What are some pros and cons for homeschooling your child?

1. 60

   Miss Knowledge77posted 8 years ago

   What are some pros and cons for homeschooling your child?
   
   I've noticed in my adult years that quite a bit of what's being taught in some schools is inaccurate information. Some of this bad information was not unlearned until I went to college. Some I am still trying to unlearn. So I would like to know what are the benefits and pitfalls of doing homeschooling for your children
   
   

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2. 69

   dashingscorpioposted 8 years ago

   
   
   I would imagine the biggest pro is (safety) from bullying and other peer group social issues children have to deal with as they assimilate in a school system. Another pro depending on how dedicated the parents are is being able to dedicate time to make sure the child understands the lessons before moving on.
   A few years ago I read about a woman who home schooled her three children and all three them got accepted to Harvard.
   Having said that not all parents are likely to be as dedicated to educating their children to that extent and following a strict curriculum.
   In some instances children may resent not having the experiences that the neighbor children have with their social and sports activities in school. The child may long to be around other children.
   Unless parents make an effort to have their children participate in other activities outside of homeschooling a child may develop insecurities when interacting with other children and eventually dating. Ultimately the child & the parents determine if it's good.

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   1. 0

      RTalloniposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      These are all important considerations. Concerns over socialization have largely been disproved. Many home ed students are far ahead of other students socially. The huge opportunity to help them learn to love learning is a lifelong benefit.

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   2. 69

      dashingscorpioposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Truth be told a lot of kids would rather not have to deal with the "socialization" aspect especially if they're not in the "in crowd".
      It's not uncommon for people to hate their school years because of other students they went to school with.

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3. 0

   RTalloniposted 8 years ago

   Home education has come a long way. Resources for home educators were few early on. Those who fought their way through the legalities are heroes who paved the groundwork for those who continue the battle to protect the option. Parents who homeschool today have a lot to be grateful for in those were the groundbreakers.
   
   There are far fewer cons now than back then. Organizations like the HSLDA offer services that have expanded over the years. Cooperative groups are doing fantastic work to support members and provide some broad opportunities for students. There are pros and cons with everything but if parents are not truly committed, problems will develop.
   
   The pros are marvelous! A list would have to begin with the fact that you get to enjoy your children more. Days with little ones can seem long, but the truth is that we have them for such a short time. Besides the obvious, personalizing a child's education is now easier than ever. With societal and economic trends looking as they do this seems to be more important than ever. 
   
   Do all the reading you are able about home education. Parents can embrace the opportunity and continue learning with their kids. There are wonderful associations in every state to help you get your footing, enjoy the process, and refocus when things seem upside down.
   
   Learn about how well home educated children do socially by going to websites like Great Home School Conventions and Teach Them Diligently. Check out the Homeschool Parent site for lists on topics like Homeschool Friendly Colleges and Universities.
   
   Blogs such as My Joy Filled Life, Homeschool Tracker's list of favorite blogs, Simple Homeschool's Curricula Bliss post, and Online College's 50 Essential Blogs for Every Grade Level are very helpful. You will find this research invaluable and that it is just the beginning of learning about the pros and cons of home education.

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4. 28

   sukhneetposted 8 years ago

   There is nothing called bad information. It's the way you grasp it. So I feel apart from academics there are many other things that are grasped from the environment and the method of schooling has nothing to do with it.

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      Miss Knowledge77posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      There is a such thing as bad information if the information being shared is false. There is truth and there is false teachings.

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5. 84

   tamarawilhiteposted 8 years ago

   Pros
   * choice of curriculum
   * control of environmental variables like safety
   * ability to fit education to special needs whether medical or athletic training or family travel
   * field trips of your choice anywhere and more institutions cater to it
   * much cheaper than private school if you already have  a stay at home parent - nearly every family I know with more than three children with that religious school/home school debate goes home school because they can't afford 4+ private school tuitions
   
   Cons
   * hire a tutor or one parent gives up an income
   * scheduling and logistics if you have very young children to watch while homeschooling older ones
   * not everyone has the temperament to do it
   * more research and diligence required by parents to sustain it
   * if you transition in and out of public schools, it is hard
   * some states require massive amounts of documentation to do it legally

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   1. 0

      RTalloniposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Some good points to consider here. Prioritizing the pros and cons according to parents' insight of children's needs would be helpful in tailoring their program.

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6. 59

   CKleidisposted 8 years ago

   Home schooling is an interesting idea, to say the least. Especially the ability to construct a meaningful and practical curriculum. However, there is the social aspect to consider.
   Having a child enter a group of others is a push towards what life will probably look like later on. Whether it is a university or a profession, the individual will eventually have to enter a group of strangers and start interacting with them in a constructive way. Thus, a young adult who went in school as a kid might feel this transition lighter and more natural, than one that was home schooled.
   Also, having a few “less than great” experiences during those school years is rarely a bad thing. I am not referring to severe violence –physical or psychological – but feuds that erupt in every group of people. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that bad experiences build character overall, but I believe they could aid in building tenacity and perseverance.
   What worries me is that home schooling could potentially be an over-protective bubble (especially at the hands of a parent with such tendencies) that suddenly bursts, when the individual has to get out of his environment. And when (if) that time comes, no amount of knowledge can aid in this transition. So, I guess it all comes down to the effort of the parent, to have the kid experience socializing with every chance, as it progresses with its studies.

