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The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

 Fabio Principe / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Choosing to homeschool your kids is not a new concept. But during the COVID-19 pandemic, the phrase “school choice” took on a whole new meaning as more and more parents considered homeschooling a solution for their families.

To curb the spread of the virus, school districts around the country offered a variety of educational possibilities , from in-person school with masks to full online school to a delayed start to the academic year to a hybrid model that offered some days in a physical classroom and other days virtually.

Even as things opened back up and returned to normal, some schools continued to offer a virtual option. And since some younger kids are still unable to get the vaccine, some families feel uncertain about sending their kids back to brick-and-mortar schools.

UPDATE: November 2022

On October 20, 2022, the Center for Disease Control's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to add COVID-19 vaccination to the childhood immunization schedule. While the CDC makes vaccine recommendations, each state will determine which ones are required for school entry. The updated schedule is set to be released in early 2023.

If you’re thinking of teaching your child at home for the first time, or you've always considered this option for your family, you likely know there are many pros and cons.

We’ve rounded up a list of common advantages and pitfalls you may encounter—with input from real-world homeschooling parents. As you weigh your decision, give some thought to how each of these might impact your own circumstance and trust that whatever decision you make will be the right one for your family.

Flexibility

Individualized education

Strong relationships

A lot of work

Less time for yourself

Inability to work

Too much togetherness

Missing out on certain opportunities

Facing judgment and bias

Whether you call it self-determination, freedom, or control, one clear advantage of homeschooling is the ability to make your own choices. As a homeschooler, you’ll be able to freely travel or move, include religious teaching in day-to-day learning, and not worry about social pressures or bullying your child may encounter at school.

Plus, in home-based education, all subjects are fair game, from sailing to sewing to science. Practical skills, volunteering , artistic pursuits, and traditional trades can all fall under the broad umbrella of homeschooling. According to some homeschoolers, teachable moments are always happening, and "school" isn't limited to school hours.

Who doesn’t like to set their own schedule? By educating at home, you determine the structure of your day. If your child struggles to wake up by 7:00 a.m., for example, you can start school later. And, since homeschool timing is fluid, you can go ahead and make your child's dentist appointment on a Tuesday at noon.

You even have room to push back a lesson when you (or your kids) just aren’t feeling it. There are many ways to make it up later.

Individualized Education

Every child is different. Unfortunately, in the larger group setting of regular school, teachers can’t always tailor lessons to your child’s unique needs. At home, on the other hand, you can meet your child right where they are, customizing lessons to their particular interests.

Does your younger child need a little extra help with math ? Take an extra 15 minutes to help them understand fractions. Is your older kid into outer space? Start an astronomy unit!

Homeschooling also lets you vary your approach from child to child if you have more than one—in terms of learning styles and grade levels. Plus, you get to celebrate any success or achievement together in real time.

Strong Relationships

The more time you spend with your kids, the more opportunities arise for bonding. If you’ve always wished for more hours in the day as a family, perhaps homeschooling is the boon you’ve been craving.

Positive experiences like fun field trips , a-ha moments in learning, and “recess” at the park can all build closer parent-child and sibling-to-sibling relationships . 

In some cases, homeschooling’s flexible schedule can even allow for more time with both parents—if work schedules usually limit time together on weekends or holidays.

A Lot of Work

In addition to the domestic responsibilities of your role as a parent, you’re now a teacher, tutor, curriculum researcher, and principal.

It’s quite possibly the humdinger of all reasons not to homeschool: Teaching your kids at home is simply a lot of work.

Creating, teaching, and grading a day’s or week’s worth of learning on multiple subjects takes serious time and effort. (However, many prepared curriculum packages do exist.) Plus, as delightful as it can be to tailor education to each child’s learning style, this can add to your workload, too.

And if you have younger children at home who aren’t school age, you may also struggle to keep them occupied while you sit down to teach older kids.

Less Time for Yourself

Not surprisingly, the workload of homeschooling—and kids home all day—is likely to leave you with less time for yourself. Some homeschooling parents say they don’t have time to shower, let alone exercise or take care of their own needs.

For parents who are used to a quiet, kid-free environment during the day, this aspect of homeschooling can be a major adjustment. 

Inability to Work 

All the work of homeschooling is guaranteed to take up hours of your day. Therefore, as a homeschooling parent, you may not be able to work outside the home, or you may have to cut your hours significantly. For some households, this may be a financial deal-breaker.

Too Much Togetherness

While many families find that homeschooling boosts good vibes between siblings and parents, there is such a thing as too much togetherness.

You may find that spending all day, every day, with your kiddos (and they with each other) leads to feelings of frustration or confinement . You may also go through an adjustment period as your kids learn how to view (and respect) you as their teacher.

It’s important to work in breaks, both for yourself and your kids. Or, depending on the resources in your area, you might try a homeschooling co-op or enrichment program one day a week to provide your kids socialization with others outside the family.

Missing Out on Certain Opportunities

Despite the enormous flexibility of homeschooling, in some ways, it can limit opportunities for your child. For high schoolers, for example, a homeschool curriculum may not be able to provide the same variety of electives as a large public school. (After all, most of us don’t have a metal shop in the backyard.)

If your child wants to pursue subjects you can’t easily teach at home, you’ll have to be diligent about seeking alternatives.

The same holds for social opportunities. As a homeschooler, it’s up to you to provide social interaction your child won’t get from school dances, assemblies, and everyday classroom partner work.

Facing Judgments and Biases 

Let's be honest: Homeschooling doesn’t necessarily have a reputation for being cool and modern. Unfortunately, plenty of biases and stereotypes exist around homeschooling and the folks who choose it.

If you decide to educate at home, you might get some flak from family members (or even strangers) who think you’re going full Little House on the Prairie mode or that your kids won’t actually learn anything. You may need to develop a thick skin toward other people’s judgments of your decision to educate at home.

A Word From Verywell

When more and more parents are exploring the wide world of homeschooling, it’s wise to look at the many advantages and disadvantages of this type of education.

Do some soul searching and have a serious discussion with your partner about whether this could be the right choice for your child's and family's needs. And don’t forget to find out how your kids feel about the subject! With everyone’s thoughts and feelings on the table, you can determine if homeschooling is best for you and your family.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ACIP Immunization Schedule Vote .

By Sarah Garone  Sarah Garone, NDTR, is a freelance health and wellness writer who runs a food blog.

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Homeschooling vs Traditional Schooling: pros and cons

Homeschooling vs Traditional Schooling: pros and cons

As a vast majority of the world went remote in early 2020 at the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic, students had to quickly adapt to remote learning from home. Due to this, many parents began to consider homeschooling for their child rather than return children to their traditional schooling methods. But what are the pros and cons of homeschooling versus traditional schooling?

Homeschooling: the pros

  • No commute: Very often, students can only attend certain public schools if they reside in the right district. Alternatively, if they attend a private school further from home, the commute can be long during peak school run hours. As such, homeschooling saves time which can be spent doing further coursework, exploring personal interests, or spending more time with friends and family. 
  • Tailor-made Curriculum: Although certain states/countries may have specific requirements on what it takes to graduate from high school if homeschooled, the option does give students and their parents the luxury of exploring personal interests, going at their own pace, and taking advanced courses where the student is able to. 
  • Custom Schedule: The typical 8am-3pm does not have to hold true with homeschooling! While some legal requirements for a minimum number of hours may be present, students are able to have flexibility to pursue other goals such as competitive gymnastics, travel the world with their families, etc. 
  • Higher performance: According to ThinkImpact, public school students received an average score of 21 out of 36 on the ACT, whereas homeschooled students received an average of 22.8. As for the SATs, homeschoolers scored a nationwide average of 72 points more than their traditional schooled counterparts in the United States in 2020. 
  • Safety: The risks of COVID-19, school shootings, and other unfortunate situations are minimized at home. The extent of safety will also vary upon the neighborhood the school and home are located in. 

Homeschooling: the cons

  • Social life restrictions: Students who are homeschooled do not have classmates with them daily. As such, they can be lonely unless a solid effort is made to interact with peers their age through other activities such as attending a church or place of worship, sports teams, community events, etc. 
  • Pressure on parent’s time: Working a job and raising a child is already a huge time commitment for most adults. As such, being the child’s teacher is an additional burden on parents which not all are able to undertake. Furthermore, a parent will have to ensure that healthy boundaries are set between the parent and child now that the “teacher and student” dynamic is also present. 
  • Cost: The cost of a homeschool curriculum can be a few thousand dollars, whereas public school is free. However, it should be noted that homeschool can be cheaper than private school, so it is up to a family to decide how to best use their educational budget here. 

Traditional Schooling: the pros

  • Social life and development: At school, teens get to spend dozens of hours each week with peers their age, thus giving them a platform to develop their social skills.
  • Professional instruction: Teachers at schools are qualified, trained professionals who have mastered their craft and in the later grades specialize in their area of instruction. 
  • Structure:  Many children thrive on having a set routine and structure in their daily schedules, and schools are the greatest source of structure in a youngster’s life. 
  • Extracurriculars: Schools, especially those with a larger student population, tend to offer extracurriculars which a student is not able to acquire at home. Be it being a part of the chess club, trying out for the football team, or running for student government, certain activities cannot be done in a home setting.
  • School spirit: Being a member of a school helps develop a youngster’s identity, and students are able to obtain a sense of belonging (provided the school is a good fit for them, of course!). 
  • Fostering independence: From keeping track of their own timetable (deadlines, bus schedules, etc), purchasing/bringing their lunch, and finding their way from classes, traditional schooling helps build valuable life skills which shall help students once they graduate. 

Traditional Schooling: the cons

  • More traditional curriculum: Instead of exploring their own interests, students are forced to study subjects at the same pace as their classmates and course selection is more limited.
  • Peer pressure: Be it wearing the latest Nike shoes, fitting in with the cool crowd, or dealing with bullies, peer pressure plays a big part of a teenager’s life and is more present in traditional schooling environments.
  • Overwhelmed teachers: Many teachers have dozens of students on their roster and getting each student’s individual needs met is not often accomplished. 
  • Fitting in: Perhaps the school is simply not a good fit for who your child is – be it the type of curriculum offered, the crowd present, or the overall management of the school. 

While these are just a few of the pros and cons seen in traditional schooling vs homeschooling, I would like to remind you that there is no direct answer as to which option is better. A family needs to consider their own needs to make this decision, including their time, teaching capabilities, educational budget, location, future goals, and resources. Here at Crimson we are always happy to discuss these options and also work together to advise a hybrid model if necessary – where students may take some courses outside of school in addition to the courses in their regular schooling. The pandemic has made more families consider homeschooling after seeing how their child has been handling remote learning – but before you jump the gun, make sure to consider all the pros and cons thoroughly! 

Your friendly neighbourhood Rise blogger, 

Learn more about Crimson Rise’s strategic mentorship, academic support, and extracurricular coaching for young students, and request a free consultation on your child’s journey!

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Homeschooling: Pros and Cons

Introduction, cons of homeschooling, pros of homeschooling, works cited.

The popularity of homeschooling seems on the increase, although some people are convinced that homeschoolers are not going to amount to anything valuable in the long run. In this speech, I am going to outline the strong points and drawbacks of homeschooling. It is believed that homeschooled children lack social skills, and their parents bear huge expenses and have no time for themselves; on the other hand, homeschooling perfectly fits the child’s needs, is valued no less than public schooling, and creates closer family bonds; additionally, in contrast to public schools, homeschooling de-stresses children rather than distresses them.

As their strongest argument, skeptics generally maintain that homeschooled children do not receive the social interaction they need. At earlier stages of development, it is critical for children to socialize and advance their communication skills. Children studying at home do not get this opportunity and are likely to have problems socializing and making friends later in life. An unsociable child is also prone to have troubles with peer acceptance – not least because homeschooling is still regarded as an oddity and deviation.

Another argument is concerned with the cost of home education. At that, it does not matter if the parents choose to educate the child themselves or hire a tutor –in both instances, their budget is likely to be shattered. A serious point to consider is that on average, a tutor’s services will cost $30-40 per hour (“The Tutor Guide” par. 1). A parent tutor will probably have to quit their job to get all the time they need. One way or the other, homeschooling is a costly affair.

Apart from the money it takes to homeschool children, parents are likely to devote most of their time to it. Eventually, they might find themselves spending 24 hours a day with their children with not a moment of solitude and privacy left. Although such parental participation does not seem alarming short-term, it can be stressful in the long run – which is the reason some parents find they are not quite ready to homeschool.

These arguments are logical and true-to-life – but let us look on the brighter side.

Those who stand for homeschooling insist that it provides tailor-fit education. The child has a chance to learn at their own pace, which can be slower or faster than that of public school students’. It is true that every child is special and every child’s needs matter. Still, in cases when children cannot cope with public school environment, homeschooling can be the only way out (Kirk et al. 2). The parents (or tutor) can fit the education process to their child’s needs – presumably, for the children’s own good.

To counter the parental stress argument, it does not take much logical reasoning to admit homeschoolers are likely to have better relationships with their families. Provided that the parents are not overly authoritative when it comes to educational activities, familial bonds are formed and preserved lifelong. Educating their children and tracking their progress, parents have a chance to know their children better, which is the cornerstone of good parenting. Additionally, parental involvement can prevent aggressive and destructive behaviors in teens and pre-teens, which is another solid point to consider.

Speaking about aggression, one cannot deny that bullying issues are pressing as ever. Despite public schools’ best efforts, peer pressure is persistent. Homeschoolers, in their turn, are free from the agony and negativity bullying brings. Consider a harassed school student trying to concentrate – and failing at that. Now consider education in a comfortable homely atmosphere where a child feels loved and valued. In this respect, a homeschooler not only has a chance to focus but also develops an emotionally stable personality.

Finally – and this is good news – there is an extensive list of colleges that accept homeschoolers (Bunday n.pag.). Each year homeschooled students are admitted to study in selected colleges and universities across the U.S. Such institutions as Harvard College, Yale University, University of Chicago, Trinity University, and many others are known to have admitted homeschooled students – that is, without high school diplomas. Many institutions believe homeschoolers are more fit for the scholarly atmosphere. Based on some general tests, portfolios, and application essays, homeschoolers have equal admission chances.

To conclude, it would be wrong to say homeschooling does not have its weak points. Still, the strong points can seem more relevant for some, and eventually determine their choice of educating children. Whether you think that the strengths of homeschooling outweigh the weaknesses or not, you have to admit the practice is viable and is quite likely to bring positive results.

Bunday, Karl M. “ Colleges That Admit Homeschoolers .” Learn in Freedom. Learn in Freedom, 2013.

Kirk, Samuel, James J. Gallagher, Mary Ruth Coleman, and Nicholas J. Anastasiow. Educating Exceptional Children. 13th ed. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning, 2011. Print.

“ The Tutor Guide: Tutoring Fees .” Care.com . Care.com, 2016.

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Should I consider homeschooling my child?

by: Christina Tynan-Wood | Updated: September 20, 2023

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Homeschooling-pro-and-con

Homeschooled kids do better in college. Homeschool families are all religious. Homeschooled kids are more creative. Homeschooled kids lack social skills.

