Homeschooling is becoming one of America’s fastest-growing forms of education. An analysis by The Post reveals a dramatic rise in the percentage of homeschooling as a result of the pandemic that has been sustained all through this year. This beat the expectations of many experts who believed families would return to classrooms post-pandemic.
This sustained number of students enrolled in online classes has proven that homeschooling is not only a mainstay but also a disruptor in the American educational system. With hundreds of thousands of students now learning outside a conventional classroom, the impact and advantages of online homeschooling are only beginning to be felt.
What Exactly Is Homeschooling?
Homeschooling is simply parent-supervised learning. While there are several tweaks to this definition depending on your source, the core idea is that a parent participates actively in the education of the child.
Modern improvements in technology and remote communication have made it a preferred option for many parents. Sadly, many make the argument that conventional education stifles the learning of a child. Parents no longer have any significant say in the educational policies of public schools and have to fear for the safety of their kids.
For some parents, the flexibility of a homeschooling schedule makes it an attractive option, teaching children independence, self-learning, and accountability to one’s self at an early age.
Of course, homeschooling has its set of challenges for students and parents. Juggling your child’s classes and a full-time job can be daunting, but you don’t have to. Hiring a tutor and using online curricula significantly reduces this burden on the parents while ensuring your children get the best education using a curriculum tailored to their specific needs.
What Are The Benefits Of Homeschooling
Academic Advantages Of Homeschooling:
Albert Einstein said, “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of minds to think.” Homeschooling encourages children to think critically and truly understand concepts and ideas contained in their topics.
The standards of education are one of the main reasons children need to be homeschooled. There are also other reasons why parents opt for a personalized approach to a child’s education journey.
Parents who don’t see the advantages of homeschooling may believe that this method of schooling may deprive their child of the necessary socialization skills. This is far from the truth.
Learning to be self-sufficient is one of the best gifts you can give a child. With this, they learn confidence and believe in their ability to figure things out and learn even without supervision. A confident child will play, talk, and grow to be a source of pride for the parent.
Homeschooling and Mental Health
Chances are that as a parent, you can recall several instances where you felt stressed or anxious when you were in elementary school. Today, mental health has become a significant concern for teachers, counselors, and parents.
Homeschooling reduces stress levels, and anxiety in children by making them go at their pace. This reduces the pressure associated with keeping up with classroom expectations or curriculums not suited to the student.
A comfortable learning environment and a tailored curriculum make learning interesting and reduce the frequency of distractions. Individualized learning environments are recommended for students who struggle to pay close attention. Learning on their own boosts confidence and teaches a child to pay attention in and out of the classroom.
Lastly, homeschooling makes learning flexible. Students learn at their own pace, take breaks as needed, and explore what subjects interest them. This level of freedom can help minimize burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Homeschooling and Social Development
The first point of contact of any child is the family. Homeschooling often strengthens the parent-child relationship. Spending more time together fosters a strong emotional connection and open lines of communication, making the home a supportive and nurturing environment.
Parents on the other hand have an opportunity to pay close attention to their child’s emotional well-being. You get to discuss issues like depression, and anxiety or notice learning disabilities quickly.
Another reason parents should give homeschooling a shot is that it can reduce the effect of peer pressure on a child. Homeschooled children often face less peer pressure, social comparison, and the negative consequences of doing things you don’t want your parents to know of. Understand that this doesn’t mean your child won’t have friends. But the time you spend with your kid, plus the independence, and self-confidence they learn because of homeschooling makes it more likely that they say No.
Conclusion
JumpStart was started because we noticed areas in our educational system fell short but can be improved. We do not recommend homeschooling to hurt or deprive children in any way. Our mission is to build young minds and help them achieve their dreams. Some children need the learning environment you can give them by enrolling them in a homeschooling program. While this may not be ideal for every child, we encourage you to consider the points we’ve discussed to see if your child can benefit from an elementary homeschooling program.
Give us a call if you need a professional consultant to guide you on what options are available to you and your child.
