Why Homeschool?

You may have never considered homeschooling as an option and are asking “Why homeschool my kids?” Parents have various reasons for choosing to homeschool their children. Some believe that they can provide a better, more enriching environment. Others want to make sure that their children learn religious lessons that they cannot get at public schools.

There are plenty of reasons for choosing to homeschool. Short conversations with parents who have already made the decision will show you that they prefer homeschooling for as many reasons as you can imagine.

We provided some answers below to help parents who are considering this alternative for their children. While we cannot cover every possible motivation for homeschooling, there is a good chance that you will find compelling reasons for why you should teach your children at home instead of sending them to a public school.

Why Homeschool

Some parents know that they will teach their children at home before their children are even born. Others stumble into it who had never even considered it before.

The following pages will let you discover some honest insights into the world of homeschooling education so that you can decide if this option is right for your family.

Reasons for Homeschooling
Here are the top reasons why other parents have chosen to teach their own children.

On this page, you will learn about reasons parents choose to homeschool over public and private schools.

Some reasons many parents want to homeschool their kids instead of sending them to public schools include:

• They don’t think the schools are pushing their children to try hard enough and reach goals that will benefits their lives
• They think they can provide a better educational experience than what public schools offer
• They don’t think their local public schools offer positive learning environments that match the needs of their children

When it comes to private schools, a lot of parents simply think that tuition is too expensive.

Other reasons mentioned to homeschool include:

• Convenience
• Their children have special needs
• They want to provide religious instruction
• They just want to spend more time with their children

Given this wide range of reasons, you will probably find something on this page that you can agree with.

History of Homeschooling
Believe it or not…it isn’t anything new. Learn the history of educating children at home.

The modern version of homeschooling started during the 1960s. Of course, parents have been teaching their children at home for much longer than that. When you look closer at history, it becomes obvious that most cultures have relied on some form of homeschooling. The focus hasn’t always been academics, but plenty of parents have always wanted to impart useful knowledge to their kids in structured home environments.

Pros and Cons of HOMESCHOOLING
Here is an honest look at the pros and cons of this educational choice.

That’s right, there are some disadvantages to homeschooling. It’s important to know about the disadvantages as well as the benefits. By learning about both sides, you can make homeschooling more useful for your children.

Some pros include:

• Customized learning plans
• Flexible schedules that match the family’s needs
• Real world learning that teaches kids how to use what they learn

Some cons include:

• Spending extra money on educational materials and supplies
• Less social interaction for kids
• Taking up a lot of the parent’s time

Homeschooling isn’t the right answer for every family. That’s why you should get acquainted with both sides before making a decision that will affect your child’s future.

Advantages of Home Schooling
Learn the advantages for the whole family that extend beyond just education. Find them here!

There are some obvious advantages to homeschooling your kids. There are also some advantages that aren’t so obvious. This page will teach you about many of the reasons that some parents prefer to educate their children at home.

Negative Effects of Homeschooling
Do not listen to the myths. Here is an honest look at the true negative effects of this educational alternative.

Yes, there are some disadvantages to homeschooling, but most of them are blown out of proportion by people who haven’t done any research on the subject. Here, you will find facts showing that there are plenty of good things about homeschooling.

“What about Socialization for Homeschooled Kids?”
Here are some answers for your questions and worries about socialization.

Socialization is a serious concern for parents who choose to homeschool their children. Unfortunately, some people have made this seem like a bigger problem than it really is. Homeschooled children aren’t automatically introverted anymore than kids who attend public schools are automatically extroverted.

Besides, there are plenty of ways to make sure that your child gets to interact with her or his peers. Once you take a look at the options, you will probably find that you have too many to choose from.

Famous Homeschoolers
Think that you don’t know any homeschoolers? We bet that you recognize some of these famous names!

The list of famous people who were homeschooled gets longer by the day. Homeschooling doesn’t tend to produce graduates who excel in specific areas, though. The people on this list are often famous for their work as:

• Entertainers
• Artists
• Politicians
• Inventors
• Writers
• Business leaders
• Athletes

No matter what kind of career path you might envision for your child, there is a famous person out there who shows that homeschooling can work in that field.

Research and Statistics
Statistical research supports home education benefits. Don’t make your decisions based on myths and conjecture. There is plenty of objective research that will help you make an informed decision.

You may find this book interesting about a comparison of American students to those of other high performing education countries:

You can order the The Smartest Kids in the World at this link.

Myths vs. Facts
Up-to-date research to separate the myths from the facts.

Don’t believe everything you read about homeschooling. There is a lot of misinformation out there. This page identifies some of the myths and challenges them with objective information.

For instance, did you know that children who are homeschooled do better on tests than students who attend public school? They even do better on the SAT and ACT tests.

Homeschooling and Sports – Homeschooling does not mean your kids can’t play sports. There are plenty of ways to make sure that your children get a strong physical education that builds good health and teaches them how to work with others.

Here, you will find some tips on how to get them involved.

Homeschooling Requirements and Laws
Every state has different legal requirements. Here are some guidelines to help you learn the laws and requirements in your area.

Following your state’s requirements will not only help you conform to the law, but will also ensure that your child gets a well rounded education that benefits him or her for decades to come.

Is Homeschool Testing Necessary?
Want to learn more about testing? Find out more about standardized tests, state requirements and other reasons to test your children.

You will learn that some types of testing are largely ineffective. Then again, your child will need to get familiar with some types of standardized tests. Without them, it’s unlikely that they can get into college or earn scholarships.

Your state may also require some tests, even if your children are homeschooled.

Home Education in High School
Think a high schooler is too old to learn at home? Think again. Many students who have attended public schools benefit by switching to homeschooling during this phase of life.

Learn the unique advantages of continuing through high school.

Cost of Homeschooling vs. Public School
Believe it or not, the cost of homeschooling your children may be LESS than you are paying to put them in a public school.

Ready to Start?
Don’t know where to start? It is not as difficult as it seems. There are a few steps to follow when getting started to help ensure a smooth transition for beginners.

Visit our How to Get Started page for some great tips for you!