When it comes to homeschooling, there are no lack of strong opinions — as well as misconceptions and prejudices. The truth is that homeschooling has changed dramatically over the past few years. Long considered a radical alternative to traditional schools, homeschooling is rapidly becoming more accepted into the mainstream.

Though homeschools involving strong religion and obsessive spelling bees get a lot of attention, there are plenty of students. The National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) estimates that 3.15 million students (age 5-18) were homeschooled during the 2021-2022 school year. (The latest National Center for Educational Statistics estimate, from 2016, showed 1.7 million homeschool students, twice as many as there were in 1999.) Fewer than half of families offer religion as the most important reason. Many do it because they want to offer their children the best possible education.  More than a few are dissatisfied with their other school options. And of course, homeschooling got a boost during the pandemic, when many schools closed their doors. Black families, especially, saw a surge in homeschooling during the first year of the pandemic. But while experts expect the number of all homeschooled students to decline somewhat as schools have reopened, some parents will find that they like teaching the kids at home, and keep homeschooling as a choice.

Online programs: bringing learning home

Much of homeschooling’s growing popularity is thanks to online programs like K12 or Khan Academy that offer tools, courses, or complete curriculums. Some of these are free resources, but many others can cost hundreds of dollar a year or more. Parents can elect to be hands-on teachers (or hire tutors for specific subjects), sitting down and teaching math and science, working from a printed curriculum. Others might elect to combine homeschooling with some traditional schooling so the student still takes a few courses at a nearby school. Some parents organize groups of homeschool kids to create their own small schools, even turning them into their own charter schools.

Some homeschool parents are less hands-on, believing that — once video games and television are removed — a kid’s natural curiosity will take over and lead her to seek answers thereby getting an excellent, organic education.

What you might find in a home school

  • Curiosity, not boredom:  With only one or a few students, you have the freedom to approach a subject from the angle that most appeals to those students. Once interested in a topic, students often find their own way to get more information on it. With access to the Internet and a library, a homeschooled student given time to pursue his own interests can easily exceed the knowledge of the average school teacher in a subject he enjoys.
  • The entire world:  There’s no limit to where — or from whom — your child can learn. Instruction from local artisans or experts, the grocery store, the pool at the YMCA, a patch of garden outside, your kitchen. If you look for them, there are classrooms everywhere.
  • Independent kids:  Students who learn from a coach who helps them find information rather than a teacher who doles out information in small, testable bundles quickly learn how to learn for the sake of learning — rather than to prove what they know on a test.
  • Freedom:  Want to teach by doing? You don’t have to secure transportation, permission slips, and space for 30 rowdy students. You can simply get in the car to take a field trip to teach history by touring a museum or city, math by using money or building robots, even earth science and biology through gardening and caring for animals.
  • No threat of failure:  A child who doesn’t thrive in a traditional classroom can often feel like a failure through no fault of her own. That same child might learn more effectively at a faster or slower pace, with more control over the topics, or in a less chaotic environment.

But how do I homeschool my child?

Plenty of parents might think about homeschooling, but be intimidated by how to go about it: What would I teach? How do I create a curriculum? How do I make sure my child still has friends to play with?

Parents who have successfully homeschooled say that the resources and support system exist in most any town or city to make homeschooling possible for most any family. It’s a matter of knowing what steps to take.

First find out what your state’s rules are. You might have to register your school and detail the curriculum you have chosen. You might also have to provide proof that you have enough education to take this on. You may need to issue end-of-grade tests as well. The rules on this vary from state to state, though homeschooling is legal in all 50 states.

Next, turn to your child. What are her interests? What style of learner is she? Take your time buying an expensive curriculum until you’re sure it suits what she wants to learn and the way you want to teach. You might want to work from a printed-page curriculum and do all the teaching yourself. Or you might opt to be a teacher/coach while your student takes her classes online.

If your child is in middle or high school, you might opt to sign up for a  virtual school . Next, find a local support group so you and your child can connect with other homeschoolers in your area. ( Find more information about homeschooling, including ideas on finding a support group .) If you work, have small children, and are wondering if you can make homeschooling happen, the answer may be “no” unless you are willing to hire a babysitter or nanny. But if you have a responsible high schooler, you might find a virtual school — complete with teachers — might make it work even if you do have to go to work.

What supporters say

  • Learning is for real. When you learn something because you want to know the answer and through real-life experience, you remember it. Those facts your student crammed into his head the night before a test? Not so much.
  • Family bonding is sweet. Instead of fighting over homework, attendance, grades, and getting to school on time, you can argue over philosophy, take a day off to go to the park or a museum, feel real pride in your child’s knowledge and abilities, and start your school day at a time that suits your schedule.
  • You can travel. Instead of cramming all your vacations and family relaxation time into spring break and summer, travel when it suits you. There is no better way to learn a language, geography, or about different cultures than visiting foreign lands — or touring your own land as a foreigner. Money may limit your adventures but school schedules will not.
  • Homeschooling allows you to share your values. You may not like the values your child is bringing home from school. Homeschooling allows parents to raise and educate their children according to their own values and/or religious beliefs. Or the school’s climate may not foster the emotional, social, and academic approach you do. At home, you set the tone.
  • Homeschoolers do well academically. According to NHERI , home-educated students typically score 15 to 30 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests. NHERI also claims that homeschoolers score above the average on the SAT and ACT tests.

What critics say

  • Homeschooling is for those on the fringe. According to the National Center for Education Statistics , in 2019 only about 13 percent of parents cited the need to provide religious instruction as the most important reason they homeschool.  The most important single reason, cited by 25 percent of families, was dissatisfaction with the school environment because of safety, drug use, or negative peer pressure.  Most families had more than one reason for choosing the homeschooling route.
  • Homeschooled kids are antisocial. There is no doubt that a school with classrooms full of other kids offers more opportunities for social interaction than staying home. But in some schools, those social interactions can be overly negative. This may account for the NHERI research that finds homeschooled kids are doing above average on this measure. But homeschooled kids and their parents do have to look elsewhere for social engagement: clubs, sports teams, and homeschool support groups.
  • It’s hard work for parents. If you have three children under ten and decide to homeschool, you will certainly have your hands full for a few years. Even having one teenager at home all the time can wear a parent down — especially if that parent also has a job. Without a doubt, this is a decision to put your child’s education before your own career and free time.
  • Homeschoolers don’t do as well academically. While critics say that homeschoolers aren’t getting the quality education they’d receive in a traditional school, statistics on low achievement among homeschoolers is hard to find. (Conversely, student achievement among homeschoolers that is not funded by homeschooling organizations is also hard to come by.) Additionally, there is relatively little regulation for homeschool parents. There are 21 states that require some form of standardized testing.   As for being qualified to teach your own kids, most states will allow any parent to home school, although a few require that a parent have at least a high school diploma or GED. Check with your state or the Home School Legal Defense Fund to see if yours is one of them.

Is homeschooling right for my child?

Whether this is the right way to educate your child or not depends on a lot of factors and can change from one year to the next.

If your school is failing your child and you have no other viable options (such as a quality private school), homeschooling might be the best solution. But if your child craves a group to belong to and resides near a friendly public school full of friendly faces, he might do better there. If your school has a bullying problem or your child can’t fit into the social environment, though, socializing there will probably do more harm than good. If you don’t have the time and can’t afford to take the time, then creating a successful home school might put more strain on your family and its finances than they can take. But if you are home and able and want to spend more time with your children, this might be the thing that frees you from some of the strains and difficulties that traditional schooling can present, like homework battles and predetermined vacation days.

A final word of advice about homeschooling

If you decide to leave your child’s existing school and begin homeschooling, do so gently and politely. Tell your child’s school you want to try this and don’t point the finger of blame at the school.  If you are reacting to a bad school situation , you may decide in a year that your child wants to go back to that school. Or you might want to ask if your child can attend one class there, be in the school play, or play on a sports team. Don’t burn any bridges. And remember, you aren’t stuck doing this forever any more than you are stuck taking your child to the neighborhood school. You can always change your mind and send the kids back to that school.

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The research on homeschooling, the academic, social, and long-term outcomes for children in home schools..

Posted September 1, 2021 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch

About 4 to 5 million children in the United States (or approximately 8 to 9% of school-age children) were homeschooled in March 2021. This statistic increased dramatically during the pandemic: Only 2.5 million (or 3 to 4% of school-age children) were homeschooled in spring 2019.

The most common reason cited for homeschooling (before the pandemic) was concern about the local school environment, including safety and negative peer pressure . Many parents also choose to homeschool due to dissatisfaction with the educational quality of local schools, or for religious reasons.

However, many parents and caregivers considering homeschooling may be especially concerned about how homeschooling might impact their child’s academic progress and social development. Does the research find any differences between children who were homeschooled versus children in conventional school?

Academic Performance

Homeschooled students tend to score higher on tests of academic skills when compared to children in public schools across most studies. However, it is difficult to draw any conclusions from these studies since most do not control for important family demographic factors and compare self-selected homeschooling families’ test scores (from tests proctored by parents) to national averages. Interestingly, children in a “structured” homeschool program — that is, a homeschool program with organized lesson plans — tend to score higher on academic tests than children from conventional schools, while children in “unstructured” homeschool environments without organized lesson plans tend to score lower than children in conventional schools.

Social Skills

The findings on social skills seem to be more mixed. Some studies have found no difference in social skills between children in homeschool environments versus conventional schools, some studies have found that homeschooled children score higher on measures of social ability, and some have found that homeschooled children score lower on overall social skills. Not surprisingly, homeschooled students who have had more opportunities for peer interactions tend to show improved social skills.

Long-Term Success

Most studies find that homeschooled children tend to have higher college GPAs than children from conventional schools. In addition, most studies have found no difference between homeschooled and conventional students in college graduation rates. However, most homeschooled students do not attend competitive four-year colleges and one study found that homeschooled students may have lower math GPAs in college than children from conventional schools. Children who are homeschooled may also be more likely to work in a lower-paying job.

Limitations of this Research

It is important to note that this research is difficult to interpret because families that choose to homeschool are different from families who do not in many other ways — for example, they may have parents with higher income or educational levels — and these factors likely contribute to the results as well. For instance, we cannot conclude that homeschooling will improve your child’s test scores since homeschooled children may have more educated mothers and it may be the mother’s educational level that drives the higher test scores, not homeschooling itself.

Almasoud, S., & Fowler, S. R. (2016). The difference in the academic achievements of homeschooled and non-homeschooled students. Home School Researcher, 32(1), 1-4.

Cogan, M. F. (2010). Exploring academic outcomes of homeschooled students. Journal of College Admission, 208, 18-25.

Coleman, R. E. (2014). The homeschool math gap: The data. Coalition for Responsible Home Education.

Drenovsky, C. K., & Cohen, I. (2012). The impact of homeschooling on the adjustment of college students. International Social Science Review, 87(1/2), 19-34.

Kunzman, R., & Gaither, M. (2020). Homeschooling: An updated comprehensive survey of the research. Other Education, 9(1), 253-336.

Martin-Chang, S., Gould, O. N., & Meuse, R. E. (2011). The impact of schooling on academic achievement: Evidence from homeschooled and traditionally schooled students. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Revue Canadienne Des Sciences du Comportement, 43(3), 195.

McKinley, M. J., Asaro, J. N., Bergin, J., D'Auria, N., & Gagnon, K. E. (2007). Social Skills and Satisfaction with Social Relationships in Home-Schooled, Private-Schooled, and Public-Schooled Children. Online Submission, 17(3), 1-6.

Medlin, R. G. (2006). Homeschooled Children's Social Skills. Online Submission, 17(1), 1-8.

Montes, G. (2006). Do Parental Reasons to Homeschool Vary by Grade? Evidence from the National Household Education Survey, 2001. Online Submission, 16(4), 11-17.

Montes, G. (2015). The social and emotional health of homeschooled students in the United States: A population-based comparison with publicly schooled students based on the national survey of children’s health, 2007. Home School Researcher, 31(1), 1-9.

Pearlman-Avnion, S., & Grayevsky, M. (2019). Homeschooling, civics, and socialization: The case of Israel. Education and Urban Society, 51(7), 970-988.

Ray, B. D. (2017). A systematic review of the empirical research on selected aspects of homeschooling as a school choice. Journal of School Choice, 11(4), 604-621.

Redford, J., Battle, D., & Bielick, S. (2017, April). Homeschooling in the United States: 2012. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics, Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved August 1, 2017, from. (NCES 2016-096.REV) https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2016096rev

Sikkink, D., & Skiles, S. (2015). Homeschooling and young adult outcomes: Evidence from the 2011 and 2014 Cardus Education Survey. The Cardus Religious Schools Initiative.

Cara Goodwin, Ph.D.

Cara Goodwin, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in translating scientific research into information that is useful, accurate, and relevant for parents.

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15 Critical Homeschooling Pros and Cons

Homeschooling is the process of teaching a specific curriculum to a student while at home. It is a curriculum that must be approved by the student’s local jurisdiction or state and must include documented hours of education. The primary benefit of homeschooling is the flexibility it provides, allowing students to work more at their own pace. On the other hand, homeschooling can sometimes lead to isolation from peers, which can be difficult for students who prefer to be social. These additional homeschooling pros and cons are also important to consider.

What Are the Pros of Homeschooling?

1. Public schools offer homeschooling programs. Thanks to online educational programs, there are several public K-12 schools that offer homeschooling as an option. This allows the parent to supervise the education instead of being solely responsible for it in some way. The students then gain the opportunity to learn from accredited teachers in a setting that mimics a standard classroom.

2. It offers the chance to pursue specific subjects. Homeschooling releases students from the peer pressures that sometimes exist in the traditional classroom in regards to personal preferences. A student who prefers to study the violin, for example, can pursue their education without negative peer pressure because the instrument is “silly.”

3. Grading and college placement still happen. There are independent testing agencies that can supervise students who must take tests as part of their education. This allows the student to have a third-party involved in the supervision of the grading, removing any question of integrity that may come up during the college admissions process.

4. It offers a chance to begin a career early. High school students who are homeschooled have the opportunity to begin a career earlier than other students because of the structure of their schooling. They can work day hours instead of afternoon or evening hours and then schedule their classes afterward. This flexibility can make it easier to get into college or gain the experience necessary to get a good paying job without the need to take on high levels of student loan debt.

5. There are still social opportunities available to students. Most communities have homeschooling get-together programs that allow students to have field trips, social gatherings, and other group events. This eliminates a lot of the social isolation that can occur when being homeschooled, although joining these groups may entail a fee and have other added costs that some families may not be able to afford.

6. Students can study at their actual grade level. Gifted and talented students can use homeschooling to their advantage, studying a curriculum that reflects their current learning level. If a student is at a 12th grade level in reading and mathematics, but their science and social studies is at a 9th grade level, then their educational plan can be easily adjusted to reflect their strengths and weaknesses.

7. Modern homeschooling allows for diplomas to be earned. Many independent schools offer homeschooling programs in addition to the public schooling options that are available, giving students the chance to earn a real diploma after graduation. This allows homeschooled students the opportunity to avoid the GED process, which in the past could hinder their future vocational efforts.

8. There is much less bureaucracy that must be handled. Parents who homeschool don’t need to deal with multiple teachers, school administrators, and other forms of bureaucratic red tape.

