This post is about the 11 Homeschool Benefits you NEED to know!
We've all heard about homeschooling. Whether the points of views on the matter were positive or negative, the fact remains that homeschooling has existed since the beginning of time, and it is here to stay. But what are the homeschool benefits?
The benefits of homeschooling is undeniable with the number of families deciding to pursue home education steadily increasing to nearly 4 million as of 2021.
However, though the statistics on home education are promising, there are still parents who are either on the fence or are against home education being an option for their children.
Some don't believe that there are homeschool benefits because of the stereotypes surrounding home education. So I wanted to shed some light on just how beneficial homeschooling can be and why you should consider it.
11 Homeschool Benefits You NEED to Know
1. Freedom
One of parents' favorite benefits is the freedom they have taking their child's education into their own hands. Most of us have experienced being subject to school calendars and start & end times. Having to be at a specific place at a specific time, so your child doesn't miss the bus, or so that you can beat them home and so on.
With homeschooling, this is no longer an issue. Your schedule, the time, the place, and the way your day flows is solely up to you. You also have the time & freedom to travel and vacation without needing permission or being penalized.
One of the many perks of home learning is that you can do it anywhere at any time, whether lakeside in the family RV or spring breaking on the other side of the world. You can homeschool anywhere and you get to decide when your breaks are. 69% of parents feel that their family having more time for other activities is one of the top benefits of homeschooling(edchoice.org).
Children also enjoy that everything is open and available to them during traditional school hours. So, trips to the park, museums, etc., are theirs for the taking without lines or crowds.
You get to live the life you want with your children without being limited by someone else's rules & regulations.
Flexibility & Time
In addition to the freedom homeschooling provides, it also gives you control over your daily schedule. You decide what days & hours your family homeschools. Flexibility looks different depending on your family and your obligations. The important thing is you get to tailor your schedule to best fit your family's needs.
I personally enjoy being able to homeschool in the evenings and on Sundays. Though our schedules change often, our homeschool looks nothing like what their schedule looked like while they were still in school. And it works a lot better for us that way.
2. Need-Based Learning
Need-based learning is essentially tailoring your child's lessons, curriculums, projects, etc. based on their needs, skill sets, and gifts. Practicing need-based learning gives your little ones a fantastic advantage early on in their lives. By the time they are ready to graduate high school, they have already perfected their skills & have a much better understanding of who they are, what their strengths are, and where they want to go. This also provides them the opportunity to explore topics that may not have been available to them otherwise.
58% of homeschooling parents said that they chose homeschooling because it gave them more control over what their children learned. Imagine where you would be if, at a young age, you were encouraged to focus & actively pursue your strong suits, skills & gifts and given the space to nurture them throughout your childhood. This in my opinion is one of the best homeschool benefits.
3. Promotes Creativity
In the school system, children are typically encouraged to think INSIDE the box. Individualism and creativity are not always encouraged, causing them to struggle with their confidence and sense of individuality.
With homeschooling, our littles are encouraged to be themselves, think outside the box, and embrace their personalities.
They can be creative in their learning, in their art, music, projects, etc. They can also use this creativity to explore their interests.
4. Quality Time
Your children being home most of the day means you’re spending more time with them than you could while in a traditional school. Typically, children spend most of their awake hours at school, then there's homework, chores, etc. And although many of us make time to connect with them that quality time is still limited. 70% of parents surveyed listed their main benefit of homeschooling was their improved relationships with their children.
Utilize this time, and you'll begin to see how they learn, the way they think and work through problems, watch them explore and discover their interests, and the list goes on. Homeschooling is known to strengthen the bond you have with your children. I've learned so much about my littles since I've had them home with me, and I don't believe we could've had this experience if they were still in school.
5. Morals, Values & Beliefs
The #1 reason I decided to withdraw my children from public school was the steady decline in morals and values within the school system that I was noticing.
Homeschooling protects our children from being exposed to certain topics and behaviors at such young ages. We know that children are sponges, and when they share an environment with children from different upbringings, beliefs, moral codes, etc., it can influence them in ways that aren't in their best interest. Especially in their foundational years when they haven't fully developed the ability to reason & use discernment and logic when met with different ideologies and thought processes. With homeschooling, you can instill in them values & integrity, rather than them taking on the beliefs and worldviews of strangers.
You are also able to incorporate your faith into their education. As a believer, scripture is the foundation of our family. So I can work that into our daily lessons or create projects around it. There are also scripture based curriculums you can choose from the incorporate it for you.
You can also teach character building and development the right way, as well as how to work through conflict, forgiveness, communication, empathy, active listening, etc.
Doing so will provide them with a stable understanding and healthy worldview, and a belief system so that will help them to grow into well-rounded adults capable of thinking for themselves.
“Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old, he turns not away from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
6. Academic & Collegiate Success
One of the biggest concerns for parents when considering or rejecting homeschooling is whether or not their children will learn anything and be successful in their futures.
