The Unique Advantages of Homeschooling

According to the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI), there are about 2 million home-educated students in the United States. Making the decision to home school your child is not easy. Each available education option has advantages and disadvantages. However, homeschooling offers some unique advantages that you will not find readily available with other forms of education.

Balanced Learning
The academic basics are always important, and adequate time should be given to them. Making the choice to home school gives you the freedom to incorporate more things your child enjoys. If your child really loves math, you can spend extra time working on equations, fractions, etc. You have to find a balance between the "have to" subjects and the "want to" subjects. This will help keep your child focused and interested in what they are learning.

Some children learn quickly. Others may need a little more time to digest the information. Homeschooling allows you to adapt the schedule,. giving your child the opportunity to learn at their own pace.

One on One Learning
Teachers have a classroom of students and time constraints, which do not allow them to spend much one on one time with their students. Homeschooling allows you to give your child the attention they need. Even a family with several children has more time available for individualized help.

Schedule Flexibility
Homeschooling gives you the ability to schedule without being confined by the school year calendar. You can schedule vacations, doctor's appointments, and even take your child on a trip to the park or museum without struggling to fit this into a fixed schedule.

This is also an advantage for your child, because you can choose a study time that is the most beneficial for them. Not everyone is a morning person. Scheduling activities later in the day may improve your child's productivity.

Relationship Building
Quality time with our children is something we all seek. Homeschooling helps makes this a reality. If you take a trip to the local art museum, you are there to share that experience with your child. You no longer have to send your child on a field trip that you can not attend. Sharing more time together can help build a much closer relationship between you and your child.

Learning First Hand
Being able to learn something by actually doing or experiencing it is a major advantage. Your child can learn by doing a science experiment, taking a nature hike, or visiting the local fire department, the possibilities are endless. This hands on approach will help keep your child interested in what they are learning.

Take the necessary time to do the research before you make a decision. Start by finding out the state requirements for where you live. Homeschooling can be fun for you and your child, but each of you will also need to invest the time and effort required for it to be a success. The decision to home school is not right for everyone.

Brian D. Ray, Ph.D.
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