What Are the Cons of Homeschooling?

1. It costs more than a standard public education. There will always be costs associated with schooling, but homeschooling is more expensive than attending a standard public school. Even when a public K-12 homeschooling option is being used, families have the added costs of meeting daily needs for the student at home. Formal curricula for homeschooled students that is independent of the public schooling system can range from $600-$10,000, depending on the program and textbooks that are used.

2. It can be difficult for students to have certain questions answered while being homeschooled. When parents are directly involved in the education of their homeschooled students, it may be difficult to teach specific subjects. This is particularly true in high school when considering subjects like chemistry, calculus, and other advanced materials. For students who excel in these areas, homeschooling households may need to invest into a tutor or other educational professionals for support.

3. There is still a negative stigma associated with homeschooling. For many students, the first question they get asked about homeschooling involves their religion. “I bet you didn’t have many friends,” is another common comment. Students who are homeschooled are often treated differently by society. Although this doesn’t usually affect their opportunities, it does create its own form of social isolation from time to time.

4. Students must carry required documentation regarding their status at all times. As students get older and remain in a homeschooling program, they may be required by their jurisdiction to carry a “truancy card” with them. This identification proves that the student is homeschooled and not purposely missing school for some reason if they are in the community during regular school hours. Failing to carry this card and be asked about their status could result in a fine or other consequences for the student and their family.

5. It gets boring. Many homeschooled students can get through their required daily schoolwork in 2-3 hours. At first, this seems like an advantage because it frees up more of the day for other activities. In reality, it creates high levels of boredom. Many parents who homeschool also work during the day. This leaves the student in a place where they must entertain themselves for sometimes 5-6 hours while their peers are enjoying time with each other at school. It often results in watching more TV, playing more video games, and other forms of screen entertainment.

6. Students miss out on important school activities. Many jurisdictions do not allow homeschooled students to participate in school-sponsored extracurricular activities. This means homeschooled students are often not allowed to play any high school sports within a public school setting. They may be excluded from band, chorus, and other arts programs that local schools offer. Going to Prom, the Homecoming dance, and other social events is also more difficult.

7. It is much easier for students to cheat. Many homeschool textbooks provide the answers to lesson questions at the back of the book. This is done to assist parents or tutors who may be teaching outside of their preferred subjects. The temptation to check the back of the book when someone isn’t looking can be a tough one to resist for many students.

These homeschooling pros and cons show that for certain students with a specific mindset, it can be a very rewarding opportunity that will advance their education. For others, it is a decision that leads to loneliness, boredom, and isolation. Being homeschooled can give families more control over the specifics of their child’s education, however, and that may be the most important consideration.

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Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

Updated: December 14, 2023

Published: February 2, 2020

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Whether you are a parent considering homeschooling a child, or an adult considering studying online, it is important to first thoroughly consider all the pros and cons of homeschooling.

Pros and Cons of Homeschooling a Child

Pros of homeschooling, 1. easier to teach and easier to learn.

Teaching one-on-one means that you can adapt your teaching method to the child’s individual learning style. This makes for more effective learning. If the child is visual, you can include photographs, graphs, and charts in your teaching in order to help them absorb the material more easily. If the child is easily bored, you can include more activity, movement, and interactivity and take more breaks.

2. Discipline issues in the classroom are avoided

As your child isn’t sharing a classroom with 20 to 30 other children, the educational material can be studied more rapidly, as behavior and discipline issues in the classroom do not waste a significant percentage of the learning hours. This means that there is more free time, more time for extracurricular activities and socializing, and more rest/sleep time, which aids in concentration.

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3. adaptation to special considerations.

If your child has a special consideration, perhaps a learning disability, physical disability or has ADHD, for instance, then you will have the complete flexibility to adapt the learning to the child’s specific needs.

4. Makes good use of time

By teaching a child at home, you can move along faster on subjects that are easier, without having to wait for other children to catch up. You can also spend more time teaching difficult concepts in order to ensure that your child understands fully, without holding up other children.

Cons of Homeschooling

There are plenty of free resources available as well as paid ones. However, when asking yourself the question “should I homeschool my child?” you need to take into account the cost of the homeschool educator not working outside of the home. This would mean that the family would need to live on one income, which may not be possible for every household.

2. Adapting your child to a new reality

When your child is transferring to homeschooling from a school environment, there will be a period of adaptation. They would need to adjust to the flexibility, to being with a parent all day long, to the lack of extra-curricular school activities like competitive sports, school assemblies, social activities in the playground, etc.

It will be necessary for the parent to ensure that the child has social time outside of learning hours in order to ensure that they have friends and that they develop social, intercultural, and interpersonal skills.

3. No social interaction during study time

Homeschooling means that the child is not socializing with children all day long as in the school system. They will therefore need additional activities outside of learning time in order to be with other children. Perhaps a gym class, basketball, soccer, art, music or swimming. You will therefore need to invest time making contact with other children in the neighborhood and being proactive to encourage them to socialize.

Homeschooling For Adults (AKA: Studying Online)

Now, let’s take a look at homeschooling for adults — or more commonly known as studying online.

Online learning can include short skill-based courses from programs like Coursera , Udemy , and LinkedIn Learning . It can also include studying for a bachelor’s or master’s degree online.

There is a wide choice of online colleges, but it is important to always make sure that you research them first to ensure that your chosen degree is fully accredited.

Just as with homeschooling for children, there are advantages and disadvantages.

  • Affordable and accessible
  • Keep your existing commitments with no disruption to family or work
  • Avoid student debt and financial stress
  • Flexibility
  • Less social interaction during study time
  • Requires determination and motivation
  • Requires planning, organizing and good time management

If you are ready to start a new, well-paid, rewarding career, remember that it is not an inaccessible dream, but a realistic goal that can be achieved. If you are up for the challenge, we’ll show you how to achieve it.

Accredited online universities, such as University of the People , will enable you to have access to top-quality higher education while keeping all your existing commitments.

It’s easier than you think and all you need to do is follow our 5-step process:

  • Select a profession or subject. A good place to start is to compare salaries in your country. Payscale , Glassdoor , and Indeed are excellent places to start. They will also give you a clear indication of the numbers of advertised job vacancies in your region. This will help you to make an informed decision.
  • Choose an online university. A good place to start is bestcolleges.com .
  • If you have existing credits from prior learning, check first if they accept credit transfer. This will save you money and unnecessary study time.
  • Secure your spot at the university.
  • Sharpen your learning skills. This will help you get better grades and improve your learning and memory. Check out these study skills tips . too!

UoPeople is the first non-profit American accredited, tuition-free university designed to enable anyone who wants to study overcome financial, geographic, political, and personal constraints. We offer associate and bachelor’s degree programs in Business Administration , Computer Science and Health Science . We also offer an MBA and a Master’s in Education.

If you are interested in learning online, there is an array of options. We have compiled a list of the least expensive online degrees to help you choose a school that won’t leave you in debt upon completion.

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You will need to invest time in researching your online college, as not all of them are accredited. Accreditation means that the college meets high requirements for educational standards and quality of teaching.

The increasing popularity of online higher education can no longer be ignored by employers. The worldwide e-learning market was $164 billion in 2014, and it is forecasted that by 2022, it will escalate to $243 billion. Clearly, e-learning is here to stay and has been fully embraced by today’s generation of employers.

There are pros and cons of homeschooling, whether it is for a parent teaching a child at home or for an adult studying online from home.

If you are a parent, you need to consider the needs of your child and weigh up whether or not you can make the commitment, both financially and emotionally.

If you are an adult wanting to get ahead in your career, remember that it is not an unachievable goal and can be done flexibly from home while keeping your existing commitments. It’s easier than you realize!

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Homeschooling Pros and Cons for Kids and Parents

Homeschooling Pros and Cons for Kids and Parents

Jess Faraday

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Before the COVID-19 pandemic , just over three percent of American families homeschooled their children. In the years since, that number has jumped to just over 11 percent overall, and as much as 16 percent among Black and Hispanic families (Eggleston and Fields, 2021).

Today, families considering homeschooling h ave a wide range of resources at their disposal. From packaged homeschool lesson plans to websites and meetups, and even activity groups just for homeschoolers, all of the ingredients are there to help homeschooling parents make the most of their child’s education.

But doing homeschooling right can be a huge commitment and a lot of work. It’s definitely not for everyone, and that’s okay.

Is homeschooling right for your family?

Related: Can Homeschoolers Go to College? Learn How to Apply

Academic Benefits of Homeschooling

Homeschooling has some distinct advantages over traditional school. For families who homeschool during the early years and send their children to a traditional high school, the benefits are still there.

Homeschool families like to point out that students with a homeschooling education often score higher on academic achievement tests than students from conventional schools. This is true — at least when students follow a structured homeschool curriculum. Though the opposite is true for students who have not followed a structured program (Goodwin, 2021).

Smaller Class Sizes and Individualized Attention 

Academic benefits come down to a combination of small group size and individualized curriculum.

Homeschooled children can learn at their own pace rather than being chained to the progress of a larger group. This means that students who struggle with some subject areas are free to go over the material as often as they need to. It also means that students can move more quickly through the material that’s easy for them.

Personalized Lessons That Meet Kids’ Needs 

Another benefit is that families can tailor lessons to an individual student’s interests, needs, and learning style . The current educational system simply doesn’t have the resources to do this for every student.

More Educational Freedom

Some parents choose to homeschool out of concern for the learning environment: what is being taught and how.

Educating children at home gives families control over both of these factors. Many states require homeschooled students to study certain core subjects, such as math, reading and writing, but homeschool families can decide how to approach subjects such as moral and religious education.

Social Benefits of Homeschooling 

Benefits of Homeschooling 

Proponents of traditional schooling often express concern that homeschooled kids are missing out on opportunities to bond with their peers. This isn’t necessarily true.

A Strong Homeschooling Community 

As home education becomes more widespread, homeschool groups for study and extracurricular activities have appeared for just this purpose. Homeschool networks allow parents to organize get-togethers for study, play, field trips, and more.

Less Peer Pressure and Bullying 

Families concerned about peer pressure or problems with their local public schools no longer need to choose between educational and social development

Homeschooling families have greater control over their children’s social interaction — who, where, when, and how. So rates of bullying are far less in a homeschool environment. 

Flexible Schedules and Special Accommodations 

Home education can be the best option for families with certain concerns, including:

  • Professional or family obligations that require a flexible schedule
  • Religious or moral concerns
  • Special needs that can’t be met by the school system or at a private school

Academic Disadvantages of Homeschooling

Homeschooling is hard work, and it’s not right for everyone. Before embarking upon this journey, it’s important to understand some of the challenges that you might face.

It’s easy to underestimate how difficult the job of teaching can be—in a lot of ways.

Lack of Structure

One of the benefits of home study is a flexible schedule. But that shouldn’t mean “anything goes.” A lack of structure can mean wasted time, and that can mean falling behind very quickly.

Setting up up a home schoolroom and having dedicated school hours can help to keep your family on track.

Limited Resources

Disadvantages of Homeschooling

Homeschoolers have a lot of resources and options, especially online. However, if you’re living in an isolated area, you may have a lot less opportunity for social activities and field trips.

Potential for Knowledge Gaps

Credentialed teachers study specialized techniques for teaching reading, writing, numeracy, and more. It’s harder than a lot of people think. And as your children grow older, the gaps between what you know and what they will need to know will grow. 

Moreover, if your kids have special needs, such as learning disabilities, you may have to hire outside professional assistance. After a long day of working with your kids, you may find yourself using your “free time” to play catch-up.

Access to Higher Education 

Finally, some universities accept academic credit from homeschool study, but many do not . You’ll need to plan ahead to make sure your child has the most options when they reach adulthood.

Emotional and Social Disadvantages of Homeschooling

Homeschooling also poses emotional challenges for both parents and kids. 

Homeschool Parent Burnout 

We all love spending time with our kids, but for homeschool parents, that time can seem endless.

Being a homeschool teacher can mean always being “on.” Burnout is common, and when you are the teacher, principal, social director, and janitor, it’s hard to find time for a break.

Social Isolation 

Homeschooling can also be isolating. Most other kids will be at school, and many other parents will be at work. Being a homeschool parent means carving out the time for self-care and for adult social interaction , and that can be challenging.

Logistical Challenges of Homeschooling 

Schools have lots of different personnel to facilitate academics, field trips , sports, social activities, teaching life skills , and so forth. But when you’re homeschooling, it’s all you.

You will have to make the opportunities for socializing. You will have to direct sports activities. You will have to organize field trips. And on and on.

This can be daunting, but it’s not impossible. If you’re not naturally organized, however, you may need a crash course in organization and time management.

You’ll need plans for each day. You’ll need yearly plans to make sure your kids meet state requirements for each grade. And you’ll want to plan in the long term so that your kids learn what they need to learn and gather the necessary credits for university or career education.

Financial Challenges of Homeschooling 

Homeschooling can be expensive.

Pre-made homeschool lesson plans can run as high as $600 per year per child. If you want to join a homeschool group (or “learning pod”), that can cost several hundred dollars a week (Guha, 2022).

Other expenses may include:

  • School supplies like pens, books, etc.
  • Tutors or special needs learning specialists
  • Field trips (museum admissions, transportation, and so on)
  • Sports activities
  • Outside classes

You’ll also have to factor in having one unpaid adult at home, rather than the two incomes that many families have.

How to Make an Informed Decision About Homeschooling 

Is a homeschool education the right learning experience for your family? Ask yourself a few questions.

Do You Know the Law?

Many states have laws and requirements to make sure that students who study at home learn the subjects they need to succeed in adult life. Some states also require homeschool instructors to pass a general knowledge test. Other states test homeschooled students periodically to make sure they’re keeping up with their peers.

Those laws vary by state. The Homeschool Legal Defense Association has a state-by-state breakdown here .

Are You Organized?

A homeschooling parent is a teacher, curriculum designer, school psychologist, activity director, social director, and more. You will have to have organized lesson plans that give your children the knowledge they’ll need to succeed.

 You’ll also have to make opportunities for them to engage with their peers and develop appropriate social skills.

You may also have to provide records of what, when, and how you teach your students, to state authorities, or later to colleges and universities.

That’s a lot of balls to juggle. But if you can do it, you may have what it takes to be an excellent homeschool parent.

Are You Willing to Study?

Do you remember everything you were taught as a child? Me, either. But if you want to homeschool your kids, you’re going to have to learn, or re-learn school subjects well enough to teach them. Even the subjects you hated.

And you’ll have to familiarize yourself with your child’s study materials so you can answer the questions that will inevitably arise.

You might also consider taking child development courses through your local community college so that you’re familiar with the educational milestones and techniques to help your kids to meet them.

Do you love to learn? You could be an awesome homeschool teacher!

Can Your Family Afford it?

Doing homeschooling right is a full-time job. It’s unpaid, and materials and field trips can get expensive. Can your family afford to have one full-time unpaid teacher at home? If not, are you willing to get creative to make it happen? If so, you’ll be in good company!

Do You Have a Solid Social Network?

Education isn’t only academics. One of the most important parts of education is learning social skills . In school, opportunities to interact with other kids and adults are built in. But if you’re educating your kids at home, you’ll need to seek out regular social opportunities for your kids.

