The benefits and drawbacks of homeschooling are numerous compared to regular schooling. Before we get into those, let's look at the reasons for homeschooling your child and the benefits of homeschooling from a parental perspective.
Reasons for Homeschooling
Why Do People Homeschool?
The primary factors as to why people homeschool are the following:
As well as not having to bring children to and from school, there is also the flexibility of the hours. Parents and children can do the schoolwork at any time of the day that suits them. In this system, if a parent has to work in the morning, their homeschooling can be done later in the day.
Parents can use any methods they feel work best. They can also centre the approach around the child's temperament and spend more time on weak areas.
Homeschooling gives parents and the child more time to work toward shared aims. This experience is a caring and rewarding one for both.
Having extra time with your child and control of the curriculum will mean the ability to address their diverse needs as an individual, which is particularly useful if they have challenges or learning difficulties.
Such problems usually require extracurricular exercises to start to remedy the situation, so control of the timetable is helpful to retain a consistent progression.
Homeschooling also means that the parents and the child can learn at their own pace and schedule. Some parts of the curicullam may be better left for later or certain problem areas that the child has may need more time and less pressure.
Again, this comes back to individualising the program for the child's benefit.
As a parent, while working with them, you will fully understand where your child is in their learning and academic performance. The one-to-one attention will also help them, plus increase their engagement.
Teaching also benefits you because you must learn a subject well to teach it.
Teaching would be a great benefit to your knowledge, memory, and brainpower as well.
It has been proven that homeschooled children, on average, get better results than their counterparts... due to the individualised plan, undivided attention, relaxed environment, lack of disruptive children, and that it usually includes a better learning methodology.
Students can now learn in a way that is interesting to them. And it is also in a safe environment free from distractions, noise, and the pressure cooker of thirty other children vying for position.
3. Improved social skills
Contrary to common perception, homeschooled children also tend to gain better social skills, emotional awareness, and self-esteem via the one-to-one interaction and a more enjoyable learning experience.
Parents of homeschooled children also tend to enroll them in sports, martial arts, scouts, etc., so they gain experience in group interactions and spend enough time with other children outside the home.
In that sense, the children can get the best of both worlds.
A major benefit of homeschooling is that it helps to increase the child's interactions, sensory feedback, and self-expression. These factors are the root of all development.
A homeschooled child will often learn more along these lines. It makes sense then that this will aid the child's performance, academic success and other abilities.
However, parents can encourage these learning principles in any environment. There is just more opportunity to do so when homeschooling.
Homeschooling or regular schooling, therefore, is a preference for the parents and the child as to what they need and want from schooling. Students can accrue excellent results from either one.
There are, of course, advantages and disadvantages to both homeschooling and regular schooling. Although homeschooling is a better way if done correctly, it won't be for everyone.
I don't homeschool myself due to an extensive workload, and my youngest daughter likes being at school. That's fine. If things were different, I would make time for it.
My main point is that either form of schooling can work very well if the student is using the learning principles of how we learn best, whether at school or while studying at home.
We have gone through the advantages that homeschooling provides. However, in the interests of a balanced discussion, it is also worth noting the potential drawbacks of homeschooling.
1. Limited social interaction:
Homeschooling can limit a child's social exposure in groups. Regular schooling provides a structure where children can mingle and find their way with others.
However, homeschooled children can still get this via less stressful environments with sports, hobbies, martial arts, or scout groups if the activities are regular enough (at least a few times a week).
2. Lack of specialized expertise:
Homeschooling parents may need more skills or knowledge in certain subjects. They may only be able to homeschool to the desired level if they can bring in outside resources, online courses, tutors, etc., for those specialised subjects.
3. Time commitment:
Homeschooling requires a significant time and energy commitment from parents, so it may not be possible to homeschool your child if you have a lot of career responsibilities or younger children.
Homeschooling can be challenging even for parents with the time and desire to do it. However, with good lesson planning, an individualised plan for the student, and a robust grading scheme, parents can adapt and normalise the endeavour.
4. Parental burden:
There are clearly benefits and drawbacks of homeschooling that will need to be weighed up by parents.
Some parents may feel that homeschooling is overwhelming and too much responsibility.
However, that is usually not the case once the parent gets the necessary resources they need.
As I've said, state educational bodies must revise the standard teaching methodology to be far better and more flexible. Learning how to teach through self-expression and sensory feedback methods will make teaching and learning way ahead of the curve, a breeze, and enjoyable.
Parents and students can also quickly learn how to do this. My FREE Course on that will get you started on that path.
All you will need after that is an online structure to work with, good homeschool programs with the curriculum, lesson plans, and assessments to ensure your child is on track.
If that's not feasible, you can still adopt the learning methods that produce excellent results with your child as they go through the regular system.
Potential homeschooling issues summary:
If parents want to homeschool and can address the disadvantages, then it will work very well.
Should parents have the time and desire to homeschool, turning the disadvantages into advantages will involve planning and a slightly higher monthly cost to get the online platforms, curriculums, etc. (which could be completely offset by transport savings!)
The best way to homeschool a child is to find a great online program that walks you through the whole thing.
The seven sisters program for homeschooling is one such resource that I highly recommend.
However, the most critical factor to a child/student's success is their development and that they are learning in an enjoyable, natural way through self-expression and sensory experiences. Parents and students can tailor these principles to regular schooling as well.
I specialise in this approach as I have studied the matter for decades and go through it in my free course below.
