What are the Advantages of Being Educated at Home?

Schools seem to have less and less funding these days and what used to be considered fringe, homeschooling, is becoming more popular. As I write this I’m in my 13^th year of homeschooling my 4 children. Some children made the decision to go to public school and some regretted it and asked to be educated at home again. I’ve come to the conclusion that there is a huge benefit to being educated at home and here are some of the reasons.

Freedom of Choice

You can teach your child what you wish. There are legal requirements that you have to keep, but beyond that you choose the subjects, the books and the time you will do your schooling. You don’t have to just school from 8am to 3pm 180 days of the year and you don’t have to use the same books they use in the public schools.

Better quality education

There is survey after survey that tells us homeschoolers perform academically better than their in school peers. Look at the spelling bees and geography bees, the winners are almost always homeschoolers.

Children can work at their own pace

This is a huge advantage. You can give the needed time to the topics where the child is struggling and go fast through the topics they catch easily. This is one of the main reasons why homeschoolers do well. Less time is wasted when the child works at their own speed.

Have time to excel at some subjects

Homeschool children develop interests and then have the time to pursue their interest, becoming more knowledgeable than other children the same age.

Less stressful environment

It’s very stressful for mom to get multiple children out of the door early in the morning to get to school on time. If all mom conveys to the child is rushing and busyness it’s a very different atmosphere from a homeschool household that starts the day with a cuddle and a story in bed. And yes, some homeschoolers do work in pajamas.

More field trips

Homeschoolers have been known to go on six week field trips, homeschooling on the road. Even if you don’t do that you could easily homeschool four days a week and go on a field trip once a week. Some homeschoolers listen to books on CD in the car, others take clipboards and still work while mom is driving. Also homeschoolers can vacation during the cheapest weeks of the year without missing any school.

Families get along

When siblings spend all day together if there is any fighting mom intervenes and the problem is worked out. With a schedule of being in school all day and homework to complete at night, there isn’t time to work on relationship issues. Then each child has their own group of friends away from the family. With homeschooling siblings become best friends. Homeschoolers have better relationships with their parents too and there is less teenage rebellion.

Create thinkers, not rote learners

The American Education System is one of rote learning, not one of thinking. We are creating factory workers not entrepreneurs. As more people homeschool we will create more leaders instead of followers and that can only be good for the country.

Learn from living books, not textbooks

Homeschool children learn from reading real books not dull textbooks. Then the information stays with the child and also increases their thirst for knowledge, which encourages them to want to learn more. If you ever go into a home where there is a homeschooler they will often want to enthusiastically show you what they are currently learning, or what they have recently built. You don’t see that with public schooled children.

Learn at the child’s best time of the day

School starts very early in the morning, which can be torture for the night owl. Homeshooling can be done when the child is most alert, which must result in better learning.

Teach the child your beliefs

Schools have one belief and that is what they teach. If you don’t agree with what they teach on religion or sexual preference for example, then you have to live with it. At home you can teach your children your own belief system.

Looks good on your resume

I was raised in England and I taught myself between school and college. When applying for jobs I had to fill in the section “school attended”, I wrote “self taught”, prospective employers were considerably impressed.

Will talk to people of all ages

The child in school will only play with children of his own age. The homeschool child will enjoy the company of children of all ages, and adults too.

Less transition

Life is at home, there isn’t a difference between a school day and a non school day. There is no transition between schoolwork and homework.

No school fundraisers

My son was in school for one school year – second grade. They did a fundraiser every month, sometimes for the school and sometimes for the community. I know they were worthy projects, but schools should exist to educate, not fundraise.

No junk food at lunchtime

This comes with parental control. You control what they eat too. You can teach nutrition and teach them to make their own healthy meals.

Older children can teach the younger children

Some people frown on this, but to really know a fact you need to teach it. Helping younger siblings not only solidifies their learning, but grows good character too.

Better preparation for college.

Colleges are starting to love homeschoolers because in homeschool you teach the child to learn for himself. This is perfect preparation for college.

When your children are sick, they can still learn

When my homeschooled children are sick they watch educational DVDs, listen to books on CD or read. When the in school child is sick, they miss a day’s schooling.

Special needs children get extra help

If your child needs extra help in school they may get an hour a day in the resource room with other children who need extra help. You the homeschool parent can focus on your special needs child all day if you wish. I’ve known many special needs children do really well at home.

Home is safe

The only school shootings are on video games. My children can’t buy drugs from their school friends either.

I have to mention the minuses too

No break for moms

Homeschool moms are often with their children 24/7. When the children are little, if you crave a break you may not get one. It’s hard to get childcare for school aged children who are at home if you need something like a doctor’s appointment, and free time is very rare.

No accountability

There are laws concerning homeschooling, but you could if you wish be a bad homeschool mom and no one would know. There is accountability for teachers in school. Generally homeschoolers will homeschool because they want to, so although being a bad homeschool mom is possible in theory, it's rare in practice.

Higher level subjects are not easy to teach

If you are not a mathematician and your child is struggling with algebra, they have no one to turn to. Homeschoolers get over this by using tutors or online classes.

Less group of friends

Homeschoolers do connect with other children, but not as much as children in school

I wish everyone could homeschool

Homeschool is a lifestyle, it is more than just education. It is a time when mom (usually) enjoys being with her children and training them for life.