This can be hard if you’re not naturally outgoing, or if there are limited social opportunities in your area. Homeschool groups, sports clubs, youth groups, and service organizations are a few places to start.

Are You Willing to Work Hard?

For many homeschooling parents, educating their children is the most rewarding and important thing they will ever do. And like everything that’s important and rewarding, it can be nonstop.

Are you ready to spend a lot of time organizing and interacting with your kids? Are you prepared to constantly seek out new academic and social opportunities? Are you prepared to do these things even when you’re frustrated, burnt out, and just don’t feel like it?

Then you just may be a homeschooler!

Resources for Families Considering Homeschooling

Curious? Here are a few resources to start your research.

The Homeschool Legal Defense Association should be your first stop for learning about the laws in your area. They also have resources for putting together lesson plans, addressing special needs, preparing your child for the real world, and more.

The Homeschool Mom has a variety of resources about types of home education, curricula, planning your school year, and so forth.

The Homeschool Resource Room has a handy roundup of free resources for homeschooling families.

Eggleston, C. and Fields, J. (2021, March 22). Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey Shows Significant Increase in Homeschooling Rates in Fall 2020. Census.gov. https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/03/homeschooling-on-the-rise-during-covid-19-pandemic.html

Goodwin, C. (2021, September 1). The Research on Homeschooling. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-translator/202109/the-research-homeschooling

Guha, N. (2022, January 26). How Much Does Homeschooling Cost? Parents. https://www.parents.com/kids/education/home-schooling/homeschooling-costs/

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling Essay

Introduction, why home school, challenges of home schooling, works cited.

Homeschooling refers to the form of education that takes place in a home setup and usually without the restrictions that are found in a traditional education system (Cogan 1). The parent or guardian of the child plays the major role of being a teacher.

Lyman (1) defines home schooling as the art of educating children of school going age at home instead of having to take them to some school. Approaches to homeschooling are as varied as the number of people who opt for it (Lyman 1).

Although it may appear as a new concept, Cogan (1) explains that the concept of homeschooling has been with us for a very long time. In the past, it was regarded as the only option available for a majority of people unable to afford the cost of hiring teachers for their children (Cogan 1). For many parents wishing to start homeschooling, the main concern is whether or not they can effectively be able to teach (Jones 1).

With the advent of formal education, homeschooling lost popularity at some point. This saw a tremendous decline in the number of children under the homeschooling program. This trend has now been reversed leading to an increased number of people changing to homeschooling (Cogan 1). According to Lyman, the continuous rise in the number of home schooled students is a clear indication of the amount of dissatisfaction with the quality of education delivered at schools (1).

According to Ray (1), the concept of home schooling is nothing really new. Ray argues that most people who advocate for this kind of education are very much aware of the fact that it is not in any way, a new idea (Ray 1). The recent past has seen a notable growth in the area of home schooling with a good number of parents gaining confidence in the system.

This advancement in homeschooling is attributed to the fact that the traditional education system is dogged with some serious issues; poor discipline and decreased quality of education among others.

According to Jones (1), every family including those who send their children to school is in one way or another homeschooling with others putting in more time than others.

Lyman (1) observed that there are a number of reasons that make people opt for home schooling. Some parents are very much concerned about the increasing crimes at school as well as indiscipline. Others are dismayed by the diminishing education standard.

The bureaucratic setup at schools is also blamed for the mass exodus of parents and their children from a school based learning environment (Lyman 1). There has also been a substantial reduction in the cost of education and most families are able to establish stronger family ties (Lyman 1).

Supporters of homeschooling have strongly argued that it makes it possible to develop an education plan that directly meets the needs of an individual rather than a whole class (Mead 2). A common thought shared by most students who have undergone homeschooling is the fact that the program enables one to think for themselves and this to them is quite valuable (Mead 3). Jones (1) sees this as a very a key objective and therefore, a major motivation for those choosing homeschooling.

People may also choose homeschooling for reasons that may be religious, academic and at times, for their own personal needs (Jones 1).

Even though the idea of homeschooling is becoming very popular, it has various challenges. One of the major concerns raised has to do with the socialization of the homeschooled children. These children may grow up in a setup that completely denies them a chance to meet and interact with other people. Later, they get shocked when they join college only to discover that they were not well socialized.

They begin to face problems dealing with other people who were not brought up like they were (Lyman 2). Fitting in a controlled setup later in life may also become a challenge for the homeschooled students (Lyman 3). A similar argument is presented by Mead (2) who made similar observations. From an environment that is to some extent closed these students have to now learn how to deal with the outside world (Mead 2).

Although proponents of homeschooling claim that there are numerous avenues such as the church or events for homeschooling students available for purposes of socialization, exposing the students to a comprehensive educational experience is just next to impossible (Cogan 1).

Testimonies by some who have gone through homeschooling show that despite the many advantages of homeschooling, the traditional education system presents children with a thorough preparation for what is ahead in life (Mead 3).

Although there are a number of challenges with the homeschooling system, there is a very high likelihood that if implemented in a well thought out manner, there are distinct advantages. Parents who are afraid of subjecting their children to the traditional schooling system where there is increased indiscipline and decline in the quality of education, and are considering homeschooling for their children will need to more creative.

They should endeavor to provide their children with opportunities to interact with the outside world. This will ensure that as they instill discipline in the children, they are also able to prepare them to face the future in a world that is full of hostility.

Cogan, Michael F. Exploring Academic Outcomes of Homeschooled Students. Journal of College Admission , 2010, pp. 1-10.

Jones, Lillian. Introduction to Homeschooling. California: HomeSchool Association of California. 2009. Web.

Lyman, Isabel. Homeschooling: Back to the Future? Washington, DC: Cato Institute. 1998. Web.

Mead, Tyra L. Singing the Praises of Home – Schooling . New York: Hearst Communications Inc. 1999. Web.

Ray, Brian D. Homeschoolers on to College: What Research Shows Us. Journal of College Admission , 2004, pp. 1- 10.

  • Chicago (A-D)
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IvyPanda. (2018, September 18). Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling. https://ivypanda.com/essays/homeschooling/

"Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling." IvyPanda , 18 Sept. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/homeschooling/.

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IvyPanda . 2018. "Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling." September 18, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/homeschooling/.

1. IvyPanda . "Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling." September 18, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/homeschooling/.

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IvyPanda . "Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling." September 18, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/homeschooling/.

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essay pros and cons of homeschooling

41 Experts Share on the Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Deciding on how to educate your children may be one of the most important choices you make as a parent. Their social, emotional, and physical well-being need to be taken into account, as does the quality of their education, and their unique learning style.

While some parents seem to have known the answer to this question from day one, others are struggling with what to do as their children inch closer to school age.

Because I have always found that the best way to make a smart decision is to speak with as many people as I can, I went out in search of parent bloggers who homeschool their children, and asked them the following question:

“What is one Pro and one Con of homeschooling?”

The list you are about to read is the result of that questioning. 41 seasoned homeschoolers chimed in with their best experiences and biggest challenges, and I just love the honesty with which they responded. 

The answers you read below may help you come to a decision of your own. Good luck, and happy reading!

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Amy Roberts ~ Blogger ~ Raising Arrows

"I have learned infinitely more than I did during my own school years...

PRO  – My favorite is how much I am learning alongside my children.

I have learned infinitely more than I did during my own school years, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share these moments of education, observation, discovery, and wonderment with my children.

CON  – It’s difficult for me to think of a con when there are so many pros! If I had to give a con, it would be that it can be hard on a mom depending on her circumstances, the pressure and expectations she is burdened by, and even her own personality.

The homeschool moms who really thrive are the ones who learn to not look around them at what others are doing, and just stay steady at their own pace in their own unique style.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Gena Suarez ~ Publisher ~ The Old Schoolhouse

PRO  – The world is your schoolhouse.

Your children are not confined to the four walls of a building, but are out and about, interacting with children their own age, adults, and older people, gaining insight and experience in the real world into which they will enter as well-rounded adults.

CON  – The biggest con to homeschooling is that nearly all of your non-homeschooling friends, family members and neighbors think you have all this free time all day and have nothing to do, so they frequently ask for your help with their errands and projects.

And generally, you help them because you’re demonstrating a servant’s heart to your children. So it’s a win-win.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Jamie Gaddy ~ Manager ~ A2Z Homes Cool

"It's the perfect way to put success in the hands of your kids!

PRO  – Homeschooling is flexible! Because of the nature of homeschooling, you can tailor your studies, your schedule, and your teaching style to fit your student’s needs!

Your child is the focus of the homeschool process, and the benefits are limitless! In addition, there are so many options with homeschooling.

From co-ops to help with difficult subjects to internships that prepare your high schooler for their future – it’s the perfect way to put success in the hands of your kids!

CON  – Homeschooling requires a big investment and it’s not money! As with anything that is worth doing, homeschooling requires an investment from the parents.

The responsibility of education rests on the parent, however, today there are many resources that help to lighten that load. It takes a lot of heart to work with your children every day, and it’s important to take steps to ensure that you don’t get burned out!!

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Jen ~ Blogger ~ Practical, By Default

"You get to choose the schedule and style that is best for you...

PRO  – You get to choose the schedule and style that is best for you, your child, and your family.

If you are a stay at home mom homeschooler, working homeschooler, working at home homeschooler, traveling homeschooler etc. you can find and design a schedule that works for you!

CON  – You need to stick to this schedule that you just planned! Making sure it is if flexible enough for any emergencies that may spring up, and for when “life” gets in the way. Guarding your time must be a priority as a homeschool mom.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Karen Loutzenhiser ~ Writer ~ Layers Of Learning

"We get to adapt everything we do to our schedule...

PRO  – One pro about homeschooling is that it is totally flexible and exactly what we want to make it. We get to adapt everything we do to our schedule, our abilities, our interests, and our passions.

We study maps and globes, but we also visit museums, national parks, landmarks, and even other countries and continents.

Sure, we get our math assignment done and learn to spell words, but we also get to go talk with engineers who are using the math and write to real authors who splash those words across their pages. 

We read about science and health, but we also 3-D print, pretend play on kids teepees and build drones, volunteer at zoos, and shadow real dentists. The world is our classroom and our lessons are unforgettable.

CON  – One con about homeschooling is that it fills our lives in big and sometimes exhausting ways. It’s all the joys and hardships of parenting doubled up.

It takes real patience and more heart than you can imagine, You need a team of people who are cheering you on.

With believers behind you, you can do anything, but too often the skeptics stand in your way and cast their doubts. 

With a positive tribe who believes in and reminds you of the joys when you’re in the middle of the hardships, you can accomplish anything.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Mary Hood ~ Author ~ ARCHERS for the Lord

"Parents can individualize instruction to the child's needs...

PRO  – Flexibility. Parents can individualize instruction to the child’s needs , and also have the flexibility to make up their own schedules and vacation at off times of the year.

CON  – Parents can unwittingly pass on their own academic weaknesses and a dislike for certain subjects if they aren’t conscious of their own feelings and aren’t willing or able to seek out help from others.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Meagan ~ Blogger ~ More Than a Homeschool Mom

"The ability to see your kids master something they struggled with.

PRO  – One pro of homeschooling would definitely be the ability to see your kids master something they struggled with. After hours of working to learn to read and write, the first time it really clicks is enough to take your breath away and make you thankful for the journey.

CON  – One con of homeschooling is the constant pressure to reach a standard you can’t quantify set by people you don’t know without a clear direction as to who is right or wrong.

It means constantly reminding yourself that you don’t have to compare, you only have to teach your kids the way they learn best.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Latonya Moore ~ Blogger ~ Joy in the Ordinary

"I do believe homeschooling provides room for more moments of quality of time...

PRO  – Homeschooling has allowed me to develop close relationships with both of my daughters. I don’t feel like I am behind when new experiences happen in their lives because we spend quite a bit of time together.

Although I don’t necessarily believe that you have to an abundance of time to have a good relationship with your child, I do believe homeschooling provides room for more moments of quality of time which leaves room for conversations and experiences that might not happen if my daughters were at school.

CON  – It is true that homeschooling can be isolating especially if you don’t have a circle of friends and family who support you.

Luckily, we do have support within our regular community, but with most things in life there’s a desire to have relationships with those who have a similar life too. 

In our early years of homeschooling, being the diversity was hard. I am not only speaking of diversity when it comes to race, but even when it came to being a homeschool mom who worked.

It was hard to find others who related to me. Now there are more working homeschooling moms, but the racial diversity in the homeschool community still lacks.

It’s still very normal for my daughters to be the only Black students in a class even though we live in a more diverse community when it comes to homeschooling.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur ~ Editor ~ Today's Catholic Homeschooling

"Children have the opportunity to learn at their own pace.

PRO  – It’s hard to just list one pro for homeschooling, but I’d say its greatest benefit is the gift of time. Children have the opportunity to learn at their own pace.

In addition, because homeschooling does not take as many hours as traditional school, they have the time to pursue their own interests on a deeper level.

CON  – One of the cons is that it can be hard for homeschooling parents to spend so much time with their children without the benefit of adult interaction.

It is so important to have a network of other homeschoolers so that you can have friends to talk with who understand your lifestyle.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Shelly Buck ~ Vlogger ~ Simply Shelly

"The biggest Pro for me is that I have been able to spend all this time with my kids.

PRO  – After 10 years of homeschooling, I think my husband and I would agree that homeschooling is one of the best decisions we have made.  

The biggest Pro for me is that I have been able to spend all this time with my kids. I’ve had the privilege to build a closer relationship with them because of the time homeschooling has afforded me.

I’ve been able to instill our beliefs and values into them, instead of someone else. 

CON  – My con would also be time spent with my kids! when you homeschool, you spend all of your time with your kids and this can become exhausting when a tired mom doesn’t get a break.  

My sister once told me you have to remember your “why”, which is the reason you began homeschooling in the first place, and always go back and remind yourself of that reason.  

I will never regret the tiring moments because of the amazing bond it has created in my family.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Dianna Kennedy ~ Blogger ~ The Kennedy Adventures

"Having a support team (my husband and close friends) helps me tremendously.

PRO  – I can meet my children where they are, and work with them to progress at their pace, instead of an arbitrary timeline.

I have sons with learning issues (dyslexia, dysgraphia and auditory processing disorder), and having them at home with me has allowed them to soar. 

CON  – As a homeschooling mother, I feel like I’m being judged by the outside world, to live up to others’ expectations for education.

It’s hard for me to close my eyes to the nay-sayers and press on. Having a support team (my husband and close friends) helps me tremendously. 

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Lee Binz ~ Homeschool Consultant~ The Home Scholar

"Parents can create a cozy corner to encourage reading real literature.

PRO  – The biggest pro of homeschooling is the love of learning.

Homeschooling provides the best possible learning environment to encourage the love of learning.

Homeschooling is education safe and secure, allowing children to learn more in a relaxed environment. Parents can create a cozy corner to encourage reading real literature.

Behind a couch, laying on the dog, or cuddling up inside a teepee can be a great way to encourage the true love of reading. Supply the throw pillows or blankets, fill a shelf with age-appropriate books, and presto!

You have created a warm and welcoming environment to promote the love of reading, learning and homeschooling.

