6 Benefits of Homeschooling and How You Can Get Started
You and I both know that politics is one of the most sensitive topics in the country right now, unfortunately, not in a good way. We’re currently in an era where differences in political opinions lead to bullying and sometimes life-threatening violence, such as school shootings.
In these situations, homeschooling can be a great way to keep your kids both educated and safe, and contrary to what people think, there are a lot of other benefits as well, which I’m about to share.
So, without further ado, let’s dive into why homeschooling is a good idea and how you can get started.
The Benefits of Homeschooling
From parental guidance and monitoring to better future opportunities, and much more in between, I’m going to share some of the benefits that I’ve personally witnessed from homeschooling my kids.
Higher Parental Involvement
Your children stay in school around 5 to 6 hours a day, a time during which you have no idea what they’re doing, who they’re meeting, or what they’re learning.
You don’t even know if everything you’re paying for is being done effectively. The only time you’re slightly involved is during the parent-teacher meetings. In homeschooling, you can monitor your child’s activities, interactions, and learning material, and intervene as you see fit.
Higher Flexibility for Children
When learning in a traditional environment, children rarely find the time to pursue personal interests or hobbies.
With homeschooling, you and your children can work on creating schedules in such a way that allows both effective learning and pursuing personal interests, such as learning the guitar, going surfing, and even learning other career-supporting skills, such as coding.
Who knows? Your child might just find their calling.
Better Physical Health
At traditional schools, your children might have to eat whatever the cafeteria offers, which might not always match the quality of a home-cooked meal like Mom’s spaghetti.
They also might not find the time to regularly exercise, because physical education in schools is normally around 2 times per week, and many fall short of the recommendations made by health organizations, which call for daily PE.
With homeschooling, you can ensure your children exercise daily, whether it’s through sports, swimming, or any other way you like. You can also monitor their sleep schedule to ensure they get the rest they need.
Developing Real Life Skills
Have you ever heard of a school that teaches kids how to repair a car? Or file taxes? In the pursuit of subject-based education, we often miss out on developing these essential skills, which can help us through our adult lives.
By homeschooling your kids, you can bring them up to speed on such skills, making it easier for them to navigate through adult life. Nothing can beat your unique experience, perspective, and warmth when it comes to teaching your children such skills.
Encouraging Independent Thoughts and Actions
Most schools use a one-size-fits-all basis and direct students towards a standardized thought process, not exactly critical thinking, is it?
Through homeschooling, you can help your kids break out of this cycle and allow them to think and act independently. You can customize their education in such a way that they proactively learn to manage time, think outside the box, and make effective decisions.
Preventing Indoctrination
Like I mentioned at the start of this article, politics has become a very critical issue and is actively being pushed in schools to promote various agendas, both left and right wing. Since your kids are vulnerable to the influence of fellow students, teachers, and more, they may develop some not-so-favorable beliefs.
By teaching your children morals and values based on your religious and cultural beliefs, you can help them stay in touch with who they are.
That about covers how homeschooling benefits your children. Now let me help you get started with a quick and easy roadmap.
Roadmap to Start Homeschooling
It all boils down to three main steps, which include planning, creating, and growing. Let’s explore them in more detail.
Planning Curriculum, Teaching Method, and Schedule
Depending on where you live, the requirements, such as registration, assessments, and subjects you need to teach, can vary.
Looking into the Home School Legal Defense Association’s map can help you figure this out. When it comes to planning your educational method and curriculum, focus on both your child’s learning style and goals, as well as your educational philosophy.
Doing this will also help you with the final step of planning, which is creating a flexible learning plan and schedule, considering your child’s interests, suggestions, and feedback.
Creating the Right Environment
You will need to set up a dedicated learning space free of distractions and also handpick the right supporting tools. I had a whole room specifically created for this purpose.
When it comes to resources, I used a blend of books and various other resources, such as courses or tutorials. You can tailor this based on what you find to be more effective for your child. You will also need to get stationery, such as pencils, erasers, notebooks, and more, to make learning easier.
Growing Your Network
There is a large community of parents homeschooling their kids that I’ve been able to get in touch with, thanks to internet near me.
They have provided me with relevant and easily applicable advice that I have used to improve my teaching method, plan extracurricular activities, and overall make learning effective and fun for my kids.
Homeschooling – Keeping Your Children Safe, Educated, and Future Ready
Our kids are our most valuable treasures, and keeping them safe and educated should be our highest priority. In a time when schools are pushing political agendas that minimize independent thinking, homeschooling can be the ray of hope our nation needs.
By planning a curriculum, creating a good learning environment, and using the advice of others like you, you can allow your children all the benefits mentioned above, while keeping them educated, safe, and future-ready.