Every child or student flourishes if we teach them in a way that engenders self-belief, makes learning enjoyable, and continually develops their abilities.
As a result, I created the Quantum Learning Program
Many famous individuals have been homeschooled. Here are some of the most notable ones that we have heard of:
1. Thomas Edison: The American inventor and businessman (known for his contributions to developing the electric light bulb and the phonograph).
2. Albert Einstein: The renowned physicist (famous for his theory of relativity).
3. Leonardo da Vinci: The Italian polymath (known for his contributions to art, science, and engineering).
4. Agatha Christie: The English writer (widely regarded as the queen of crime).
5. Benjamin Franklin: The American polymath, statesman, and inventor (known for his electricity experiments and role in drafting the U.S. Constitution).
6. Serena and Venus Williams: The world-famous tennis players were homeschooled to fit around their intensive training schedule.
7. Tim Tebow: The former professional American football quarterback (who became known for his college football career and Christian faith).
8. Laura Ingalls Wilder: The author of the beloved "Little House on the Prairie" series (based on her childhood experiences).
9. Woodrow Wilson: The 28th President of the United States, who led the country during World War I (he was homeschooled in his early years).
10. C.S. Lewis: The British writer and theologian (best known for his fantasy series "The Chronicles of Narnia").
Different Methods of One-to-one Homeschooling
One-to-one homeschooling is where the child gets personalised education and the full attention of one tutor or teacher. It's one of the main benefits of homeschooling.
Here are some popular one-to-one homeschooling methods:
1. Tutoring:
Hiring a private tutor specialising in a specific subject. They will ideally cater the curriculum to the student's strengths and weaknesses.
2. Online learning platforms:
Many platforms offer one-to-one instruction and connect the students with qualified tutors who will work with the student individually.
3. Virtual schools:
These schools provide one-to-one instruction from certified teachers with personalised guidance.
4. Homeschool co-ops:
Parents take turns teaching specialised subjects to a small group of students. This method allows for one-to-one instruction while facilitating social interaction with their peers.
5. Individualized curriculum:
This is a more tailored version of one-to-one teaching. The curriculum is also designed around students' interests, learning styles, and aims.
6. Dual enrollment:
Students can enroll in college courses while still at school, which is helpful for advanced education in specific subjects and allows for one-to-one interaction with college professors.
7. Mentoring and apprenticeships:
Pairing a student with a mentor or expert in a field of interest gives them one-to-one instruction and a hands-on learning experience.
All of these methods can be useful. The type of one-to-one teaching that will work best will depend on the parents' and students' needs and wants.
OTO teaching is helpful, mainly if applied with self-expression and feedback models.
Homeschooling and Health
Homeschooling can be positive or negative for the student's health. It depends on how the routine is applied. The benefits of homeschooling and removing drawbacks come from knowledge of how to do it and then planning accordingly.
Here are some factors to consider:
Homeschooling allows parents and children complete control over their daily routines so that they can optimise their exercise, sleep, nutritious meals, breaks, etc. However, because homeschooling involves more time indoors, active movement is essential as part of the plan.
Is homeschooling better for mental health?
Homeschooling helps to provide a supportive and nurturing environment for the child. It is also away from the pressures and stress of the traditional school system where kids can feel herded and have to deal with other problematic students not being catered for well enough at home or school.
Homeschooled children will also benefit from the one-on-one interaction with the teacher.
Social isolation is a concern if parents don't enroll the child in other outside groups for sports, hobbies, martial arts or scouts, etc. Spending fun time with friends gained from these activities also needs to be encouraged.
Does homeschooling provide more mental stimulation?
Homeschooling allows more personalised instruction along the lines of methods that are far more stimulating for the child's development.
Parents can tailor the curriculum more to the interests and learning style of the student.
These factors will benefit their motivation, engagement, and cognitive progression.
However, the curriculum will need to be well-rounded and provide exposure to many subjects, activities, and experiences.
This mental stimulation can also be engaged in regular schooling if done correctly, taught to the student, and monitored by the parents. It is just easier to do with homeschooling.
Homeschooling time management and balance:
Homeschooling allows for flexibility in scheduling which helps the child and the parents find the best routine for them.
However, it must be well structured to maintain a healthy balance between schoolwork and other activities.
Parental involvement in homeschooling:
There is significant parental involvement in homeschooling, which can have positive and negative effects on parents. It increases the bond with the child, and parents have far more control, reward, and awareness of how their child is doing academically and are more able to influence it.
However, the responsibility and extra time involved can increase the stress workload on parents. Experienced homeschoolers advise parents to put all the resources in place to make the process as smooth and successful as possible and seek advice and support when needed.
It can then become normalised over time.
I hope you have found this article helpful on the benefits and drawbacks of homeschooling. Taking the steps below will help you further.
Start with the free series on quantum learning, which you can apply to regular schooling or homeschooling. If you wish to explore the benefits of homeschooling, check out the programs that help to give you the curriculum, assessment, etc., you will require for that.
Check out Quantum Learning here.
Brian Timlin, MD, Quantum Learning
Brian Timlin is married with three daughters in Ireland, is the author of The Great Awakening Novel; Lightworker No. 17, and is the MD of Irish Golf Leaderboard & QuantumLearning.info. Brian is passionate about sport and, in particular, golf, having played it all his life. Though he describes himself as only a decent golfer, he has been as low as scratch and has provincial and national medals. Quantum Learning is his newest program and he is very excited about it!
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