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      RTalloniposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      An Every Day Story's blog post titled Why Sociaisation Is An Issue For Homeschoolers is a good discussion with interesting comments that any parent could find useful.  Can't put whole link, it's easy to find: aneverydaystory…/socialisation-homeschool

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   2. 84

      tamarawilhiteposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Socialization is over-hyped, especially since homeschoolers are doing Scouts, music lessons, religious gatherings, field trips.

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      RTalloniposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      TW, absolutely. The blog's discussion is a helpful look at the topic. It's curious that this is usually one of the first attacks against home ed when the truth at schools and with home ed is the opposite of what people generally think.

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7. 61

   HomeschoolBaseposted 8 years ago

   I've homeschooled for over 20 years and provided counseling / consulting to parents who are trying to make this decision. I was also homeschooled myself for several years. I’ve gotten feedback from lots of homeschool alum as well.
   
   This is one of my favorite questions to answer. There are hundreds of pros and cons. Each family will have pros and cons that are unique to them. There is a popular saying among homeschoolers that there is no ‘one such thing as homeschooling.’ Instead, there are as many types of homeschools as there are homeschoolers. Why do I say this? Because each ‘type’ of homeschooler is usually homeschooling for different reasons. And, the reasons behind why the parent decided to homeschool are usually very important.
   
   For instance, some unschoolers will think the biggest pro is the fact that they don’t have much structure. A classically schooled homeschooler might say the biggest pro is learning philosophy at a young age. Make sense?
   
   There are also families that decided homeschooling had far more cons than pros. There are many families that don’t homeschool because it simply isn't feasible.
   
   I’m going to answer your question as best I can here, but please note these are steriotypes. Depending on the homeschool method, the pros and cons will likely be different.
   
   The Pros of being Homeschooling:
   
   1.    Sleeping in. (Not having to catch the bus before the sun comes up! )
   
   2.    One-on-one teaching.
   
   3.    Flexible schedules.
   
   4.    They can spend time following their interests.
   
   5.    Doing school in their PJs.
   
   6.    Religious freedom (being able to pray, etc).
   
   7.    No homework.
   
   8.    The food is better.
   
   9.    The field trips are awesome.
   
   10.    They don’t have to be confined to a classroom.
   
   11.    Freedom.
   
   12.    They like being able work at their own pace and at their own level.
   
   13.    No bullies.
   
   14.    Homeschooled kids enjoy being able to go places during the week without fighting crowds
   
   The Cons of being Homeschooled:
   
   1.    Many of the cons are directly related to the pros…
   
   2.    Parents may be harder on you than other teachers.
   
   3.    Some parents may wake you up at 7:30, like it or not.
   
   4.    You have to be nearly dead to get out of school. A little cough won't cut it.
   
   5.    Missing out on public school experiences like riding the bus, roll call, etc.
   
   6.    Don't count on snow days.
   
   7.    You can't get away with saying you lost your homework, you'll just be told to go get it or do it again.
   
   --answer too long --

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   1. 61

      HomeschoolBaseposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      8.    You can't pass the buck and get out of an assignment by not volunteering. When there's only a few of you...you ALWAYS get your turn.
      9.    It can be hard to be self motivated
      10.    It might be harder to get involved into sports

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8. 60

   Kiss andTalesposted 8 years ago

   Very good question Miss Knowledge.
   All of my children are grown and have their own.
   But in today's society it is a good option,
   The pros I would say is one one attention and learning.
   Protecting your child from a hostile environment of bullies that are very active today even the adult support it by ignoring the problem.
   Bad weather conditions and picking up and dropping  off at school can get irritating when too many people
   have the same job.
   Keeping your child from a potentially bias educator, this can also be a problem.
   Our children have personalities too. But we must admit
   Everybody does not like us , so that could also include children.
   I see good reasons to home school I know some who did and graduated  no complaints.

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9. 89

   RachaelLeflerposted 8 years ago

   I homeschool my little sisters because the overloaded Chicago Public Schools system wasn't really helping them socially or emotionally cope with problems.
   Pros:
   - You know your child better than any teacher.
   - Children get individualized learning plans and one-on-one attention.
   - In the school system, kids can "slip through the cracks" and get passed when they don't deserve to, or they can be academically ahead of their peers and find schoolwork boring. In home schooling, they're always at their level. If they finish 5th grade work early, they can get a head start on 6th grade work, for example. Or, you might plan to have them on 5th grade math and 6th grade English, or something like that. It's a lot more tailored to the student's needs.
   - Flexible rules: you make the structure of the curriculum and lessons around your schedule and their needs.
   Cons:
   - Socially, people worry that kids who are homeschooled don't socialize enough. But we have them take many classes and summer camp activities. PE classes can be taken outside of the home like dance or martial arts or fitness classes that allow them to socialize. Some local art centers also might have art classes they can take for more social opportunities. Homeschooled children socialize while learning to engage with their community through extra-curricular classes or volunteer work. They also learn social skills from parents and older relatives (which are a better guide than peers anyway!). They don't miss much.
   - Lack of the support offered by experts for special-needs students. Sometimes, working with my AS sister has been a challenge because I'm not an autism specialist. Not all schools have an autism specialist, and not all budgets allow for it. But it is easier for a student with "issues", a DSM label, or special needs to get professional help for low to no cost to the parent. It's not impossible for parents to research their own ways to help their special needs children, however. And the homeschool flexibility allows homeschooling parents to adjust their planning and the structure of their education to meet those needs, whereas public schools have inflexible rules and boundaries. Emotionally needy/sensitive children also feel more secure with their parent than with a professional teacher or coach.

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