Homeschooling Your Children: Is it For You?

Contributed post

We all want what’s best for our children. And if you’re considering homeschooling, then chances are, it’s your children’s needs and interests you’re thinking about. However, you do need to contemplate what’s best for you too, it’s a huge responsibility since you’ll be the one that needs to deliver their entire education. Before taking the plunge, here are some important points to think through to work out if it’s best for you, your child and your family as a whole. 

Your education

Since you’ll be the primary educator for your children, it’s crucial that you’re able to understand the information yourself in order to then teach it. Don’t underestimate children's schoolwork, it can be more difficult than you think! If you have a teaching background or have a degree in education, chances are this will be a lot easier- however homeschooling can still be successful without it. Just be aware that you’ll need to be willing to invest the time and effort into learning about the subjects and teaching methods, and have a good ability to learn, process information and teach in an inspiring way. The beauty of homeschooling is that it doesn't need to be purely academic, and you can teach your children lots of things that they simply wouldn't get the chance to spend time on in the classroom. However, some academic work will of course be important- kids need to know how to read and write, understand sciences, geography and other traditional subjects. If you struggle with academics then it might be worth rethinking homeschooling or look into what support you can get in this area. Learning tools and resources can be really useful, for example videos like www.generationgenius.com/videolessons/fossils-and-extinction-video-for-kids/ to teach the science of extinction, or free interactive games like https://thehomeschooldaily.com/the-ten-commandments-for-kids/ to teach about the bible. You don’t need to know everything, but an ability to learn yourself is a key skill. 

Your approach

Have you considered the approach you will take to homeschooling? For example, will you use a structured curriculum, or will you have a more flexible approach? Many parents choose to homeschool as it means they can emphasise the subjects that they believe are the most important, whether that be religion, the arts or the outdoors. You will need to look into the laws and requirements of homeschooling in your area since there might be certain subjects you will need to cover, with certain countries and areas being stricter than others. 

Financial impact

Homeschooling can be expensive. These expenses can include things like the cost of curriculum and materials like textbooks, workbooks, and educational software. Then you have supplies such as art supplies, science equipment, and technology to think about too. You may also need to pay for field trips and extracurricular activities, testing or assessments if these are required in the area you live in, plus membership fees for homeschooling organisations. Another financial impact to think about is lost wages for you, the time you can spend working either in employment or on side hustles will be greatly limited when you’re homeschooling so make sure it’s something your family can afford long term. 

Your time availability

Homeschooling will take up a lot of your time. You will be responsible for planning and delivering lessons, marking assignments, and providing support and guidance to your children. Homeschooling means you need to be available and teaching for several hours per day, five days a week, and this will continue for many years. Is this long term commitment something you are able to sustain, alongside other responsibilities you have inside and outside of the home?

Socialisation

One of the most concerning aspects for lots of parents looking to homeschool their children is the limited opportunities for social interaction they will have with other children. When they’re not mixing with others their same age each day, there can potentially be important early socialisation missed out on which can have a knock on effect later on. However, this doesn't have to be a dealbreaker as school isn't the only place children can socialise. Consider sports teams, clubs, and community events. You could arrange regular play dates and meetups with friends that have children, and even outdoor trips to parks and play areas where they can meet others. This will help promote good social and emotional development. You may need to consider your own socialisation too, homeschooling can be isolating for the parent as well. On top of time restraints, think about how you will spend time with your partner and friends to maintain your own sanity and mental health.