Contrary to popular belief, homeschooled children achieve higher academic and collegiate success based on studies and surveys performed throughout the years. Homeschool students outperform public and private schools, scoring 15-30 percentile points higher in standardized testing.
Research also shows that these students not only do better in college but they tend to stick around longer and have better graduation rates. 69% showed favorable success rates as homeschooled adults compared to conventional schools.
68% of parents say that they feel their children are learning more at home, while 65% of parents say that their little ones are more engaged & interested in school.
7. Great for Families with Special Needs Children
Parents who have children with special needs are also one of the largest groups opting to homeschool. Feeling frustrated that the school systems design does not have their children in mind and that the lack of accommodations and care for their little ones is evident, they are deciding to take matters into their own hands and it is paying off.
In multiple polls, parents have seen a decrease in their child’s need for medical and behavioral treatment since first beginning homeschooling. 68% of parents felt that homeschooling was the best option because they could be flexible and give their children the individual attention and care they needed.
8. Socialization
It's been a longstanding myth that homeschooled children are not properly socialized, and that they lack the proper social skills to function in society. This couldn't be any further from the truth.
Homeschooled children have access to various extracurricular activities with other children and with children in traditional schools. They also have access to playgroups, homeschool co-ops, sports and a variety of other activities. In addition, there is nothing stopping children from making friends once school is out for the day, and they are just as capable of joining other children at the playground, skate parks, etc. When polled, 87% of homeschooled children showed positive outcomes in social development over children in traditional school.
Homeschooled students are better able to connect with other children whom they share similar interests. Homeschool co-ops and playgroups are located all over the country, where families can connect, learn and do activities together depending on their children’s interests and areas of study.
Homeschooling has evolved throughout the years, and as it continues to grow the opportunities continue to grow as well. Children are no longer limited to the amount of interaction available outside of the home.
So, it is time to kick the stigma that homeschooled children are somehow lacking in to their ability to build and prosper in social relationships. Let’s put that to rest PUHLEASE!
9. It’s Better for Children Emotionally
Studies show that homeschooling improves children’s emotional well-being & mental state. 68% of children said they felt an increased sense of happiness since being home while 60% of parents even noticed improved behavior in their children. Lower levels of depression were also recorded compared to children with no homeschooling background.
As homeschoolers understanding how important it is to nurture and build up our children's emotional intelligence should be a priority. The above outcomes are far more likely if we allow them the space to communicate and be heard which is something they’re not as likely to experience in a traditional school setting. When we make this a goal & our focus it’s no surprise that our children grow emotionally.
As a mother of a child who struggles with processing his big emotions, my son struggled in school. His teachers and leaders could not relate to him and therefore did not try to understand him. And I believe this made it even more difficult for him. But since he's been home and I have taken the time to help him and discuss with him how to better navigate his emotions I've noticed big changes in his behavior and his temperament.
10. The State of the Public School System
Parents feeling as though their children are not being valued and that their education, mental health and overall well-being is not a priority is common within the public school system.
Statistics show that the public school system is on a steady decline, enrollment is falling, there is a lack of substantial funding, and a shortage of teachers, especially in public schools in impoverished neighborhoods.
Due to the pandemic and forced remote learning, children have fallen even further behind and they cannot adequately get caught up, especially children in low-income neighborhoods. Teachers are left feeling like there isn't enough time to pour into their students. More than half of low-income students cannot demonstrate basic science, reading & history knowledge.
The pandemic gave us a much-needed pause and a moment to reflect and realize that the system was not working for our children. We realized that there had to be more than one way to educate. So, we decided to find it.
"Many homeschooling families enrolled their children in public schools and gave them every opportunity to meet their child's needs. They just didn't. And, at times, they did worse than not meet a child's needs, actively working to harm their academic or social development. Rather than go after homeschooling parents, go after schools that give parents no other option." -Mike McShane with Forbes.
11. It Makes You Better
My decision to homeschool not only changed my children’s lives, but it also changed mine. Doing so has made me more patient, understanding, and forgiving and has made me happier. I can now spend more time with them, helping them learn and grow in their own lives, which has also made me a better and more appreciative parent. It continues to make me reflect and realize that I have internal work to do regarding the type of parent I want to be. I am becoming more mindful of their needs and expectations of me as their mother.
Homeschooling can make you better than you were when you first started if you welcome it openly. And I want this for each of you. So, trust the process, give yourself grace and enjoy the journey.
In Conclusion
I will always be completely transparent with you. This road is not easy, but it doesn’t have to be as challenging as many believe. And so many homeschooling parents are here to help you navigate the journey and the obstacles you will face.
The above homeschool benefits result from parents who value their children’s education and experiences throughout their journey. To see these homeschool benefits, take the time to pour into your children, and they will flourish. If we do this together, our children cannot fail. I hope you found this information to be helpful and encouraging.
I am here to help every one of you so if you have any further questions, comments, concerns on homeschool benefits or if there is a post you’d like to see in the future, feel free to reach out to me directly here or leave a comment so we can chat! Wishing you mamas all the blessings!