Benefits of Homeschooling

The Benefits of Homeschooling

Homeschooling is definitely not for everyone.  There are many benefits to homeschooling but it also takes a lot of time, patience and dedication.  These are the benefits that I have discovered:

1. Control - You control what your child learns. This is probably the most important reason. If you have the choice, do you really want the public school (aka the government) deciding what your child learns, how he/she thinks and what he/she will believe.
2. Education - The education can't be beat! With such a small class size (often one on one) and a curriculum directly chosen, adjusted and enriched by a dedicated teacher (the parent), homeschooling excels in education.
3. Time - States differ in their rules and regulations but I have spoken to many parents who homeschool that say the equivalent to a child's full day in public school (approximately eight hours, plus several hours of homework) equals about three hours a day of homeschool.  
4. Flexibility - There are a couple different benefits in regards to flexibility.  For example, although it is good to have a regular schedule, that schedule can be flexible in regards to when the day starts, when breaks occur and in what order the daily schedule follows.  Also, you can be flexible on your days off.  When the other children are out of school for a snow-day you can be cozy and warm doing school in your living room.  And while all the families are crowding the pool during Spring Break you can go on your vacation the week after when they all return to school and work.
5. Opportunities - It's a lot easier for homeschooling parents to take their children on field trips and afford them other opportunities that a large class in a public school can't manage.  There are a growing number of businesses that cater specifically to homeschool students.  Many museums and zoos have homeschool classes and programs, local libraries often have special activities during the day and the list goes on.
6. Influence - Homeschool allows more parent/adult influence and less peer influence.  Although it is important for children to play with and learn from each other this is not always a positive experience.  All of the trouble I remember getting in to when I was a kid was when I was with my friends without adult supervision. They call it peer pressure for a reason!
7. Health - With homeschooling there is the ability for more physical activity and less sitting at a desk.  Parents can also monitor what their children eat unlike at school where many children eat less than healthy items and leave the carrot sticks on the plate.  Homeschool children also have less of a chance of catching every cold, flu and other contagious condition that travels through the public schools.
8. Safer Environment -  Bullying is an issue running rampant in schools today.  I live in Michigan and according to the Detroit Free Press our State is the worst state in the US for bullying.  The article states that 25% of high school students say that they have been bullied on school property and 19% admit to being bullied online.  I was a victim of bullying when I was younger and I, in turn, bullied others.  While it is impossible to eliminate bullying, I want to protect my child from the experience as much as possible.  
9. Integration - Integration without government intervention is less forced and more natural.  Parents can include religious lessons and teach according to their beliefs.  Homeschooling can also include numerous volunteer opportunities.  
10. Experience is the Greatest Teacher - Every moment presents an opportunity for learning.  I can teach my child about money and then I can take her to the store and let her use her own money to buy an item she wants.  I can show her a calendar and talk to her about time and then we can play Sims together and learn how the days of the week and the time of day affects life.  I can read to her from a nature magazine or show her nature programs and then take her to the park for a nature hike or to the zoo to see the animals up close.  With less time spent lecturing, working in books and taking tests, the opportunities are endless and only limited by your imagination and willingness to do the research.