There are many options out there when it comes to educating children, and home education is one of them. Most people got a Taste of Home Schooling during the pandemic, and while some people make it a permanent fixture in their home, not many other people do. There are many reasons that people do choose to homeschool however, and whether you’ve chosen this path yourself recently or you are old hat and have been doing it for years, there are plenty of benefits out there for you and for your children.
You can get so many great resources for children, including natural resources for kids so that they can learn about the natural world. The world is not limited when you home educate your children because they are able to get out there and join clubs and classes and socialise with people of all ages. If you’re on the fence about whether or not you should be home educating children, we’ve got some of the reasons below.
- It’s super flexible. When you home educate you don’t have to follow a rigid schedule. Most kids go to school for six or seven hours a day learning everything the teacher tells them to learn, but just like adults they are not always productive in those hours. Every parent is different and will choose to homeschool in a way that is best suited for their children, and it’s not just for their kids, but for themselves as educators. One of the biggest benefits is the flexibility that it comes with because you don’t have to stick to a school based curriculum, you can choose your own. There are plenty of resources out there to help you to guide your child’s learning through a curriculum that’s appropriate for their age, but it doesn’t have to be rigid.
- You get to modify things based on your children’s needs. Just like choosing a curriculum that suits your needs as a parent, you can also edit the curriculum based on what your child needs. Some children need more focus than others, and you can modify what you teach based on their needs. Highly active children often thrive when they’re learning whereas there are other children who are more than happy to sit at a desk and learn by rote. Either way, you can adapt to the learning your child receives based on their physical and their emotional needs. No matter what they need, you can create a plan and schedule that works for them.
- You can choose the curriculum. Whether your child goes to public or a private school they don’t have a say in the curriculum and nor do you. The only flexibility you get is what comes in when they’re in their later years and they get to choose their subjects. At home, you can choose the curriculum you want them to learn, and that will best benefit them. You can also underwrite that with as many field trips as you like!
- Home education is super social. There is a tonne of stigma around home educating children because they believe that your child will not be socialised enough. The reality is that home education allows your child to be social in bigger and better ways than children here at school. Not only can they join clubs and activities that run for home schooled children, but they’ll get to socialise and meet people of all ages. Home educated children have a chance to meet people from different walks of life more than school age children do.
- Children get to learn in a meaningful way. It should never come as a surprise that children don’t often connect well to the curriculum that is traditional in schools. Schools can teach subjects in one way or one style but because children have different learning abilities, they may not find much meaning in their learning. You have the opportunity to change that by ensuring that they are able to learn in a thoughtful and meaningful way and interact with all subject matter that you choose to introduce to them.
- Developing strong family bonds. When you spend a lot of time with your children, you can develop a better bond than if you are spending a lot of time apart. Children feel far more secure when they have family bonds that are strong and deeply connected. Develop better and more important skills for when they are older, and home education means that you have the opportunity to be with your child all or most of the time.