10 Things You Didn’t Know About Homeschooling

When it comes to your children’s education, homeschooling has been one of the options for some parents. Generally, it refers to the practice of providing learning sessions to kids at home rather than in schools.

Under this setup, parents can have a say on several aspects of their children’s learning experience, including the teaching methodology and the schedule.

However, it’s essential to know that making the choice to homeschool is a personal one for each family.

Some parents opt for homeschooling for their little ones due to safety concerns, while others choose it for reasons like travel situations, religious beliefs, special needs, and other similar situations. 

On the other hand, many people are claiming that handling a child’s education at home may adversely affect their learning development.

In fact, there are so many myths and misconceptions about homeschooling, but there are also some incredible things that even the most seasoned homeschoolers may not be aware of.

Things You Didn’t Know About Homeschooling

This fall we will begin our 15th year of homeschooling. We have graduated two and still have three more to educate over the next 10 years. It’s proven to be the best choice for our family and it’s been such an interesting journey.

As parents, even after 15 years, there are still so many new things to learn about our education choice. For example, here are 10 things you didn’t know about homeschooling:

1. The homeschool population is growing.

In 2016, approximately 2.3 million children in the United States were being homeschooled, and that number increases 2-8% each year according to the National Home Education Research Institute.

The reasons why families homeschool are varied, but one thing is for certain, many families are continuing to choose homeschooling for their family at an increasing rate.

2. Many famous inventors were homeschooled.

We can thank the homeschool education of Alexander Graham Bell for the invention of the telephone. Thomas Edison, who gave us the light bulb among other life-changing historical inventions, was also homeschooled.

3. Quality homeschooling can be low cost.

There are so many low cost and free resources available for homeschool families. From free curriculum to supplemental materials online, homeschooling no longer has to put a family in a financial bind.

4. Public school activities may be an option.

Depending on your state of residence, your school district may allow your child to participate in extracurricular activities, like sports teams, regardless of whether or not your child is attending five-day public school.

The Homeschool Legal Defense Association has a document that gives the rules for each state. Contact your local school for specific information on activities.

5. It’s presidential to homeschool.

George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Woodrow Wilson (the only President to hold a Phd) were all homeschooled.

6. You’re not alone.

Reach out to local homeschool support groups in your area online and in person. Many groups plan activities and social outings to give time for cooperative learning for children, and well, to have fun!

7. Homeschooling accepts all religions.

Some parents choose homeschooling as an option because of religious beliefs, but homeschooling is not just for practicing Christians. Families of all denominations and beliefs choose homeschooling.

8. It’s not just about the core subjects.

Homeschooling leaves flexibility for electives suited to your child’s interests. Want to explore cooking? Design a culinary curriculum. Is engineering their jam? Build a computer or learn about robotics. Allow interests to dictate learning and design.

Aside from the subjects mentioned above, homeschooling may also give children the opportunity to learn history, specifically the different ancient civilizations worldwide. Teaching kids about ancient civilizations has several benefits, like the core subjects.

Generally, this can offer children adequate knowledge about history and other relevant information. For example, they’ll be able to understand the relation between the current elements of the world and ancient civilization. These can include the economic and political similarities and differences among various cultures worldwide.

Hence, even if you’ve decided to enroll your children in a homeschooling program, they may still learn whatever subjects that interest them. Whether they want to familiarize themselves with culinary arts, technology, history, and other subject matters, homeschooling may also be a good teaching practice aside from on-site learning.

9. You don’t have to be an expert in everything.

There is a world of information and support for homeschool parents. Don’t feel like you have to be a certified Calculus teacher to help your student with math. There are resources available; make sure you take advantage of them.

10. Homeschooling doesn’t have to be permanent, but it can be.

It’s up to you and your family if you want your child to be homeschooled from K-12 grades. Make your child part of the decision as they get older if it’s an option to go to public or private school.

If homeschooling continues to be the right choice for your family, keep going! Every family is different.

These 10 things you didn’t know about homeschooling will help reaffirm or make the initial decision whether or not homeschooling is the best choice for your family!

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