The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling
Introduction
Making the decision to home school is often a difficult process, but that process is worth it. You definitely wouldn’t want to home school if it’s not right for you; and you definitely wouldn’t want to miss out on homeschooling if it is right for you.
So do your home school pros and cons research carefully and take the time you need to make an informed decision.
Homeschooling is becoming more popular every day, with a growth rate of 7 to 15 percent per year. There are about two million children currently learning at home. Homeschooled kids do well on standardized tests, are welcome at colleges and universities, and as adults, have a reputation for being self-directed learners and reliable employees.
Image taken from socamom.com
To help other parents who are considering homeschooling, here is a new list of pros and cons
Pros
Educational Freedom. Most homeschooled students have the choice to study and learn what they want, when they want, for as long as they want. This is not to say that all the basics (and more!) aren’t covered. But those basics may be covered at age six for one child, and at age ten for another, depending on ability, maturity, and interest levels.
Physical Freedom. After the initial shock of leaving the school system has passed, parents who home school say they experience a real sense of freedom. With their lives no longer revolving around school hours, homework, and the school calendar, these families plan off-season vacations, visit parks and museums during the week, and live their lives according to what works for them.
Emotional Freedom. Sadly, peer pressure, competition, boredom, and bullies — are all part of a typical school day. This can be a particular problem for girls. According to studies, self-esteem plummets in middle-school girls. However, similar studies of homeschooled girls have shown that self-esteem remains intact and that these girls continue to thrive. (Read A Sense of Self: Listening to Homeschooled Adolescent Girls by Susannah Sheffer.) Homeschooled kids can dress and act and think the way they want, without fear of ridicule or a need to “fit in.” They live in the real world, where lives aren’t dictated by adolescent trends and dangerous experimentation.
Religious Freedom. Many families feel their religious and spiritual beliefs are an important part of who they are. Homeschooling provides the opportunity for parents to incorporate their beliefs into their daily lives.
Image taken from naturalparentsnetwork.com
Closer Family Relationships. Just about every family stressed the important role that homeschooling played in helping them find time to foster loving ties between all family members. Teens seem to benefit enormously from this interaction, and rebellious, destructive behavior often begins to diminish soon after homeschooling begins.
Stability During Difficult Times. Whether there’s a new baby, an illness, a death in the family, or another obstacle or transition, homeschooling helps families cope during challenging periods. Dauri, who homeschools her three boys, described how homeschooling helped her family adjust to a move from Europe back to the US, followed by another move across the country: “It was a great comfort that we homeschooled throughout the moves. It was a stabilizing factor in our otherwise mixed-up lives.”
Well-Rested Kids. As more and more studies are illustrating, sleep is vital to the emotional and physical well-being of kids, especially teens and preteens. The effects of early morning classes can be devastating to many children, especially those who are not morning people. After realizing that lack of sleep and hours of busy work often left her boy in a zombie-like stupor, Haya has decided to try homeschooling: “My oldest (age 13), is up at 6:30 in order to catch the bus at 7:15 and start school at 7:30. He comes home at 3:00 and does homework — sometimes until midnight. He’s often exhausted. I’m hoping that when we home school next year, the dark circles under his eyes will disappear and his real personality will emerge again.”
No Busywork. Homeschooled children can accomplish in a few hours what takes a typical classroom a week or more to cover. In a recent interview, John Taylor Gatto, New York City Teacher of the Year and a 26-year teaching veteran, said that in many classrooms less than one hour out of each school day is spent on task” learning. No wonder these kids have so much homework. And that brings us to a major “pro” of homeschooling: No more homework!
Image taken from 3dlearners.blogspot.com
Cons
Financial Restraints.
For married parents, one partner often forgoes full-time employment out of the home in order to home school. This can be a big sacrifice for families who are struggling to balance their budget. Surprisingly, most homeschooling families believe that the brief loss of income is well worth the satisfaction of watching their kids grow and learn in freedom.
Being with Your Kids 24/7.
There’s no denying it — if you choose to home school, you’re going to be with your kids most of the time. If you don’t enjoy being together, then homeschooling is not for you. While it can sometimes be difficult, most home school parents view their daily interactions with their kids — the ups as well as the downs — as opportunities for personal and familial growth.
Limited Team Sports.
While community sports activities fill the void for younger kids, teens often find limited opportunities to join sports teams, especially competitive ones. Depending on where you live, homeschoolers may or may not be welcome to participate on teams with their public-schooled peers. Several parents did mention that a few families overcame this problem by creating their own teams.
Living Outside the Norm.
Like any activity that challenges mainstream thinking, homeschooling may be seen as an oddity at best, or even as a threat to those who are unable to accept ordinary parents succeeding where trained professionals often fail. My family has developed a bit of a tough exterior over the years, but negative comments and criticisms still filter in occasionally. If you are unable to live “outside of the box,” then homeschooling is not for you
Read more from source on HOME SCHOOLING?
SCHOOL FAMILY EDUCATION
SONLIGHT
This one will stretch you but it is really fun to try. Learn how to fire pottery without a kiln
Artist Kiko Denzer shares how to make something beautiful from mud.
Not quite clay but just as much fun.
Handmade books are perfect for all sorts of projects. And make wonderful gifts.
Aging paper is a terrific homeschool trick – useful for all sorts of crafts projects.
Pop Up Books are fun for all ages. And easy to make!
Not photo memory books, but old-fashioned cutting and pasting.
Use natural materials to make art! This project is great to try on a nature walk or at the beach.
Bring the seasons into your home. This tree decorating activity brings natural balance.
Looking for something collaborative for a homeschool group? Or a longer term project that you can work on piece by piece?
CHENNAI YOUTH TIMEZ 
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