CON  – The biggest cons of homeschooling is the quantity of books. Homeschool parents constantly battle an overwhelming, always growing collection of books.

A frequent consumer of shelving units, homeschool parents are known to have rooms where all walls are bookshelves, with books littering the floor and filling boxes laying everywhere.

It’s not just books they own, either. Homeschoolers are often regulars at the public library, filling boxes of books weekly.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Amy Milcic ~ Blogger ~ Rock Your Homeschool

"A good planner can be a homeschool mom's best friend.

PRO  – Homeschooling provides you with the opportunity to help your kids enjoy learning.

You can jump down rabbit holes, explore interests, and add fun to your day. Also, you have the gift of time. You get to know your kids for who they are and select resources that best fit their needs.

CON  – It can feel like you never have enough hours in your day to do all the things you need and want to do. There are so many wonderful things to learn about and explore!

Plus, dishes, changing the kids curtains , and dust to distract. To overcome that overwhelm, it’s essential to focus on your why and pair those goals with realistic expectations. Also, a good planner can be a homeschool mom’s best friend.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Ticia ~ Former Teacher ~ Adventures in Mommydom

"If Mom is lackadaisical, her children will suffer and their education will show it.

PRO  – You can adapt to your child’s interests, their strengths, and their weaknesses. This becomes especially important as your kids age.

This year each of my children have an independent project geared for their current career plan. I was able to change the math curriculum we were using for my daughter because she wasn’t learning with our current curriculum.

CON  – Homeschooling is made or broken by Mom’s involvement. If the Mom (or primary homeschooling parent) is on top of it and involved homeschooling will surpass all other educational systems because of her passion.

If Mom is lackadaisical, her children will suffer and their education will show it. That can be very stressful for the homeschooling parent.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Michelle Cannon~ Single Mom ~ The Heart of Michelle

"We are free to homeschool in the style or method that works for our family.

PRO  – Freedom. We are free to homeschool in the style or method that works for our family. Most importantly, I can adapt what we’re doing to my children’s individual special needs.

CON  – The only negative things I can think of are not directly caused by homeschooling, but occur in homeschools all the time. Those negatives are things such as comparison, putting pressure on ourselves to fit in imaginary boxes we think everyone else is in. 

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Renee Brown ~ Homeschool Mom ~ Renee at Green Peace

"For my family homeschooling is absolutely the right choice for our only child.

PRO  – As a mom of an only child I get questioned quite a bit about whether homeschooling is the right choice for a single child. For my family homeschooling is absolutely the right choice for our only child.

The biggest pro of homeschooling an only child is that I can fully allow him to grow and explore his own interests and develop his own passions. It’s easier for a single child family to foster individual learning because the educational focus is placed on only one child.

CON  – The biggest con, however, of homeschooling an only child is that mom becomes his partner in all areas of learning where a child needs to work with someone else.

Therefore, I become his lab partner, his exercise partner, and have to try to converse with him for his foreign language study. Therefore, there is often a huge time constraint and learning curve to act as an educational partner for my only child. 

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Tracy Zdelar ~ Writer ~ Hall Of Fame Moms

"We have the freedom to teach our children according to our values...

PRO  – Perhaps the biggest advantage to homeschooling is FREEDOM. We have the freedom to teach our children according to our values, limit the bad influence of unsavory socialization and travel when it suits us, anytime of the year. 

CON  – The one con to homeschooling would be that it can be hard for the stay at home, homeschooling mom to find time to herself.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Jaimi Erickson ~ Stay at Home Mom ~ ​The SAHM Survival Guide

"I chose to homeschool for the purpose of having more quality time with my children...

PRO  – I chose to homeschool for the purpose of having more quality time with my children and making sure that they were learning to live by our values.

That is a huge benefit in my opinion of being not only a guide to your children as a parent, but an instructor as they are working on their academics.

CON  – A con that is a byproduct of homeschool is I do not get much time to myself. I know this is just a season of life and one day my children will be grown and out on their own, so I am eager to soak up the time we do have together, but it is part of homeschooling.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Kimberly Storms ~ Military Wife ~ A Little Crunchy

"One thing was solid, we would be learning and exploring together.

PRO  – It is truly hard to pick just one pro to share, I have a list of reasons why we homeschool that is nearly 500 reasons long now. If I had to pick just one I think it would be that I believe homeschooling builds a strong family.

You see we are a military family and have moved over a dozen times in the last 20 years. So much changes in our lives, Daddy deployed, we move to a new state, so much change.

One thing was solid, we would be learning and exploring together. The kids could count on us homeschooling where ever we happen to be. The kids have learned they can count on each other as well. We are just such a solid unit together. 

CON  – With all the moves and homeschooling some of the kids are reluctant to make new friendships. Homeschooling them doesn’t really force the matter I think as much as public school does as the kids always know they have their siblings.

Thankfully only one is actually really shy and she does wonderfully if she has one of her siblings with her to meet new people. For sure 4/5 kids are very social and time may help the 5th bloom!

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Leah Courtney ~ Blogger ~ As We Walk Along the Road

"Because of homeschooling, we've had the joy- and sometimes challenge- of being together every day.

PRO  – There are many pros for homeschooling, but one which has been particularly important to me has been the time I’ve had to spend with my children.

Because of homeschooling, we’ve had the joy- and sometimes challenge- of being together every day.

This can sometimes cause stress, but it has also led to the unmistakable blessing of strong relationships with my children as they are now teens and young adults.

CON  – Although the ability to customize curriculum and teaching methods to each child is a definite pro of homeschooling, this has also led to one of the biggest cons for us.

My college-aged kids sometimes face frustration because they are stuck in a class that seems to them irrelevant or that doesn’t work well with their learning styles.

Unlike our homeschooling, they can’t just change up what they’re doing. They have to stick with it. Although they understand, this sometimes causes frustration and overwhelm.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Michelle Curren ~ Blogger ~ Mid-Life Blogger

"Children all develop at different rates and have different strengths and weaknesses.

PRO  – It’s hard to choose just one “pro” because there are so many benefits to homeschooling, but the one that comes to mind first is being able to taper your homeschool to each child’s needs.

Children all develop at different rates and have different strengths and weaknesses.

If they go to public school and can’t keep up with the class, they may be labeled, held back, or taunted by the other kids, all of which have a negative affect on the child’s self-esteem, and for life!

But in your homeschool you can give them the time they need to master a concept or skill without that baggage, while at the same time focusing on the areas where they’re stronger.

An example that I can give is when my daughter was about 14, she couldn’t deal with writing assignments. She would sit and look at a piece of paper and cry without writing a single word on it.

I tried handling it in different ways. At the beginning of the following school year, I started out with a lighter load, holding off on algebra. I wanted to give her more time and less pressure until she could over come that roadblock.

She did get past it within a few months and now she’s in college and writes 8-page papers without batting an eye and is an honor student.

So just because your child is having difficulty with something doesn’t mean that they always will, they just may need time to mature and overcome it. They can’t get that in public school.

CON  – I have a much harder time thinking of a “con.” Some of them are actually kind of silly.

For example, in a popular post I wrote called “Homeschool Graduates in College ~ From the Professors’ Perspective,” two of the cons the professors lightly gave were that “they expect quick grading and feedback” and “they forget to put their name on their papers.”

A few others mentioned research and note-taking skills. When students reach the high school years, I think it’s helpful for them to take classes from outside sources such as the community college or co-ops, to help prepare them for these expectations.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Brittany Dixon ~ Health Coach ~ A Healthy Slice of Life

"We are able to speed through things they get quickly...

PRO  – Can I choose two? First, the flexibility of our schedule. I love having the quality and quantity time with them and appreciate being able to do school when it works for us, and being able to travel or go on field trips whenever works for us, too.

Vacationing off season is such a gift! I also love the ability to have such a deep understanding of my girls’ academic abilities. We are able to speed through things they get quickly, and slow down and dive deep into the subjects they need more practice with.

CON  – I really love my girls to have exposure to art, music, and foreign language.

As a homeschooler, I find I need to be more purposeful in my pursuit to find quality avenues for this exposure than I would if they were in school and getting weekly exposure to these subjects in the classroom.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Stephenie Peterson ~ Author ~ Stephenie Peterson

"All three of my kids have the freedom to learn new skills when they are ready.

PRO  – Did your child learn to walk at exactly the same age as every other baby in the neighborhood? Probably not! What about talk, crawl, or wave goodbye?

Your child learned these early skills when they were ready. In a school setting, children are expected to learn their academic skills on a schedule. At home, they can learn at a more natural pace.

My oldest has Asperger’s. Some things come very easily to him, while other skills are a struggle. He started reading the Harry Potter series independently the week he would have started Kindergarten, but at the age of eleven, he still struggles with his fine motor skills.

At home, we can make that work. He can type longer assignments. He can read books that challenge him. We can take time out of our day to be sure he gets occupational therapy.

All three of my kids have the freedom to learn new skills when they are ready. They’re never rushed through difficult material or forced to wait for classmates to catch up before being allowed to move on to more challenging assignments. 

CON  – I am not going to lie, sometimes it’s hard! Sometimes I butt heads with my kids. There are days when I want to send them off on the yellow school bus as it rattles on by our house.

There are days that my daughter tries to talk her way out of a math assignment or my youngest son hides his school books.

We’re a family made up of imperfect people and this kind of thing is inevitable. In the end, the good days outweigh the bad ones and I wouldn’t change it for the world. 

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Anne Marie Sweden ~ Blogger ~Zephyr Hill

"I love being able to take an individualized approach with each child...

PRO  – I love being able to take an individualized approach with each child, according to the way he or she learns best. This is an invaluable experience that children rarely get in a homeschool vs public school setting!

CON  – One of the drawbacks of homeschooling is the pressure that it puts on parents. When you decide to homeschool, the full burden of their education is fully on your shoulders.

No dropping them off at school each day and leaving the teaching up to someone else!

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Victoria Carn ~ Work-at-Home Mom ~ Mommy's Playbook

"Your homeschooling has to evolve. You have to evolve.

PRO  – The ability to create a safe place and compassionate learning experience for our children is one of my greatest pros with homeschooling. It is an amazing gift to give our children the freedom to explore whatever interest them without being ridiculed or discouraged. Our children are never asked to lay their childhood interests aside too soon, nor are they limited from advanced interests due to their age. 

CON  – Everything changes. As soon as you have a great system in place, one of your children will need an exception (or an interest will change, puberty, etc.) Your homeschooling has to evolve. You have to evolve. The constant requirement to improve upon ourselves to better our children’s education is challenging. Especially if the parent is set in their ways or doesn’t accept change easily. (*cough* not me at all – HA!)

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Brittany Meng ~ English Professor ~ The Bam Blog

"I realized that I am a better mom when I am not their teacher...

PRO  – One homeschool advantage that we enjoyed when I homeschooled my twin boys in 4th grade were a flexible schedule (we played at the park in the mornings and did school in the afternoons while my younger son napped), Bible study, and enjoying chapter books together.

CON  – For our family, however, homeschooling was very difficult due to learning disabilities, ADHD, and major outside stressors (military life).

Homeschooling affected my relationship with my sons (as well as my mental health) in a negative way. I realized that I am a better mom when I am not their teacher and that I need more outside support to help them succeed educationally.

They are back in public school for 5th grade and it is a much better fit for our family.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Dawn Camp ~ Blogger ~ My Home Sweet Home

"Homeschooling moms put too much pressure on ourselves...

PRO  – The births of our eight children spanned a 19 year time period.

I had heard adults talk about never really knowing their older or younger siblings because they didn’t attend the same school at the same time and had such different schedules, but I wanted my kids to know each other. 

They definitely do—some of them might say they know each other too well! We may not always be in sync or in harmony, but we do life together.

Four of our children have left the nest and four still live at home. I love seeing the strong bonds they have with each other and how those have extended into adulthood.

CON  – Homeschooling moms put too much pressure on ourselves when our kids are in the high school years and looking at life beyond our home.

Do you hold your high school guidance counselor responsible for your life beyond graduation and your career path? I didn’t think so. God has a plan for your child and it’s bigger than you.

You will not be the one who makes it happen or the one who derails it. Some children will grow up and follow the exact path you would choose for them and some will go against everything you taught them (don’t worry, this phase might not be permanent).

Do the best you can. Speak the truth in love. Love them unconditionally even if you don’t support their choices. Pray for them and over them.

Your words and example are etched in mind and memory and will bear fruit when least expected. (p.s. – Grandchildren are awesome!)

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Christy Knockleby ~ Blogger ~ Houseful of Chaos

"You get to watch as your kids progress and tailor their studies to them.

PRO  – You get to watch as your kids progress and tailor their studies to them. If they have a hard time on something, you can seek out solutions and alternative methods of explanation.

Your kids can progress as their own speed, whether that is slower or faster than they would be doing so at school. When there are topics they are interested in, you can make the time to dive in deeper and learn more about it.

CON  – The cons is that homeschooling can be a lot of work. It can be intensive, particularly if you have intensive, talkative children.

I think it is common to over think oneself, worrying that one is doing too little or pushing too much. Then sometimes homeschooling can strain a parent-child relationship a bit.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Bettijo Hirschi ~ Blogger ~ Paging Supermom

"We have so much more time to devote to the things we love...

PRO  – The number one thing I love about homeschooling is flexibility! We have so much more time to devote to the things we love and explore things that capture our interest.

I also love the ability to travel more and to visit places when they’re not as crowded since we have the flexibility to visit on our own timeline rather than following a school schedule.

CON  – At first homeschooling was really tough on me — having all four of my kids around me ALL. THE. TIME. It was definitely an adjustment, and by bedtime everyday my patience still runs pretty thin.

All moms need to remember to take time for themselves, but for a homeschooler it is vital.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Ronda Bowen ~ Blogger ~ Secular Homeschool Today

"I think it helps develop self-confidence in a way that doesn't happen in a standard classroom.

PRO  – The best part of homeschooling, for me, is the ability to tailor each child’s education to him or her. I go for mastery of subjects, so if a child is zooming through basic math concepts, I let her.

If she needs extra help with reading, then we spend more time on it. I think it helps develop self-confidence in a way that doesn’t happen in a standard classroom. That makes it a good choice when a child is asynchronous in development.

CON  – I won’t lie, the time it takes to seek out social opportunities is what makes me sometimes long for the classroom experience. We’re secular, so it can be tough to find other secular homeschoolers in our area.

It’s always worth it, in the end, but it’s also a constant concern of mine: is my child getting out enough and being exposed to others’ ideas enough?

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Amir Nathoo ~ Co-Founder ~ Outschool

"Right now, tools exist to give your learner a personalized education that engages and inspires them.

PRO  – One pro of homeschooling is it has never been easier. Right now, tools exist to give your learner a personalized education that engages and inspires them.

The internet opens up opportunities for curriculum and connection that were impossible just a few years ago. As online education evolves beyond slideshows and voice-overs, homeschooling no longer means sacrificing connection or socializing with other kids.

In fact, homeschoolers now can connect with students around the world while learning about topics that are meaningful to them.

CON  – One con of homeschooling is the decision fatigue that can happen. With so much high-quality educational content around today, families have to work with their learners and make some choices.

