What are the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling your child

Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling your child

Answer 1

You must remember to keep your children socially active. Get them on a sports team or something.

My son has a learning disability which would keep him on the bottom of the class academically if he were in a school system. However, at home I am able to nurture his giftings, particularly in music, as well as give him the extra attention in mathematics and reading. He is growing into a well rounded child, much more secure than he would have been in a classroom setting. He has no difficulties socially.

Answer 2

The advantages are seemingly endless.  Here are a few:

Your child gets a customized education, rather than the cookie cutter method that the public school offers.  S/he can work at his own pace, meaning moving ahead when they have mastered a concept rather than waiting because it is not "time" to move ahead yet, and take a little longer on subjects they do not easily master, so that they are not forced to move ahead before they are ready (which just puts a child further and further behind).  They can also explore their interests more in depth, and use the material and method that fits THEIR learning style.

Your child gets to experience real world socialization.  I am constantly told by people whom are ignorant about homeschooling how the public school prepares us for the real world.  Yet, having experienced public school myself-I see no similarity between it and the real world.  In the "real world", I am not shut away with 29 or so other students born the same year I was and living in roughly the same neighborhood, and forced to socialize.  Rather, I socialize with people with similar interests as myself, with people of a variety of ages.  As of yet, in the real world I have not had to tolerate bullying and such-and if I did, I would remove myself from the situation.

We can take family vacations in the "off" season.  I see this as an advantage because the weather is better in the spring and/or fall rather than the winter or summer, there are less crowds and the cost is usually less as well.  We can also count our vacation as school-all of our lessons do not happen at home.  We did this when we went to Disney World (Epcot is very educational and we also visited the Audubon Society and NASA, where we watched a shuttle launch live), when we went to D.C. (White House, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, National Zoo...) and NYC (Statue of Liberty, WTC site, Empire State Building)...

Another advantage is that because they are homeschooled, my children have more academic opportunities available to them.  If they attended the local public school, they would be limited to what that school has to offer.  We take part in coop classes and field trips with our homeschool association, we take educational classes at the museum and zoo (created FOR homeschoolers), community programs, programs offered through the library...if they attended school, they would not be able to participate in the variety of things they do because the school day is so long, and their evenings would include homework as well.

If my children are sick, or for some other reason we miss a day, we can easily catch up without falling behind the rest of the class.  Often, even on sick days we can still do reading or some part of our lessons and/or watch educational videos.  

As for disadvantages, honestly-the only one I can state is having to constantly deal with people that make ignorant assumptions about homeschooling, such as the infamous lack of socialization or impossible to get into college.  Both of those are simply untrue.

I always ask people that bring up socialization what their children do evenings, weekends, holidays, and summer vacation?  I was always told I was not at school to socialize, and it is not the only place to learn those skills and is certainly not the best place.  My daughter is a 5th grader.  I would not expect her classmates (if she attended public school) to teach her math that they are also learning along with her, so why would I expect her to learn proper social skills from them?  They are still learning themselves!  My children attend church on Sundays and Wednesdays, are a part of 4H and Scouts, play baseball in our community, participate in a homeschool association where they get togther with other homeschoolers for classes, field trips and just for fun.  They are in clubs, classes and camps for a variety of activities throughout the year.  More importantly, the socialize with the banker, the mail man, the old lady in line with us at the store, the baby in the waiting room, etc.-that is the REAL world.  Nowhere else in life, aside from school, are you so isolated from people unlike you.

And as for college-many homeschoolers start college early, as dual enrollment students (completing advanced high school courses at the local college, and earning college credit as well).  Whether they do that or not, many colleges-including Ivy League-actively recruit homeschoolers.  They have recognized the readiness of a homeschool student to adapt to college life, which is more like homeschooling than public school.  Also, a homeschool parent or association can issue a high school diploma, but that (whether issued by a homeschool or a public school) is a mere decoration.  The important documents are transcripts, ACT/SAT scores, etc.

Well, while this is long it is my "short" answer to this question.  I hope it helps!

Answer 3

cost effectively

safe for your kids

saves time and money

Answer 4

It all comes down to responsibility really. That's both an advantage and a disadvantage. Advantage because you have the power to choose the sort of education you want for your children, modify things when you need to. It's a disadvantage because you are responsible! There's no one else to blame if things aren't working out!

Most of your respondents know little about homeschooling. Most of the disadvantages of homeschooling have nothing to do with homeschooling at all, and are the result of poor planning, poor implementation, poor parenting or unrealistic expectations. All those things can be fixed if those involved are willing to do so.

Answer 5

Well, I don't know much on the issue, but I do know that every home-schooled kid i've met is terribly awkward in social situations. It's my understanding that public school helps mold us into stronger, more adaptable people.

Answer 6

Ah!

Advantages: - More time (eg. Some musicians/actors/so on do homeschooling so that they can devote time to their instrument/work)

- independent feeling

- sense of freedom (can do whatever subjects whenever, take days off school..etc. Though see below for disadvantages...)

Disadvantages: - The kid could get socially retarded. Homeschooling - because of the small amount of interaction with other people - can make him/her get extremely shy, and once he/she gets to uni, it'll be their absolute personal h**l. So my advice here would be to make sure they get SOME interaction with other people if you homeschool! Trust me, it's important!

- Homeschooling allows a certain amount of freedom. Unfortunately, it's very easy to get behind in school, because you're busy doing other un-related-to-school stuff. It's a nightmare getting back on track with the schoolwork.

- And lastly, for the rest of your life you'll have it cast up to you that you homeschooled. (Though I've noticed that now it's getting more common, this problem is occuring less, thank HEAVENS!) People like to say 'oh you homeschooled, so you wouldn't know so-and-so' or some people just won't understand and think that you have ridiculous amounts of free-time because you homeschool, and though this sounds silly to be worried about, it can be a major problem. Extra-curricular teachers (like music teachers) can take advantage of the fact that you 'don't go to school' or other people can use your free time.

Sorry to go on and on. I just happen to feel strongly about the negative points. But, just to even it up a little, homeschooling isn't all bad. The main thing is to be organised. Really organised. Or else you shouldn't make your kid to homeschooling. It'll be stressful for you, for them, and for their teachers.  

Answer 7

The advantage of it is this. You no your child is safe and secure. No worries about your child in school.You child is not going to be social re-tarted or things like that. In my state we have home-school meeting. Our kids go on field trips with other kids. It all depends upon you. The teacher. There is no disadvantages in homeschooling your child. At lease you no your child is getting one on one attention