Hidden Benefits of Homeschooling Your Child

Homeschooling may be the answer. Why? The United States of America gives economic preference to citizens who are educated. Statistically, college graduates make significantly more than their high school counterparts and have a much higher chance of succeeding in the business world. HIgh school dropouts almost always are destined to stay trapped in the chains of poverty.

But how can your child succeed when so many public schools focus on drugs and crime instead of education? While it may be easy to place the blame at the feet of the teachers and administration, in the end, the only person who will stand up for your child is you. Yes, you.

Why should you homeschool your children? Here are five reasons why:

1. Children have the benefit of one-to-one education.
Think of the wealthy children who have private tutors teaching them advanced math, multiple languages, literature, the arts, science, and history. Children who have the benefit of a one-to-one education have the advantage of having an education designed around their strengths and weaknesses. If your child excels at biology, instead of having to wait till high school to study advanced sciences, he or she can study when they are ready. And for parents who live in school districts that struggle to even have basics like textbooks and paper, the opportunities of having an advanced college prep at a younger age will help immigrant children climb out of poverty.

2. Parents and children have an opportunity to bond.
Homeschooled children enjoy the benefit of having much-needed time with their parents. With most parents working for long periods of time just to making ends meet, this precious time of teaching and learning will build a relationship and memories for years to come.

3. You will have more time.
Most homeschooling families only dedicate four hours a day four to five days a week to teaching. In other words, it only takes a half day to fit in all of the material of the typical eight hour school day. Why? Think about all of the wasted time - periods between classes, roll call, meetings, lunch time, discipline, etc. - that are embedded in the public school system. The advantage of this is that even a parent working part time can teach their child.

4. Your child can enjoy extracurricular activities.
If you are like many struggling parents, finding time to rush your children to after school soccer practice, band, science club, church, etc. seems absolutely impossible, especially if you have to weigh in a work schedule or spouse's needs. However, if your child only has to study half a day, then the open afternoon (or morning) gives you plenty of time to include extracurricular activities. Some states even allow homeschooled children to join local school teams (you are still paying taxes to support the school after all).

5. You can instill cultural pride in your child from home.
While some children are fortunate enough to attend a school that is well-equipped and lacks any type of discrimination, not all children have this opportunity. Many students in rural areas, for example, may find that teachers, peers, and administrators treat them differently because of their cultural heritage and/or race. In other cases, blatant discrimination or derogatory remarks can permanently scar your child. By homeschooling your child, and involving them in a like-minded community of other homeschoolers, you can ensure that your child grows up proud of their cultural heritage, race, and/or native language.

Search the web for homeschooling support groups in your community. You may be surprised to find other homeschoolers in your church or community. These groups will help you gain the right materials, know what your legal rights are as a parent, and provide you with much-needed support.