CultusHomeschooling can be a grand adventure for parents and children alike. In the past it might have had a negative stigma, but in recent times with some of the issues the public schools are having, that stigma has gone away. In its place is an acceptance that has schools, colleges and businesses realizing how successful homeschooled students can be.
Insane growth
Homeschooling is growing by leaps and bounds as people are more and more dissatisfied with the education that their children are (or are not) receiving from traditional schools. The growth rate is estimated to be between 7 – 15% annually! There are about 2 million children learning in a home environment currently.
New advantages
Because the number of homeschoolers has increased so much, colleges and universities have taken notice! It is no longer difficult for a child to gain entrance to college after being homeschooled, especially if he or she has taken online courses for high school. Having a transcript from such a course makes the entrance into college all that much easier. At times, universities actually prefer homeschooled applicants, because students who learn in a lower student-to-teacher ratio statistically do better than those in a large-scale classroom on standardized tests.
Another advantage of homeschooling is how individualized the education can be for each learning style. This is a big downfall in larger classrooms as well. The teachers are expected to teach to a test, which leaves little room for creativity. There are at least 5 different learning styles, and a person will absorb the most information when you are able to present the information to them in their personal learning style format.
Working at your own pace
Setting your own hours is a wonderful benefit to homeschooling. You can even schedule your child’s learning around your work schedule! They may enjoy being able to sleep in, even if it is just an hour longer than their otherwise schooled counterparts.
Meet your kid’s needs
Physical activity is such an important facet of our health as human beings, yet in a traditional school environment, it is greatly minimized due to time constraints. Homeschooling can provide the time for your child to fulfill those physical needs whether they are 5 or 15 years old.
Closer family relationships are a wonderful part of schooling your kids at home. Oftentimes, homeschooled teenagers do not suffer the “normal” teenage angst of schooled kids. This could be due in part to the constant stream of communication between parent and child in a homeschooled environment.
Great for religious freedom – but not the only reason
It is a common misconception for one to believe that all homeschoolers are homeschooling because of their religion. A lot of people school their children at home for the above reasons that have nothing to do with religion. That said, freedom of religion and religious activity is an additional advantage of homeschooling for those who do want to separate their children from the secular world.
Homeschooling can be challenging at times. If you are an organised person you will find it easier than those who are disorganised. Scheduling and preparation are essential to educating in any setting. When it comes to providing the kind of enriching education you want for your child, the benefits far outweigh the challenges.
You can read more at Definitive Guide to Home Schooling
About the Author:
Jess Holmes is a freelancer who enjoys blogging about education and personal development.
