Why Should Children Be Homeschooled?
Has your little one finally started to talk, and you are constantly under the dilemma of deciding the school with the best-suited program? For many parents, school means waking up their child early in the morning, preparing breakfast, checking the schoolbags according to the timetable and sending them off for almost 7 hours.
However, this has not always been the trend. Till the early nineteenth century, homeschooling was the norm, and it was the responsibility of parents and tutors not just to educate them academically but also instil life skills. With the wave of change in the mid-1840s, public schools gained popularity, and gradually, homeschooling became a luxury for the children of elites.
As the competition in schools increased, the experts evaluated that it proved to be damaging for the students, and therefore, in the 1970s, homeschooling was re-introduced as an alternative. This time, it served as a liberation from the rote learning mindset that public and private schools were promoting and children from all financial backgrounds were seen using the option.
As of 2012, the National Centre for Education Statistics released a report that noticed a sharp increase in the number of children being homeschooled. From 1.7 per cent in 1999, the number has risen to 3.4 per cent in just 13 years. This means that 1.3 million children are being homeschooled and the practice certainly has its advantages.
Programs Tailor-made for Your Children
Who knows your kid better than you? Therefore, homeschooling allows the parents to adjust the programme according to the needs of the children. No longer do they have to compete with their peers and ignore their own learning pace. You can introduce multiple courses at any stage to cater to your child’s needs and interests. This proves to be particularly effective for kids who need specialised learning.
Some kids are gifted and start showing signs of intelligence at a young age, but schools numb their minds down to the level of the class. Similarly, children with learning disabilities need to learn at a slower pace and keeping up with school curriculum becomes difficult. So, start customising the education according to the capabilities of your young ones.
Saves Time
Going to school means that your child is getting up at 8 am, waiting for the bus, standing in the cafeteria line and taking occasional breaks. This routine can be exhausting. With homeschooling, you do not have to worry about this aspect. It allows a fixed schedule for your child’s academics which gives them ample time for other activities like sports, music or arts without feeling tired.
The best feature of this practice is that kids are allowed to pursue their passions without any imbalance in the routine. For instance, if they are interested in football, but the training happens early in the morning, their flexible learning schedule could be shifted to evening.
Strong College Applications
A myth suggests that colleges do not prefer children who are homeschooled because their exposure is limited. But like we said, it is just a myth. Universities look for individuals that do not just have strong academics but also strong pursuits for their passions and are equipped with real-life skills.
Homeschooling gives your child a lot of time to work on their college applications with essay writing service as they can enrol into different volunteering programs and learn various languages. Also, with so many applications from all over the world, the profile of a homeschooled candidate with ample experience in multiple disciplines is likely to stand out.
Prioritise Mental Health
Today, about 2.6 million children suffer from anxiety or depression, according to a report by the Journal of Developmental and Behavioural Paediatrics. Many children do not feel comfortable in huge classrooms and due to social anxiety, they are left behind. Unfortunately, very few public schools are designed to encourage class participation among all pupils, and even fewer recognise the problems faced by the children today.
Homeschooling equips the kids with the confidence to learn without any social or academic pressure, and this helps in raising their self-esteem. Furthermore, with the rise of bullying, the attendance levels of many students have fallen, and they now prefer to be homeschooled without any fear of violence. While learning at home shelters them from the brutality outside, you can also prioritise their mental health and employ effective therapy to help them with their internal struggles.
Family Bond
Parents are often complaining about the small amount of time their children, especially teenagers, spend at home that causes them to lose their bond with the families. Homeschooling minimises this factor. Not only do they get to spend quality time with family, but your involvement in their learning also assists in getting to know each other better.
You can partake in various activities with them like community work or painting classes and enjoy a considerable amount of time together before they are off to college. With the participation in activities, you would also build a sense of community within them because as they say “children learn what they live”.
Saves Money
Even though it is a popular belief that homeschooling is more expensive, if you learn to manage your budget, it can save you a lot of money. You do not have to pay the tuition fee, transport cost or buy school uniforms. Instead, you can invest in the textbooks, music classes, sports training or even set up funds for college.
The best part about homeschooling is that your child can also learn to support themselves financially at a young age. Having spare time after academic obligations since the deadlines and tests are almost non-existent, they would be able to explore internships and jobs that would teach them the skills of managing expenses which would prove helpful for college life.
So, if you are still unsure about homeschooling, talk to fellow parents who have done so, and they would be able to guide you better about the practice. With that said, every child learns according to their capabilities, so consult an expert after a few years to see the environment that suits your child the best.