The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

Before making the decision to educate your child at home, it's important to consider the impact it can have on your family. Some people may refer to the cons of homeschooling as disadvantages, but they oftentimes require only a shift in priorities. The pros of homeschooling, while certainly advantageous, do not come without effort on everyone's part. Here are a few things to think about.

Pros

Meaningful

Homeschooling gives you an unending opportunity to build a special bond with your child. If you have more than one child, your children will build close relationships with each other as well.

You will be there when your child needs you.
You can help your child develop essential emotional, behavioral, and social skills.¹
Your child will develop lasting memories from extended family activities and interactions.

Flexible

Even if your state requires that you teach specific subjects and/or that you teach for a specific number of hours, you most likely can choose your child's curriculum and how, when, and where your child will learn the material.

You can mold your child's curriculum to his or her interests, learning style, and ability.
You can arrange a schedule that works for your family and easily adjust for vacations and unexpected events.
Your children do not have to stay cooped up in a classroom. (Take their books to the park!)

Safe

Your child is safe in the comfort of your own home and with other homeschoolers you know and trust.

Your child wont have to worry about peer pressure or bullies at school.
You don't have to worry about students bringing drugs or weapons to school.
You can provide a fun, safe environment for learning, playing, and socializing.

Efficient

Public school teachers spend a lot of time managing the classroom, and oftentimes students end up taking their school work home. Homeschoolers are able to complete assignments without interruptions leaving more time for fun and discovery.

You will be able to offer Immediate help when there's a question.
Your child won't have to spend time on busywork or concepts already mastered.
Your child will have more time to pursue his or her interests.

Cons

Exhausting

Everyone needs a break once in a while, but it takes a little more effort to schedule personal time when you're a homeschooler. Single parents, working parents, and parents homeschooling older children around the schedules of infants and toddlers may find it even more challenging to find personal time.

Maintaining a homeschool and managing a household can be physically tiring.
Around-the-clock parental supervision can be mentally draining and lead to burnout.²

Time Consuming

Homeschooling requires at lot of your time.

It takes time to prepare your child's curriculum and lesson plans, to teach the material, and to look over their work.
You need to keep yourself organized and your family on a regular, yet flexible, academic schedule.
Your "socialized" children depend on you to take them to field trips, park days, and other homeschool events.

A Huge Responsibility

As a home educator, you are responsible for your child's education.

You need to keep up to date with current home education laws.
You must be able to provide or arrange for adequate instruction.
You are key to helping your children reach their educational goals.

It's important to note that the benefits and drawbacks of homeschooling are different for every family. It sometimes depends on one's perspective!

Sources:
¹https://houston.cbslocal.com/2011/10/26/the-importance-of-family-bonding-time/
²https://www.familyeducation.com/school/how-homeschool/avoiding-homeschool-burnout

Published 07 November 2011
Updated 09 January 2022

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