Making the Decision to Homeschool
Choosing to educate your children at home rather than sending them to a public or private school is a very personal choice.
There are all kinds of reasons families choose homeschooling! Some pull their child out of a public or private school because they are dissatisfied with a teacher, the quality of the school, or simply fed up with the system. Other parents decide to homeschool from the very start, craving an individualized approach that values family life and flexibility.
Whatever your own reasons, homeschoolers find that educating their own children at home is not as hard — or as strange — as it may seem.
Here are answers to some of the more common questions we hear about the decision.
Is Homeschooling Legal?
Homeschooling is legal in all 50 states in the United States as well as many countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, Estonia, New Zealand, India, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom. For many countries around the world, homeschooling is a viable alternative to compulsory public schooling.
It is your responsibility to understand the legal laws for homeschooling in your country and state, so it pays to do a little research.
Are There Requirements or Certifications to Homeschool?
Every country and state has its own rules regarding homeschooling. If you are in the United States, you may be required to submit proof of a high school diploma or GED.
However, that doesn’t mean that parents who will be doing the teaching don’t need guidance or support. Learning specific teaching techniques that can be used to give effective lessons is all part of the journey. If you are already certified as a teacher, that’s great, but it definitely isn’t the norm in the global homeschooling community.
Some even say that starting from a non-classroom perspective is even more helpful! Homeschooling does not work the same way as classroom teaching, so professionally trained teachers will need to adjust their expectations and be open to learning what works best for their children as well.
Isn’t Homeschooling Expensive?
Many prospective homeschoolers worry that homeschooling will be expensive, so you may be wondering how much it costs. If you have extra money to spend, there is no end to the fun stuff you can buy. Fortunately, you can homeschool just as effectively on a limited budget.
Curriculum will likely be your biggest expense outside of basic school supplies and crafty art materials. However, the curriculum resources available for homeschoolers are plentiful and are available at a variety of reasonable prices.
Homeschoolers using a Montessori approach naturally worry about the high cost of materials. While the classic Montessori materials used in classrooms are pricey, homeschoolers need to understand that the method can be effectively and affordably implemented by using simple materials found around the home.
Doesn’t Learning Require Seven Hours of Instruction a Day?
Many parents worry about the amount of time they should spend on direct instruction and “schoolwork”. The answer is — a lot less than you probably are imagining. First, many homeschoolers consider education a “way of life”. Lessons can happen anywhere and everywhere — in the kitchen and on playgrounds, at the zoo and in museums, at grandma’s house and on play dates with friends. Children are always learning. You just can’t stop them!
Second, because you are giving your child an individualized education (teaching them one-on-one) and don’t have to manage a whole classroom, you can get right to the point and help your child gain the knowledge and skills they need without wasting your time teaching them the knowledge and skills they already have.
As a result, for the average homeschooling family, this typically looks like about 1-2 hours per day of direct “academic instructional time” in the younger years and about 3-4 hours per day in the older years. The rest of your time together is spent living life! Reading stories, lots of unstructured playtime at home, field trips, outings, art projects, watching movies, playing board games, having dance parties, cooking meals together…you know…regular life!
And all this “extra stuff” is still going to be educational for your child. They’ll be learning about division while serving dinner and classifying plants in the backyard. You’ll find yourself teaching them little lessons all the time outside of the context of “school”. It all counts!
Aren’t Homeschooled Kids at a Disadvantage Later?
Homeschooled children grow up and enter college and become professionals with specialized fields just like children who go to a public or private school. If you homeschool during high school, there are many ways to graduate them. It just depends on the requirements of your country/state.
If you are asking whether homeschoolers grow up to be compassionate, considerate, responsible, educated human beings, the answer is absolutely!
Aren’t Homeschool Kids Socially Isolated?
One of the biggest concerns parents have about homeschooling is socialization. It’s understandable! Our culture is full of stereotypes about isolated, “weird” homeschool kids. Plus, humans are social animals, and we adults know implicitly just how vital it is that we provide our kids a place to develop healthily social skills and bonds.
The reality is most real-life homeschooling parents will tell you that finding social opportunities for your child to play and learn with other children is possible with a little effort. You may be able to find other homeschoolers in your local area to connect with regularly at the park. Your local library or Park & Rec centers may offer after school programs. Playgrounds are also a great place to meet other children.
What If Not Everyone in My Family Is On Board?
Sometimes one member of the family is sold on the idea of homeschooling, but the other needs convincing. If you are the parent who will be doing the convincing, we recommend that you be receptive to listening to all of their concerns. When someone feels that their fears are being dismissed as unfounded, they are likely to defend their position even more firmly.
Assume that for homeschooling to work, you will both need to be somewhat on board and aligned. Approach them during a time when you are both well rested and ready to talk. Say, “I have been thinking more seriously about homeschooling, but I know that you have some concerns. Let’s talk about them and do some research together.”
Talk openly and honestly and make a list of the pros and potential cons. As you research, share some of the statistics that are relevant. For example, did you know that there are 3.7 million kids currently being homeschooled in the United States? In addition, homeschoolers actually outperform their public school peers on standardized academic achievement tests!
Statistics alone may help convince a skeptic, but most will need to have a viable action plan to feel comfortable making the decision. Research the laws in your area and decide on your philosophy of education. This will help you pare down your choices for curriculum.
Finally, realize that everyone’s journey to becoming a proponent of homeschooling is a little different. It could take time for your partner to get used to the idea. Propose a one year trial to see if it works. That’s a short-term commitment most people can live with. At the end of the year, plan to evaluate its success and decide whether you’d like to have another year-long homeschooling adventure.