Choosing to Homeschool– Why, Benefits, Disadvantages, Stigma

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Homeschooling may sound like a trend, primarily because 2.5 million students enrolled in homeschool in 2019, but it is about healthy choices for families and less about trendy vibes. There are uncertainties when considering homeschooling, and it is essential to learn why to make the best of this situation.

Parents are homeschooling because it is safer and more flexible. People learn that the negative stigmas do not apply to them and choose to benefit from homeschool experiences. Many families work from home and generate income to support this lifestyle.

Weeding through the questions related to homeschooling will help you choose what is best for your family. It is true that some families do not prefer homeschooling for personal reasons, and understanding why will help you know whether those justifications are a cause for concern. Despite what many think, homeschooling families are growing quite quickly, resulting in more resources and opportunities for growth.

This post will discuss why more parents choose to homeschool children, the benefits of homeschooling, and some of its negative marks. Many think that the disadvantages are a misunderstanding, thus creating stigma. We’ll chat about which are considered a stigma so that you can make the best choices!

Why are More Parents Choosing to Homeschool?

More parents choose to homeschool because more educated parents want to make choices that benefit their families. Since the pandemic, people have adapted to in-home learning environments because many resources were closed due to the quarantine.

Despite what others have said, people have learned that homeschooling is relatively easy and flexible. The safety of a home is a better option when parents are concerned about aspects of public education that are not easily changed. Families are disappointed with public schools and don’t feel safe enrolling their kids. Some research shows that homeschool students are more successful than public school students.

Reasons why parents homeschool children:

Disappointed in public school.
Schools closed during the pandemic.
Homeschoolers are more successful.
Safety reasons.
Family values.
Kids with disabilities.
Health issues.

Families learned to value different things and have incorporated those values into the homeschool curriculum. Adding family values into learning instead of focusing on public school agendas eliminates stressors in children’s lives. Parents or caregivers supervise kids more closely at home than at school because teacher-child ratios are often high, resulting in unattended conflicts and issues.

Parents also learned to value different levels of independence inside the house. More and more homes have a familial vibe than us versus them mentalities, which significantly improves family dynamics and learning. Families with disabilities also learned that homeschooling is better because they feel safer with their tools and equipment or schedules for disabled children.

For some, homeschooling is about child-led learning and the right to choose. Many parents choose to incorporate spiritual, mindful, or religious elements into their children’s homeschooling curriculum to stabilize their sense of self. Homeschooling families are likely to enforce a sense of self and pride into their children’s learning by allowing them to explore and learn at their rate. Because teachers are overworked and lack essential resources, parents choose homeschooling as an alternative to adult-led play.

How to Begin Homeschooling

To start homeschooling, you must understand some of the supplies involved, regulations, and laws. Kids will need curriculums and books, ways to connect digitally, and homeschooling friends.

This section will describe:

Homeschool supplies
Rules for homeschooling
Starting homeschool

Homeschool Supplies

Materials that homeschoolers need are dependent on a curriculum and the child’s age. You will probably need a space for learning, essential writing tools, and literature. Homeschooling is a more creative endeavor, and personality traits are often more desirable than expensive materials. Parents must be focused, loving, compassionate, and stable.

Buy supplies and materials that reflect your child’s interest and a chosen curriculum. If you have a preschooler, supplies will look like things they already play with, like activity books, crayons, and sorting games.

Older children will need calculators, graph paper, and appropriate literature. Consider unschooling as an option to learn what your child likes. Unschooling focuses heavily on the children’s unique interests, and you learn and grow with your child and their curiosity.

Families who homeschool have the added benefit of flexible schedules, so it is crucial to have good time management skills, especially if you have multiple children. Many families incorporate children’s needs (exercise, meals, friendships, naps) into routines as they learn to adapt to personal learning settings. Homeschooling is really about being responsible for one’s body and practicing healthy learning habits.

More homeschool supplies and traits for learning

Curriculum
Space
Writing materials
Activity books
Literature
Math tools

Patience
Healthy eating
Safe boundaries
Motivation
Creativity
Effort

Rules for Homeschooling

Homeschooling is considered legal in all of America. A few minor rules need to be followed before you send out a withdrawal letter, and they vary slightly depending on the state. Some states are more lenient than others, with few restrictions, and other states require more documentation.

Illinois and Arizona require no documentation of learning or standardized tests, but in Maine and North Carolina, testing is yearly. Every state is different. Go to this website to find your state, or check out this article for more about homeschooling requirements.

How Do I Begin Homeschooling?

You should find your state to determine when to fill out the letter of intent. A letter of intent tells the local administration that they are not responsible for providing instruction. These forms can be found on state websites or homeschooling blogs. They might vary slightly but are all similar.

Find social media groups.
Fill out a letter of intent.
Buy curriculum.

Organize.
Purchase materials.
Consider unschooling.

Create or find groups on social media websites highlighting homeschool aspects for you to read and learn from. Homeschooling groups are full of resources, tips, ideas, and families wanting to help one another. Many families become friends and share child-care, go on trips together, and support one another throughout their journey. Homeschooling families are active and waiting to create new experiences.

How Soon Can I Start Homeschooling?

You may start teaching your children anytime within their lifetime. Homeschool laws require that you sign a letter of intent between ages 5 and 8. In Florida, for example, you must file for homeschool at age 6, whereas in Pennsylvania, it is required starting at age 8. This means that you will no longer receive mail or solicitation from local public schools and that you are qualified to homeschool in your state.

What are the Benefits of Homeschooling?

