Homeschooling is a concept that has been around for a long time. And the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic made it a more popular concept. Most parents considered it an excellent substitute for traditional schooling in the 2020/2021 school year.
Even when things began normalizing and opening up again, some parents still opted to homeschool their children. This was further aggravated by the fact that several parents had younger children that were considered unfit to receive the vaccination. And unfortunately, most schools require each student to get vaccinated.
While the pandemic isn’t the primary reason many students are homeschooled, it’s a significant factor in recent times.
Since it has become prominent, it is only logical to weigh its effects on the parents and students involved. And that is what this article does! So, if you want to know what your kids stand to gain or lose, keep reading!
Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling
Homeschooling is a profoundly personal decision. However, the advantages and disadvantages must be considered before taking this big step. This should be considered for the kid and the parent as well.
Here are a few insights on homeschooling
Pros
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Flexibility
One of the critical factors why parents opt to homeschool their kids is flexibility. Because parents choose the curriculum, they have absolute control over how and what they teach. You can invest time nurturing your child’s passion if they have one. Some parents may wish to instill a specific set of values in their kids.
You may be making letters on the pavement with sidewalk chalk one day and touring the museum the next. The advantage of homeschooling is that the options are limitless!
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Responsibility
When homeschooling kids, they have complete control over their education. Parents can delegate homework to their kids to accomplish on their schedule, which will teach them responsibility. Because they are in charge of their learning, homeschoolers are responsible. Accountability starts from little things like finding websites that do your homework.
Furthermore, while still in school, mature homeschoolers have the chance to begin working and generating income. Earning is a source of encouragement for them to take charge of their lives.
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Free time
Homeschooling parents and children do not have to adhere to the rigid schedule that traditional schools impose. It is now possible to take holidays during the off-season or even modify the periods children attend school. Appointments do not need advance notification to the school, and students can study whenever convenient.
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Effective learning
There are a lot of distractions in a classroom of 20-30 kids. However, you and your kid control how fast or slow you go through the content. When a kid studies in a one-to-one situation, the learning and assimilation rate improves, primarily when the child’s learning process is well understood. There’s also a lot less tedious stuff that holds kids back or consumes too much of their time.
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Building relationships
Homeschooling involves being around for nearly all milestones your kid will encounter. Since you are investing time with your kid, you will not miss out on critical times in their childhood. Aside from that, the link between a parent and their child while homeschooling is among the most powerful.
Cons
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Anxiety
The first concern when a parent contemplates homeschooling is, “Can I even handle this?” And this is absolutely normal.
Naturally, taking charge of your child’s education might be terrifying. Initially, you’ll question if you’re accomplishing enough, doing it correctly, or even harming your kid. However, this anxiety is entirely natural and reflects something very positive: you want your child to have the best education!
However, if it becomes overwhelming, it can affect your and your child’s productivity.
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Difficult adjustment period
Adjusting a kid from a regular school to a homeschool environment may be a challenging experience for parents.
Determining your curriculum options, timetables, and events might be overwhelming when you’re just beginning. Furthermore, the longer your kid has been in regular school, the more difficult it may be to transition to homeschooling. Moving from a regimented classroom attitude to the flexibility to design your tailored educational environment will take a little time.
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Financial Difficulties
Many homeschooling families may force you to make tough financial choices. Some might entail downsizing from two to one income source or looking into work-from-home opportunities.
While the burden of school fees may be removed, you’d still have to buy textbooks, essential study materials, and more. This will be a priority like every other bill you have to take care of.
While this may be burdensome, the burden can be reduced if one parent earns a considerable amount monthly.
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Lack of discipline
Homeschooling necessitates a considerable time dedication of both the parents and the kids.
Each party must be dedicated to preparing for both the lessons and the assignments. On some days, kids may feel, “it is okay not to do my homework or skip learning.” However, both parents and kids must adhere to and follow the regimen.
Homeschooling might become another task on your daily to-do list if you lack discipline. Both parties must be dedicated and committed.
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Lack of time
While homeschooling gives room for flexibility, it is also time-consuming. You’d need to invest time into preparing lectures, class activities, tests, and exams and assessing these tests or exams. This is a lot of work to handle for one kid and a ton if you have more than one child. You’d also need to invest time into reading and learning so that your kid (s) get the best learning experience. It may be impossible for parents involved to have full-time jobs because of the workload.
Conclusion
As parents delve into the realm of homeschooling, it’s essential to consider the benefits and drawbacks of this education method. The best strategy is soul-searching and meaningful conversation with your spouse about this option. Don’t forget to ask your students what they think about the issue! You may assess if homeschooling is the best option for you and your family by putting everyone’s feelings into consideration.
