Some include not having to wake them up at 7AM or earlier, bundle off to school with umpteen instructions, then wait anxiously until their return home. Homeschool gives more influence over what comes into your child’s life that affects them. The growth and development of your child is not in the realm of the unknown. You can decide on the needs of your child for learning. Customizing the curriculum to suit the needs and interest of your child is another huge benefit to homeschooling.
Individual attention is a huge factor. With classroom sizes burgeoning it’s tough for kids to get one on one attention when needed. Many times they are left waiting while the teacher gives one on one to other students. This allows parents to focus time more effectively for their child, allowing more time to be spent on harder subjects without creating more pressure on the child. Each child learns different subjects at different paces.
Homeschooling usually develops into a family project where all participate in the learning process. Experiments, field trips, chores, games and the like become learning targeted. It also brings about more quality time spent together and family closeness. Negative peer pressure is also reduced especially during important developmental stages of choices and decision making.
Competition and comparison is limited as the child doesn’t have the pressure to measure up to peers, but can learn at his or her own pace, their confidence remains intact. Parents can plan learning to pique a child’s interest. Also learning can be interspersed with fun activities spread out amidst difficult ones. A tough hour of Science can be followed up with a trip to a museum for instance, helping to foster a love of learning. Parents can also tailor curriculum to fit the child’s learning style, whether it’s more through reading, writing or seeing objects in action.
Homeschooling allows parents to take control over the moral and religious learning of the child. Parents have the flexibility to incorporate their beliefs and ideologies into the child’s curriculum. There is no confusion in the child’s mind either because there is no variation between what is being taught and what is being practiced.
Finally, more parents are disillusioned with the public school system. Many believe that their children are either being pushed too hard or too little. Other concerning issues regarding discipline and ethics also make the school system less desirable. Many disagree with the educational philosophy of grouping children solely on the basis of their age. Many parents themselves have unpleasant or even terrible memories of their own public school experience that is a driving factor for them to choose homeschooling when it comes to their own children.
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