What topics do the children want to explore? What skills do they want to develop? With the speed at which the world changes and children’s interests evolve, these questions can be challenging to answer. It’s hard to find everything you need in one place. 

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Camille Kirksey ~ Mom ~ Homeschooling in the D

"Living a homeschooling lifestyle is exactly what you make it.

PRO  – The biggest pro about homeschooling is the freedom it provides. Living a homeschooling lifestyle is exactly what you make it. Your family is able to experience the journey together, which is something that can be challenging, yet liberating at the same time. 

CON  – The biggest con of homeschooling is that it’s an enormous responsibility that can feel like a burden at times. 

Being a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom requires that I wear many hats throughout the day, and as an emphatic introvert, I can easily feel overwhelmed and “done” often.

I didn’t experience that when I worked outside of the home and my children were in school and daycare.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Dana Wilson ~ Founder ~ Train Up a Child Publishing

"Our kids are my best friends, and I'm theirs

PRO  – The closeness of our family as a result of having homeschooled. Our kids are my best friends, and I’m theirs!  

CON  – There are things they had to learn for themselves in college to complete their undergraduate work. Fortunately they knew how to learn and were successful, but this made extra work

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Melissa Corkum ~ Parenting Coach ~ The Cork Board Online

"My favorite part is how well-rounded and socially adjusted my kids are...

PRO  – You get to reclaim your education! I’ve learned Latin, Biblical Greek, and more English Grammar than most professors. Plus, I decided that I love history.

It was just never presented well to me when I was in school. Our family has also taken advantage of the flexible schedule to travel. Our kids were able to go on our adoption trips to South Korea and Ethiopia.

My favorite part is how well-rounded and socially adjusted my kids are because they are exposed to so many different groups of people and real-life situations.

CON  – If you don’t set boundaries with your kids, you can all get burned out on each other pretty quickly! It can also be tough to homeschool when you’re running a business or working full-time.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Teri Olsen ~ Editor-in-Chief ~ Homeschooling Teen

"Free from bullying, peer pressure, and cliques, they can better develop their self-esteem, self-confidence, and independent thought.

PRO  – An increasing number of teenagers have been homeschooled their entire lives, and more teens are leaving public school to be homeschooled.

This allows them to learn at their own pace, study what they want, and discover what they really love to do. Free from bullying, peer pressure, and cliques, they can better develop their self-esteem, self-confidence, and independent thought.

It enables them to focus all of their energy on academic and creative pursuits without being preoccupied with problems at school.

These homeschooling teens are studying subjects in depth, taking college classes, volunteering, traveling, and “learning by doing” through apprenticeships, on-the-job training, even starting their own businesses.

CON  – There is a need for more detailed record-keeping during high school, especially if your son or daughter plans to attend college.

This can be kind of a pain if you enjoyed a relaxed and unstructured style of homeschooling during the earlier grades. But believe me, when it comes time to create a homeschool transcript, you will be glad that you kept good records!

Documenting activities, courses, hours, credits, GPA, etc. as you go is much easier than trying to piece everything together later.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Katica Blajic ~ Founder ~ Little Tots Learning

"Homeschooled children can accomplish in a few hours what takes a typical classroom a week or more to cover.

PRO  – Homeschoolers enjoy unlimited educational resources; the world is their classroom, and resources abound in the community. Homeschooling provides a high adult-child ratio for the student.

No busywork. Homeschooled children can accomplish in a few hours what takes a typical classroom a week or more to cover. In many classrooms, less than one hour out of each school day is spent on “on task” learning.

No wonder students have so much homework. And that brings us to a major “pro” of homeschooling: No more homework!

CON  – Time Restraints. There’s no way around it: learning outside of a school environment can consume a lot of mom or dad’s time.

 Living Outside the Norm. Like any activity that challenges mainstream thinking, homeschooling may be seen as an oddity at best, or even as a threat to those who unable to accept ordinary parents succeeding where sometimes trained professionals fail.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Patrick Farenga ~ President ~ John Holt GWS

"The significant amount of time it gives back to parents and children...

PRO  – I’d say the biggest pro of homeschooling is the significant amount of time it gives back to parents and children to live and learn together.

CON  – I think the biggest con of homeschooling is responding to the same, perennial questions about homeschooling—“Why do you homeschool?” and “What about socialization?”

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Deb Chitwood ~ Child Educator ~ Living Montessori Now

"We were able to follow our children's needs and interests so that they loved learning and followed their own unique passions.

PRO  – It’s hard to choose one pro because homeschooling my two children through high school was an amazingly positive experience for my whole family.

One of the best parts was certainly the freedom we had … to individualize our children’s education, to follow our children’s passions, to teach our values, to travel when we wished, and to spend enough quality time with our children that we were always close and still are.

My two children were figure skaters, so we adapted our school schedule around their skating. My son (now 33) was able to have fascinating experiences as a pairs skater while homeschooling, eventually competing and traveling internationally.

He also started his own DJ business during high school and is now the owner and head of one of the largest DJ companies in San Diego.

My daughter (now 28) graduated from homeschool high school at 16 and then had the opportunity to train and compete in ice dance with a dance partner in England.

Because of homeschooling, she was able to do her bachelor’s degree work from ages 16-19 while competing internationally in ice dancing. 

She was able to use her experiences training in sports and later as a professional ice dancer to create her online business. She loves that she has the freedom now to homeschool her own children.

Through the freedom to be Montessori homeschoolers using character-based unit studies, we were able to follow our children’s needs and interests so that they loved learning and followed their own unique passions.

They thoroughly enjoyed their bachelor’s degree work after homeschooling, got straight A’s, and both became entrepreneurs who continue to love learning and creating.

CON  – The only real con I experienced with homeschooling became a benefit in some ways. I tended to not plan as well as I should have and to get way off schedule at times.

My children didn’t worry about it, but it troubled me. Later on, I realized that my children may have become even more self-directed as a result. It was so freeing to realize that I didn’t need to be perfect.

My favorite advice to give homeschoolers now is simply that you don’t need to be perfect.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Rachel Ramey ~ Blogger ~ Titus 2 Homemaker

"This is great for building relationships (and training children in relational skills!)...

PRO  – You’re with your children (and they’re with each other) all the time. This is great for building relationships (and training children in relational skills!) and it’s the foundation of discipleship.

The mixed-age setting is also excellent for learning and growth, both academically and socially.

CON  – You’re with your children (and they’re with each other) all the time. It never stops. Let’s face it, (almost?) all of us have days when we kind of wish we were putting our kids on the bus.

If we don’t have good reasons for having made this choice, we probably won’t have the gumption to persist through those hard days.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Galadriel Grace ~ Book Author ~ Heritage Grove Academy

"With homeschooling, kids can do and become anything.

PRO  – With homeschooling, kids can do and become anything. Because we have so much more flexibility there’s more time for them to perfect their talents and I have the opportunity to tailor their curriculum to meet their needs for what they want to do.

While still in school they’re already pursuing their entrepreneurial activities, and by the time they grow up, they’ll be so much further along.

CON  – The only negative thing regarding homeschooling is simply the doubt and worry that sometimes hangs around the back of our minds from anyone who might oppose or question our lifestyle choice.

That’s something that can truly test our faith, especially when we hear of difficulties that some homeschoolers have had.

Doing what we know is meant for our family and educating our children to the best of our ability is really the only answer for that.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Roxanne Raiche ~ Homeschooling Mom ~ Home, Work, & Horseplay

"I love being able to mix and match curriculum and grade levels to fit my children perfectly.

PRO  – Customization!

My youngest son has special needs and struggles with reading and writing. Homeschooling allows me to not only customize his school work, but also his siblings. Every child learns differently and at their own pace.

I love being able to mix and match curriculum and grade levels

to fit my children perfectly. I know being in control and custom fitting curriculum for my children has allowed each of them to blossom in their own way.

CON  – As much as I love being with my children, my biggest con of homeschooling is being with them almost all of the time.

When you are homeschooling there is not a lot of quiet time for mom. If you are not teaching lessons you are cooking, cleaning, playing chauffeur, lesson planning, and every other part of what being a stay-at-home mom entails… 

All while your children are underfoot, complaining about what you made for dinner, making endless messes, asking to go to the 10th place that day, and fighting with their siblings !

Just like everything there are good days and bad days. 

My best advice is to make sure you take some time for yourself. Everyone will benefit if you get time to relax and do something just for you once in awhile.

Creating Inspiring Learning Environments: The Role of Decor in Homeschooling Success

Embarking on the homeschooling journey is an enriching experience that intertwines challenges with immense rewards. 

At Teepee Joy, we’re passionate about creating environments that nurture the imagination and support your children’s educational development. It’s about more than the curriculum or schedules; it’s about crafting spaces that inspire learning and creativity.

Our carefully curated product range, including  wallpaper  and decorative accents, is designed to make every learning environment vibrant and stimulating. 

Our  kid’s wallpaper  brings walls to life with designs that spark curiosity, while our second mention of wallpaper emphasizes its role in setting a thematic educational backdrop. 

Additionally, our  blackout curtains  are perfect for creating an optimal learning environment, free from distractions and suitable for activities requiring varying light conditions.

Beyond wallpapers and blackout curtains, our collection extends to  wall art ,  throw pillows ,  blankets , and  rugs , all crafted to add comfort and inspire a love for learning. 

These elements create a cozy, engaging space where your child can explore new ideas and embark on educational adventures without leaving home.

Creating the right atmosphere for homeschooling extends beyond mere aesthetics; it’s about building an environment that fosters growth, curiosity, and joy. 

Our offerings are designed with this in mind, turning every room into an inviting and stimulating potential classroom.  Visit our store here.

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essay pros and cons of homeschooling

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Homeschooling Vs. Traditional Schooling: The Differences, The Pros And The Cons

Categories Homeschooling

Deciding between homeschooling and traditional schooling is a significant choice that families often grapple with, and as we attempt to help you navigate this decision-making process, we’ll encounter notable disparities in both approaches.

Homeschooling Vs. Traditional Schooling

We’ll delve into the dissimilarities, advantages, and disadvantages of homeschooling vs. traditional schooling and hopefully provide some insight into the educational landscapes that parents have to explore.

The Educational Environment

One of the primary distinctions between homeschooling and traditional schooling is the learning environment, as traditional schools offer structured, classroom-based learning.

Homeschooling provides a flexibility that allows education to unfold within the comfort of a familiar environment. This flexibility can be particularly beneficial for children who thrive in a personalized setting and who function best in a place where they feel comfortable and safe.

Curriculum Customization

Homeschooling stands out for its flexibility in the curriculum as parents can tailor it to their child’s learning style and pace, which encourages a more profound understanding of subjects.

Traditional schools adhere to standardized curricula designed for large groups, which can potentially leave some students behind. The ability to customize a curriculum is a significant advantage for homeschooling, as it ensures that each child’s educational journey is uniquely tailored to their needs and can be delivered at a pace that suits the child instead of a standardized timetable.

Social Interaction

A critical consideration is social interaction, as traditional schooling provides consistent interaction with peers, which helps to develop essential social skills as students learn to navigate social dynamics, work in groups, and build relationships. In homeschooling, deliberate efforts are required to create social opportunities, ensuring children develop interpersonal skills beyond the family circle, and while homeschoolers can engage in community activities, join clubs, and participate in group events, it requires proactive planning on the part of parents.

Individualized Attention

An advantage of homeschooling is the ability to provide individualized attention, as in a school setting, teachers often face numerous challenges when attempting to cater to the diverse needs of a large classroom. Homeschooling allows parents to identify and address individual strengths and weaknesses, which makes sure that each child receives the attention they need to succeed academically.

Learning Pace

Flexibility in learning pace is another crucial factor, and homeschooling allows students to delve deeper into subjects of interest or spend additional time on challenging topics. This flexibility is invaluable in cultivating a genuine love for learning, but in traditional schools, the pace is generally standardized, which can potentially leave some students struggling to keep up while others may find the material unchallenging and, as a result, can, ultimately disengage from, and with, education.

Academic Performance

Numerous studies show that homeschoolers often outperform their traditionally schooled counterparts academically, and this success may be attributed to the personalized approach and the ability to focus on the aforementioned individual strengths and weaknesses. Homeschooling provides an environment where children can wholeheartedly grasp concepts, and parents can tailor teaching methods to suit their child’s learning style and strengths.

Time Flexibility

Homeschooling affords the luxury of time flexibility, which allows for unique learning opportunities, such as field trips, real-world experiences, and extended exploration of subjects.

Traditional schools operate on a fixed schedule, which may limit the time available for in-depth exploration or pursuing specific areas of interest.

Parental Involvement

Homeschooling necessitates significant parental involvement, and this increased engagement in a child’s education can strengthen the parent-child bond, but it does require dedication and time. Parents become not only educators but also learning facilitators and actively participate in their child’s academic journey. It isn’t for everyone, and we strongly advise that you think long and hard about whether or not it’s a journey that you want to embark on.

Extracurricular Activities

Traditional schools offer a range of extracurricular activities, from sports to clubs, fostering holistic development, and students have the opportunity to explore diverse interests and develop teamwork and leadership skills. While they can access similar opportunities through community programs, they may need to be more proactive in seeking them out, and this is one of the areas where parental involvement is crucial in ensuring a well-rounded educational experience.

Standardized Testing

One drawback of homeschooling is the potential lack of exposure to standardized testing, and even though some educators argue that this reduces stress, others believe it may hinder a child’s ability to perform well in future academic settings. Standardized testing is a prevalent feature of traditional schooling and provides a benchmark for academic performance, but homeschoolers can still prepare for standardized tests through specialized programs and resources.

Teacher Qualifications

In traditional schools, teachers are required to meet specific educational standards and undergo rigorous training and certification processes to ensure they are well-equipped to teach. Homeschooling, however, relies on the parents’ qualifications, raising questions about the consistency and quality of education.

Even though many homeschooling parents are highly capable educators, there is a potential variation in educational backgrounds and teaching styles.

Cost Of Homeschooling Vs. Traditional Schooling

Traditional schooling is often associated with costs such as tuition, uniforms, and extracurricular fees, and homeschooling while requiring an initial investment in supplies, can be more cost-effective in the long run. Homeschooling eliminates many of the traditional costs associated with schooling, and resources can often be reused for multiple children, but the financial impact is entirely dependent on the chosen curriculum and the availability of educational resources.

Diversity Of Perspectives

Traditional schools expose students to a diverse range of perspectives, which can potentially create a broader worldview as students interact with peers from different backgrounds, which helps to enhance cultural awareness. However, homeschooling, if not supplemented with diverse experiences, might inadvertently limit exposure to varying viewpoints, so families need to actively seek out opportunities for cultural enrichment to ensure a well-rounded education that includes diverse perspectives.

Transition To Higher Education

Concerns often arise regarding the transition from homeschooling to higher education, and while many homeschoolers successfully transition to college, some institutions may require additional documentation to assess their preparedness.

Parents and home-based educators need to carefully plan for the college application process to make sure their children meet admission requirements, and this may involve standardized testing, portfolios of work, and letters of recommendation.

Time Management Skills

Homeschooling cultivates strong time management skills as students learn to balance academic responsibilities with other daily activities, and they acquire the ability to set goals, prioritize tasks, and manage their time effectively. Traditional schools, with set schedules, may not provide the same level of autonomy, but the structured nature of traditional schooling can instill a sense of discipline and routine in students, which are valuable skills all children need for their academic and professional lives.