Homeschooling curriculums are flexible and slow, which means children will experience less stress as they navigate their lives and learn about tools for learning. Children learning to be independent and safer in their territory is an excellent benefit of homeschooling.

Children learn to be patient and maximize time at home because there is less stimulation; their brains can process efficiently. Child ratios are at their advantage because there are fewer young children –unless families share child care- but there is still more room for asking questions and providing answers because the adult-to-child ratio is at their advantage.

Benefits of Homeschooling

Independence.
Customized learning.
Flexible.
Better parent-to-child ratio.
Safer.
Family bonding.
Emotional support.
Higher chance of educational success.
Less stimulation.
Slower pace.
Less stress.

Independence: There are more opportunities for child-led learning, and there is more balance between teaching styles. Because of the flexible nature of homeschooling, kids can propose activities, problem-solve, and be active participants in their learning. During school, children must be compliant, follow rules, and contain their creativity due to the nature of the environment, but there is no reason for kids to suppress their own ideas at home.

Family bonding: When homeschoolers benefit from being around their parents more frequently, they learn family values and bond more. Having learning experiences with families teaches them what they practice through daily reinforcement. Understanding and strengthening family values through daily repetition and conversations encourage verbal and social skills because kids focus more on the importance of uniqueness, character building, and identity seeking and less on fitting in.

Emotions: Families and caregivers are emotionally supportive because they patiently identify massive feelings throughout the day and participate in dialogue that supports their emotional needs. Parents help children with emotion regulation during the day to promote learning.

Stress: Since most homeschooling families value the individual’s pace, these environments are less stressful because kids have the opportunity to take their time and explore their interests naturally. There are fewer chances to get overwhelmed during homeschooling because kids are not crowded together screaming.

Disadvantages of Homeschooling

People think that children of homeschooling families are socially isolated and strange. Families who participate in homeschooling are considered awkward, quirky, and eccentric. People believe that children who aren’t enrolled in public school lack social and verbal skills.

Many people have beliefs about homeschooling that have influenced their opinion. Everyone has their opinion and the right to choose what is best for their family.

Some people either think homeschooling is good or bad, but there is no definitive answer to whether homeschooling is good or bad. Understanding how it works and whether it is appropriate for your home situation will help you choose what is best for your family.

Disadvantages to homeschool environments are related to:

socialization
abuse
poor supplies
organization
self-discipline
cost
added stress

Some Words About Abuse and Neglect

The common association with abuse and neglect within the home also influences people’s image of homeschooling agendas. There has never been any data that suggests that homeschoolers are more likely to experience abuse, neglect, or trauma.

That doesn’t mean that abuse doesn’t happen; it does. The likelihood of someone purposefully being hurt at home because of malicious intent is probably just as likely as someone getting abused at school. No evidence indicates that homeschoolers are more likely to be abused at home than those enrolled in public school.

Reasons people disapprove of Homeschooling

Homeschoolers don’t support public schools.
Kids are socially awkward.
Income levels vary.
Education is insufficient.
Limited personal time.
The workload is too much.
Poor time management.
Schools know more than parents.
Abuse and neglect in the home.

Public school: The idea that homeschoolers don’t support the public school is why more people don’t gravitate to the picture. While it sounds advantageous to be competitive when considering curriculums and intelligence tests, homeschoolers do not have strong desires to hurt or combat public school agendas. They are unsupportive by their lack of attendance but aren’t necessarily hostile or purposefully tormenting teachers or administrations.

Socially awkward: Many parents worry that children will lack social skills because they are not enrolled in school. Some think kids never see anyone but their family, resulting in poor communication with peers. Although no evidence supports this theory, some decide to take the traditional route in hopes of better relationships.

Income levels: People against homeschooling believe that families generate less income because a parent must be home to monitor children. In 2016, statistics show that 21% of homeschooling families were below the national poverty level. Many states require high school diplomas, GED, or some college to register as a homeschool parent, making it difficult for undereducated parents.

Homelife: Personal time gets interrupted, and there is more cleaning during homeschooling. Families who homeschool must work on time management skills, proper cleaning, and taking breaks to teach kids and manage the workload efficiently. Parents must learn to take breaks to reduce burnout!

Schools know more: There is a societal belief that schools know more about life and success, convincing more people to enroll their children in school in hopes of high self-worth.

Abuse: Homeschooling is unsafe and abusive when people abuse, traumatize, and neglect family members. While it is true that people get hurt at home, there is no reason to believe that homeschooling families are more likely to be abusive. Many people also believe that children don’t learn at home. It is complex that any real learning is made in a naturally comfortable environment, further convincing people that homeschooling is harmful. However, there are organizations dedicated to reducing child abuse in homeschool environments.

Homeschool Stigmas

As I mentioned previously, there are many so-called “disadvantages” to homeschooling. Although some believe these wholeheartedly, other homeschool families say they are stigmas or myths and aren’t close to the truth. Consider this section when deciding to homeschool to assess whether you think these apply to your situation.

Some homeschool stigmas

Limited socialization.
No college experiences.
Poor education.
At home all the time.
Kids don’t want to learn.
Undereducated parents.

Final Thoughts About Homeschooling

Changing the learning setting is vital because we know that learning is not a one-and-done deal. Many people categorize tasks and believe that school is the only place you learn. When you are at home, you play –wait, what? Understanding this concept is still learning helps many people grasp how homeschooling promotes learning. We are not dependent on public schools to guide us in our skill-building and experiences. There are different ways to create groups, form relationships, and absorb information.