Parental Burnout

The responsibility of homeschooling can lead to parental burnout, especially for those juggling work and teaching, while traditional schooling, by distributing the teaching load among professionals, can alleviate this pressure. Parents who choose to homeschool need to be aware of the potential for burnout, and it’s essential to establish a support system, share responsibilities, and take breaks to prevent exhaustion.

Special Needs Education

Traditional schools often have specialized resources and trained professionals to support students with special needs, and homeschooling, while adaptable, may require additional resources and expertise. Families with children who have special needs face unique challenges in both homeschooling and traditional schooling, and the latter often have dedicated special education programs, while the former may need to seek out specialized resources and support groups. It’s a big decision and depends on the individual needs of the child and the available resources in the community.

Peer Pressure And Bullying

Traditional schools expose children to peer pressure and potential bullying, which can be absent or easier to manage in a homeschooling environment, and even though peer interactions in traditional schools can help to shape a child’s social development positively, they can also expose them to negative influences and the possibility of bullying. Homeschoolers, while avoiding traditional peer pressure, need to actively facilitate positive social interactions, and widespread concerns about bullying in traditional schools have led some parents to opt for homeschooling as a safer alternative.

Homeschooling Vs. Traditional Schooling

Homeschooling Vs. Traditional Schooling – The Pros And Cons

Pros of homeschooling.

  • Customized Curriculum: Tailors the curriculum to the child’s learning style.
  • Individualized Attention: Provides focused attention to address individual strengths and weaknesses.
  • Flexible Learning Pace: Allows students to delve deeper into subjects of interest.
  • Time Flexibility: Facilitates unique learning opportunities and field trips.
  • Strong Parental Involvement: Strengthens the parent-child bond and active participation in the child’s academic journey.
  • Cost-Effective: Eliminates many of the traditional costs associated with schooling.

Cons Of Homeschooling

  • Limited Social Interaction: Requires proactive efforts to create social opportunities.
  • Potential Lack of Standardized Testing Exposure: Raises concerns about future academic performance.
  • Parental Qualifications: Relies on the parents’ qualifications, which can lead to potential variations in teaching styles.
  • Parental Burnout: The responsibility of teaching can lead to burnout, especially for parents juggling work and teaching.
  • Transition to Higher Education: Requires careful planning and additional documentation for college admission.

Pros Of Traditional Schooling

  • Consistent Social Interaction: Provides opportunities for regular peer interaction.
  • Diverse Extracurricular Activities: Offers a range of activities for holistic development.
  • Exposure to Standardized Testing: Prepares students for standardized tests commonly used in higher education.
  • Structured Learning Environment: Instills discipline and routine in students.
  • Specialized Resources for Special Needs: Offers dedicated resources and support for students with special needs.

Cons Of Traditional Schooling

  • Limited Curriculum Customization: Follows a standardized curriculum designed for large groups.
  • Less Individualized Attention: Teachers face challenges in catering to diverse needs in a large classroom.
  • Fixed Learning Pace: Potentially leaves some students struggling or unchallenged.
  • Limited Time Flexibility: Operates on a fixed schedule, limiting time for in-depth exploration.

In weighing the pros and cons of homeschooling versus traditional schooling, it’s crucial to recognize that each approach has its merits and drawbacks, and the decision ultimately hinges on the unique needs and preferences of the family.

In Conclusion

As we explored the vast educational landscape, we found that while homeschooling demands dedication, it also offers unparalleled customization and flexibility, while traditional schooling, with its structured environment, provides a comprehensive social and educational experience. Regardless of the path that parents ultimately decide to pursue, the sole factor that should help them determine their course of action is the continued commitment to their child’s education and development.

Further reading: Homeschool or private school – which is best ?

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Coalition for Responsible Home Education

An Introduction to Homeschooling

reading in the library copy

Homeschooling is an educational option that allows parents to teach their children at home instead of sending them to school. There are today a wealth of resources and opportunities available to homeschooling families, and in a landscape of increasing school choice homeschooling has become more and more accepted by the public at large. Parents choose homeschooling for a variety of reasons. Modern homeschooling began in the 1970s and 1980s, championed by progressive educational reformers hoping to free children’s inner creativity and conservative evangelical leaders concerned about the environment of public schools. There are now around two million children being homeschooled, and in the early twentieth century homeschooling has become increasingly diverse, both in terms of race and class and in terms terms of parental motivations. See Homeschooling Numbers and and Homeschool Demographics .

Parents choose homeschooling for a wide variety of reasons. Some parents have concerns about the social environment or academic quality of local public schools. Some want to ensure that their children are educated in accordance with their religious beliefs. Some believe their children will learn better through child-directed learning outside of a classroom setting. Some have children who were bullied in school or have health problems or demanding practice schedules. A growing number of families enjoy the flexibility homeschooling offers, and many children may find that homeschooling is a good fit for their natural learning styles or personalities. If there is one thing that can be said about parental motivations for homeschooling, it is that they are anything but monolithic. For more, see Reasons Parents Homeschool .

While homeschooling is legal throughout the United States, the level of oversight for homeschools varies from state to state. Most states require parents to notify state or local education officials of their intent to homeschool, and half of all states have some form of assessment requirement. Most states have days of instruction or subject requirements and a smaller number of states have parent qualification and bookkeeping requirements. Some states require none of the above. The patchwork and often woefully inadequate nature of homeschool oversight means that there are few protections in place safeguarding the interests of homeschooled children. For more, see  Current Policy .

Research has shown that children who are homeschooled can succeed academically, especially when given support and resources from their parents. Many homeschool parents are driven and motivated, and are extremely involved in their children’s education. They educate themselves as they go along and seek out resources, tutors, or classes for those subjects they may not be able to teach themselves. In many ways these parents are more facilitators or coordinators than teachers. However, while homeschooled children can succeed academically, that success is not guaranteed. In cases where homeschool parents are not driven and motivated or do not place as much importance on their children’s academic progress, homeschooled children may struggle academically or even not receive any education at all. For more, see Academic Achievement .

Homeschooled children are typically involved in an array of social activities, including homeschool cooperatives, dance and music lessons, church and Sunday school, field trip groups, and other classes, clubs, and groups outside of the home. With the networking potential of the internet and the greater social acceptance of homeschooling, the opportunities available to homeschool families have grown in recent years. If parents put in the effort to find social outlets for their children, homeschooled children can be well socialized and can integrate well into society. In contrast, if parents do not ensure that their children have adequate opportunities to meet their social needs, homeschooled children may be lonely, develop social phobias, or have difficulty integrating into society. For more, see Homeschooling & Socialization .

An increasing number of states allow homeschooled children to enroll in public school part time to take individual classes or to participate in public school athletics and other extracurricular activities. Some studies have found that as many as 20% of homeschooled students enroll in public school part-time.  Some states have public school at home or public or charter correspondence programs that allow children to be taught at home while receiving benefits from enrollment in public school. “Cybercharters” have become popular among some homeschoolers, and a number of charter schools have developed programs where children come to an actual school for classes once or twice a week and are otherwise educated at home. In an increasingly educationally diverse world, homeschooling offers a variety of flexible and creative options.

Feedback from the first generation of homeschooled students, now in their 20′s and 30′s, indicates that those who are homeschooled responsibly frequently do well in college and professional life while those who were neglected or subjected to an abusive homeschooling environment often face low-wage job prospects, poor integration and connection with their communities, and struggles with poverty and dependency that could have easily been prevented. For more, see Homeschool Outcomes and Abuse and Neglect . The quality of a child’s homeschool experience depends almost entirely on the parents’ dedication to providing a functional, nurturing environment with optimal conditions for education and healthy child development.

Read more about homeschooling:

  • What Is Homeschooling?
  • Homeschooling by the Numbers
  • Who Homeschools?
  • Motivations for Homeschooling
  • Academic Achievement
  • What about Socialization?
  • Homeschool Outcomes
  • What Scholars Say
  • A History of Homeschooling
  • Our Research
  • For Parents
  • For Policymakers
  • For Researchers
  • Abuse & Neglect

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National Home Education Research Institute

Research Facts on Homeschooling

Research facts on homeschooling, homeschooling: the research.

Research Facts on Homeschooling, Homeschool Fast Facts

Brian D. Ray, Ph.D. May 8, 2024    Copyright © 2024 National Home Education Research Institute

This article gives key research facts on homeschooling

General facts, statistics, and trends.

  • There were about 3.1 million homeschool students in 2021-2022 in grades K-12 in the United States  (roughly 6% of school-age children). There were about 2.5 million homeschool students in spring 2019 (or 3% to 4% of school-age children) [note 1]. The homeschool population had been growing at an estimated 2% to 8% per annum over the past several years, but it grew drastically from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

  • Homeschooling – that is, parent-led home-based education; home education – is an age-old traditional educational practice that a decade ago appeared to be cutting-edge and “alternative” but is now bordering on “mainstream” in the United States. It may be the fastest-growing form of education in the United States. Home-based education has also been growing around the world in many other nations (e.g., Australia, Canada, France, Hungary, Japan, Kenya, Russia, Mexico, South Korea, Thailand, and the United Kingdom).
  • A demographically wide variety of people homeschool – these are atheists, Christians, and Mormons; conservatives, libertarians, and liberals; low-, middle-, and high-income families; black, Hispanic, and white; parents with Ph.D.s, GEDs, and no high-school diplomas. One nationwide study shows that 41% of homeschool students are Black, Asian, Hispanic, and others (i.e., not White/non-Hispanic) (U.S. Department of Education, 2019).
  • Taxpayers spend an average of $16,446 per pupil annually in public schools, plus capital expenditures (National Education Association, 2023). The roughly 3.1 million homeschool students of 2021-22 represented a savings of over $51 billion for taxpayers. This is $51 billion that American taxpayers did not have to spend.
  • Taxpayers spend nothing on the vast majority of homeschool students, while homeschool families spend an average of $600 per student annually for their education. Families engaged in home-based education are not dependent on public, tax-funded resources for their children’s education.
  • Homeschooling is quickly growing in popularity among minorities. About 41% of homeschool families are non-white/non-Hispanic (i.e., not white/Anglo).
  • It is estimated that over 9 million Americans had experienced being homeschooled as of February of 2020.

Reasons and Motivations for Home Educating

Most parents and youth decide to homeschool for more than one reason. The most common reasons given for homeschooling are the following:

  • customize or individualize the curriculum and learning environment for each child,
  • accomplish more academically than in schools,
  • use pedagogical approaches other than those typical in institutional schools,
  • enhance family relationships between children and parents and among siblings,
  • provide guided and reasoned social interactions with youthful peers and adults,
  • provide a safer environment for children and youth, because of physical violence, drugs and alcohol, psychological abuse, racism, and improper and unhealthy sexuality associated with institutional schools, and
  • as an alternative education approach when public or private institutional schools are closed due to acute health situations such as related to disease (e.g., Covid-19, Coronavirus)
  • protect minority children from racism in public schools or lower expectations of children of color (e.g., black) (e.g., Fields-Smith, 2020; Mazama & Lundy, 2012).
  • teach and impart a particular set of values, beliefs, and worldview to children and youth.

Academic Performance

  • The home-educated typically score 15 to 25 percentile points above public-school students on standardized academic achievement tests (Ray, 2010, 2015, 2017; Ray & Hoelzle, 2024). (The public school average is roughly the 50 th percentile; scores range from 1 to 99.) A 2015 study found Black homeschool students to be scoring 23 to 42 percentile points above Black public school students (Ray, 2015).
  • 78% of peer-reviewed studies on academic achievement show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in institutional schools ( Ray, 2017 ).
  • Homeschool students score above average on achievement tests regardless of their parents’ level of formal education or their family’s household income.
  • Whether homeschool parents were ever certified teachers is not notably related to their children’s academic achievement.
  • Degree of state control and regulation of homeschooling is not related to academic achievement.
  • Home-educated students typically score above average on the SAT and ACT tests that colleges consider for admissions.
  • Homeschool students are increasingly being actively recruited by colleges.

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Social, Emotional, and Psychological Development (Socialization)

  • Research facts on homeschooling show that the home-educated are doing well, typically above average, on measures of social, emotional, and psychological development. Research measures include peer interaction, self-concept, leadership skills, family cohesion, participation in community service, and self-esteem.
  • 87% of peer-reviewed studies on social, emotional, and psychological development show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in conventional schools ( Ray, 2017 ).
  • Homeschool students are regularly engaged in social and educational activities outside their homes and with people other than their nuclear-family members. They are commonly involved in activities such as field trips, scouting, 4-H, political drives, church ministry, sports teams, and community volunteer work.
  • The balance of research to date suggests that homeschool students may suffer less harm (e.g., abuse, neglect, fatalities) than conventional school students.
  • Adults who were home educated are more politically tolerant than the public schooled in the limited research done so far.

Gender Differences in Children and Youth Respected?

  • One researcher finds that homeschooling gives young people an unusual chance to ask questions such as, “Who am I?” and “What do I really want?,” and through the process of such asking and gradually answering the questions home-educated girls develop the strengths and the resistance abilities that give them an unusually strong sense of self.
  • Some think that boys’ energetic natures and tendency to physical expression can more easily be accommodated in home-based education. Many are concerned that a highly disproportionate number of public school special-education students are boys and that boys are 2.5 times as likely as girls in public schools to be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Success in the “Real World” of Adulthood

The research base on adults who were home educated is growing; thus far it indicates that:

  • 69% of peer-reviewed studies on success into adulthood (including college) show adults who were home educated succeed and perform statistically significantly better than those who attended institutional schools ( Ray, 2017 ).
  • they participate in local community service more frequently than does the general population (e.g., Seiver & Pope, 2022 ),
  • these adults vote and attend public meetings more frequently than the general population
  • they go to and succeed at college at an equal or higher rate than the general population
  • by adulthood, they internalize the values and beliefs of their parents at a high rate

General Interpretation of Research on Homeschool Success or Failure

It is possible that homeschooling causes the positive traits reported above. However, the research designs to date do not conclusively “prove” or substantiate that homeschooling causes these things. One hypothesis is that the positive findings might be due to the demographics of the homeschool students and families in the studies. The “sources” (articles) below explain limitations and caveats regarding the studies. More methodologically stronger research needs to be done to find whether homeschooling is what leads to or causes better outcomes.  At the same time, there is no empirical evidence that homeschooling overall causes negative things compared to institutional schooling. Future research may better answer the question of causation.

1. For more detail, see How Many Homeschool Students Are There in the United States? The March of 2021 estimate is based on data from state governments (e.g., Delaware, Florida, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Carolina, and Virginia), the U.S. Census Bureau (2021), and the U.S. Department of Education (2019). See McDonald (2020). The spring 2019 estimate was based on an estimate of about 2.5% per annum growth from estimates of 2 million home-educated children during the spring of 2010 and 2.3 million spring of 2016 in the United States (Ray, 2011). The estimate of 2.3 million in 2016 was calculated by Brian D. Ray, the author of this fact sheet, on April 7, 2016. He based it on publicly available research findings.

The above findings are extensively documented in one or more of the following sources, and most are available from www.nheri.org:

  • Cheng, Albert. (2014). Does homeschooling or private schooling promote political intolerance? Evidence from a Christian university. Journal of School Choice: International Research and Reform , 8(1), 49-68 [a peer-reviewed journal].
  • Fields-Smith, Cheryl. (2020). Exploring single black mothers’ resistance through homeschooling . Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan Cham.
  • Mazama, Ama; & Lundy, Garvey. (2012, August 26). African American homeschooling as racial protectionism. Journal of Black Studies, 43 (7) 723–748.
  • McDonald, Kerry. (2020). Homeschooling more than doubles during the pandemic: State-level data show just how dramatic the surge in homeschooling has been. Retrieved December 29, 2020 from https://fee.org/articles/homeschooling-more-than-doubles-during-the-pandemic/
  • Mead, Sara. (2006). The truth about boys and girls.
  • Medlin, Richard G. (2013). Homeschooling and the question of socialization revisited. Peabody Journal of Education, 88 (3), 284-297 [a peer-reviewed journal].
  • Murphy, Joseph. (2012). Homeschooling in America: Capturing and assessing the movement . Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin, a Sage Company.
  • National Education Association. (2023). Rankings of the States 2022 and Estimates of School Statistics 2023,  https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/2023-04/2023-rankings-and-estimates-report.pdf
  • Ray, Brian D. (2004). Home educated and now adults: Their community and civic involvement, views about homeschooling, and other traits. Salem, Oregon: NHERI.
  • Ray, Brian D. (2004). Homeschoolers on to college: What research shows us. Ray, Journal of College Admission , No. 185, 5-11 [a peer-reviewed journal].
  • Ray, Brian D. (2010). Academic achievement and demographic traits of homeschool students: A nationwide study. Academic Leadership Journal, 8, www.academicleadership.org [a peer-reviewed journal]. For a free copy, contact us .
  • Ray, Brian D. (2013). Homeschooling associated with beneficial learner and societal outcomes but educators do not promote it. Peabody Journal of Education, 88 (3), 324-341 [a peer-reviewed journal].
  • Ray, Brian D. (2015). African American homeschool parents’ motivations for homeschooling and their Black children’s academic achievement. Journal of School Choice, 9 :71–96 [a peer-reviewed journal]. For a free copy, contact us .
  • Ray, Brian D. (2017). A systematic review of the empirical research on selected aspects of homeschooling as a school choice. Journal of School Choice , 11 (4), 604-621 [a peer-reviewed journal]
  • Ray, Brian D.; & Hoelzle, Braden R. (2024). Reasons for homeschooling and the correlates of home-educated students’ academic achievement: A new U.S. nationwide study. Presented at International School Choice and Reform Conference, Madrid, Spain, January 6, 2024.
  • Ray, Brian D.; & Shakeel, M. Danish. (2022). Demographics are predictive of child abuse and neglect but homeschool versus conventional school is a nonissue: Evidence from a nationally representative survey. Journal of School Choice, https://doi.org/10.1080/15582159.2022.2108879  [a peer-reviewed journal]
  • Seiver, Jillene Grove; & Pope, Elisa A. (2022). The kids are alright II: social engagement in young adulthood as a function of k-12 schooling type, personality traits, and parental education level. Home School Researcher , 37 (2), 1-9.
  • Sheffer, Susannah. (1995). A sense of self: Listening to homeschooled adolescent girls .
  • United States Department of Education. (2019) Homeschooling in the United States: Results from the 2012 and 2016 Parent and Family Involvement Survey (PFINHES: 2012 and 2016). Retrieved November 3, 2020 from https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2020/2020001.pdf

About the Author

Brian D. Ray, Ph.D. is an internationally known researcher  (see Google Scholar Profile for many of his publications), educator, speaker, and expert witness, and serves as president of the nonprofit National Home Education Research Institute. He is a former certified teacher in public and private schools and served as a professor in the fields of science, research methods, and education at the graduate and undergraduate levels. He holds a Ph.D. in science education from Oregon State University, a M.S. in zoology from Ohio University, and a B.S. in biology from the University of Puget Sound. Dr. Ray has been studying the homeschool movement since about 1984.

For more homeschool research and more in-depth interpretation of research, media, journalists, and others please contact:

National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI)

PO Box 13939 Salem OR 97309 USA

tel. (503) 364‑1490 [email protected] www.nheri.org

Copyright © 2024 by National Home Education Research Institute

About nheri.

NHERI conducts homeschooling research, is a clearinghouse of research for the public, researchers, homeschoolers, the media, and policy makers, and educates the public concerning the findings of all related research. NHERI executes, evaluates, and disseminates studies and information (e.g., statistics, facts, data) on homeschooling (i.e., home schooling, home-based education, home education, home school, home-schooling, unschooling, deschooling, a form of alternative education), publishes reports and the peer-reviewed scholarly journal Home School Researcher, and serves in consulting, academic achievement tests, and expert witness (in courts and legislatures).

PO Box 13939 Salem, OR 97309 503-364-1490 503-364-3837 fax contact NHERI

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Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

reviewed by Jo-ann Caballes

Created on May 13, 2024

Updated on May 15, 2024

essay pros and cons of homeschooling

Homeschooling has become increasingly popular, offering a unique and potentially enriching learning environment. However, it’s a hard decision for any parent since you become the only one responsible for your child’s grades and socialization.

Check out this article to learn the pros and cons of online homeschooling and determine whether this studying approach fits your child’s needs.

Is homeschooling better? 

According to the National Home Education Research Institute, homeschooled students’ test scores on standardized academic achievement tests are usually 15% to 25% higher than those of public school students. So, it’s safe to say that homeschooling is more concentrated on closing a child’s knowledge gap. 

We advise you to evaluate the pros and cons of the homeschool approach and find a relatable tutor who can help your child succeed.  With Brighterly tutors, you’ll get expert help in school math for any child, including students with special needs. We provide positive interaction and a boost in confidence so that your kid can improve in math.

Book the first free lesson, so we can find the best tutor and develop the learning curve to close the child’s knowledge gaps.

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after just one lesson!

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What are the pros and cons of homeschooling?

Switching from public school education can be a hard decision. That’s why we’ve gathered pros and cons of home education, so you can figure out whether it suits you.

Claire Law is a Qualified and Accredited MBACP (Accd.) Registered Integrative Psychotherapist, a university counselor, and a mental health expert. She is aware of homeschooling specifics, and so she warns parents about it.

“I know how vital a nurturing learning environment is for kids. Many parents nowadays are considering homeschooling for the first time.”

Author Claire Law

Let’s take a deep dive into the homeschooling pros and cons for kids and their parents. By the end of this article, you’ll find out whether this study approach suits you.

Pros of Homeschooling

Homeschooling is an advantageous studying approach for many families. Check the 4 main benefits of home education.

Personalized curriculum

Stronger family bonds

No bullying

Perfect for students with special needs

Pros of Homeschooling #1: Personalized curriculum

Homeschooling allows you to modify the curriculum to your child’s specific needs and interests. If they struggle with some math concepts, you can spend an extra day or week to ensure that the child understands it now. If they are gifted in science, they can quickly pass general topics and dive deeper into the more complex ones.

Homeschooling doesn’t have to be boring. With the right tutors, you can do it fun and exciting

Meanwhile, some people consider it as simultaneous homeschooling pros and cons. If your child is struggling with a complex topic in one subject, you’ll need to spend more time on it, taking away free time from them.

Pros of Homeschooling #2: Stronger family bonds

Homeschool education can also help you strengthen family bonds. Your kid doesn’t need to attend school, so you have more time together. You can create a positive environment fostering curiosity, exploration, and open communication.

Pros of Homeschooling #3: No bullying

Homeschooling can be a good option if you’re concerned about bullying or peer pressure in traditional schools. It’s one of the greatest benefits of homeschooling. You can still provide opportunities for socialization through extracurricular activities, homeschool groups, or community events.

Pros of Homeschooling #4: Perfect for students with special needs

If your kid needs special treatment, homeschooling is perfect for them. Parents and tutors work with the kid in 1-to-1 sessions, so they can focus their attention solely on the child’s needs.

Cons of Homeschooling

While homeschooling offers many advantages, it has some not-so-sweet specifics. 

  • Time commitment
  • Financial responsibilities
  • Socialization concerns
  • Parental pressure

Cons of Homeschooling #1: Time commitment

Homeschooling requires a significant time investment, which is one of the biggest simultaneous pros and cons of homeschooling. So, you should ask yourself whether you can dedicate yourself to providing instruction or find a tutor for all school subjects. Determine whether you have a flexible lifestyle that can accommodate homeschooling. You may also hire nannies for your work hours. 

Many tutors recommend switching to home education at the start of the school year, where accepting those changes is easier. Jeff Blum, who has been providing homeschool tutoring for more than 10 years, confirms this statement.

Jeff Blum, a part-time tutor working with students from grades K-12 at LA Tutors 123.

“The transition to homeschooling doesn't have to be painful or difficult, but it does require some planning.”

Author Jeff Blum

Cons of Homeschooling #2: Financial responsibilities

Curriculum materials, educational resources, and enrichment activities can add up the cost. Homeschoolers may not have access to the same assets as traditional schools, such as advanced labs, specialized equipment, or a full library.

It’s one of the biggest negatives to homeschooling since the child won’t experience certain subjects or learning styles that benefit from hands-on experiences.

Ensure that you provide as many school experiences as possible and your child will get the same hard and soft skills as their peers.

Cons of Homeschooling #3: Socialization concerns

Beware that even the best homeschooling education won’t provide classroom experiences, such as constant peer socialization for 6+ hours each day and developing a child’s crisis management soft skills.

While homeschooling doesn’t have to mean isolation, it does require intentional effort to create opportunities for socialization. 

Cons of Homeschooling #4: Parental pressure

Homeschooling also adds parental pressure, as the responsibility for your child’s education falls entirely on you. It can be stressful, especially if you don’t have an educational background.

Professional tutors also told us that homeschooling has a lot of benefits, meanwhile, it comes with its own sacrifices. Amanda Schenkenberger, a homeschool coach at Homeschool Family Legacy, was a homeschooled kid, so she talks from experience on both sides.

“Choosing to homeschool is a big decision for everyone involved. It isn’t just an educational shift; it’s a lifestyle shift.”

  • Have an open dialogue with your child about the transition. As you paint them a picture of homeschooling, ask them how they feel about this change.
  • Involve your child in the decision-making process for the curriculum and extracurricular activities.

As a former homeschooled child and now a homeschooling mom, I believe the main advantage of homeschooling is tailoring the curriculum to my child as an individual. I learned the ins and outs of horses, dog breeding, and training, and I even got to travel to Europe for a few weeks on a private scholarship. Untethered to a desk and a districtwide curriculum, life was my school; through it, I received a rich education.

Author Amanda Schenkenberger

Homeschooling with Brighterly

The perks of homeschooling with certified tutors are tremendous. Your child will receive high-quality instruction specifically tailored to their needs, whether mastering simple math or preparing for high school math in the 7 and 8 grades.

Brighterly tutors develop personalized learning plans that complement your homeschool curriculum. They will identify areas where your child needs extra help and create targeted lessons to fill these knowledge gaps. 

The Brighterly platform has many tutors that specialize in teaching students with special needs. Regular interactions with a tutor can provide a positive social learning environment and role model. It can be especially beneficial for homeschooled students who crave external interactions.

Brighterly tutors can help your child prepare and feel calm on a test day if your homeschool uses standardized testing. Working with a supportive tutor can boost your child’s confidence in their academic abilities.

Conclusion: Should I homeschool my child?

Homeschooling can be a good practice, but it’s a big decision that requires careful consideration. So, while comparing «homeschooling VS public school», you need to understand your particular situation.

Sometimes, homeschooling can feel like a neverending run in circles, and that’s OK

Initially, you should find out the child’s needs and learning style. Determine whether they are visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learners to find a suitable study method and reputable tutor.

Identify the child’s potential socialization. Even the strictest introverts need occasional socialization with their peers. So, if you want to homeschool your kid, consider third-party classes like art or pottery.

Book the first free lesson at Brighterly to discover kids’ knowledge gaps and get personalized learning plan recommendations!

Author Jessica Kaminski

Jessica is a a seasoned math tutor with over a decade of experience in the field. With a BSc and Master’s degree in Mathematics, she enjoys nurturing math geniuses, regardless of their age, grade, and skills. Apart from tutoring, Jessica blogs at Brighterly. She also has experience in child psychology, homeschooling and curriculum consultation for schools and EdTech websites.

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May 01, 2024

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Homeschooling vs. Traditional Schooling: A Comprehensive Comparison

  • Read Time: 4 minutes
  • by Perry Bradley

Homeschooling vs. Traditional Schooling: A Comprehensive Comparison

Choosing the right educational path for your child is a significant decision that impacts their academic, social, and personal development. Two options that parents often consider are homeschooling and traditional schooling. In this article, we will delve into a detailed comparison of homeschooling and traditional schooling, exploring their distinct features, benefits, and considerations. By examining these two educational approaches, you will be better equipped to make an informed decision that best suits your child’s unique needs.

  • Academic Customization and Flexibility:

One of the primary advantages of homeschooling is the ability to customize the curriculum to fit your child’s individual needs and learning style. Homeschooling allows for flexible scheduling, personalized attention, and the freedom to tailor lessons to match your child’s pace and interests. In contrast, traditional schooling follows a standardized curriculum, which may not cater to every child’s specific learning requirements.

  • Individualized Attention:

In a homeschooling environment, parents can provide one-on-one attention and personalized instruction, ensuring that their child receives individualized support and guidance. This personalized attention allows for a deep understanding of the child’s strengths, weaknesses, and learning style, enabling targeted teaching strategies. In traditional schooling, teachers often have larger class sizes, making it more challenging to provide the same level of individual attention.

  • Socialization and Peer Interaction:

One concern often raised about homeschooling is the potential lack of socialization opportunities compared to traditional schooling. Traditional schools offer a structured environment where children interact with peers daily, fostering social skills, teamwork, and the development of lifelong friendships. However, homeschoolers can engage in various socialization activities, such as joining homeschooling co-ops, participating in community programs, sports teams, and extracurricular activities, to provide ample opportunities for social interaction.

  • Curriculum and Teaching Methods:

Traditional schools typically follow a standardized curriculum dictated by educational authorities. While this ensures a consistent educational experience, it may limit the flexibility to tailor the curriculum to a child’s interests or unique learning needs. In contrast, homeschooling allows for the selection of curriculum materials, teaching methods, and approaches that align with the child’s learning style and the parent’s educational philosophy.

  • Flexibility and Freedom:

Homeschooling offers a high degree of flexibility, allowing families to create their own schedules and adapt the learning environment to suit their lifestyle. This flexibility can be advantageous for families with specific circumstances, such as frequent travel, involvement in the arts or sports, or the need for a non-traditional academic calendar. Traditional schooling, on the other hand, follows a set schedule and calendar, which may provide less flexibility in accommodating individual family needs.

  • Individualized Pace of Learning:

In homeschooling, children have the freedom to progress at their own pace, whether it is accelerating in areas of strength or spending more time on challenging subjects. This individualized pace allows for a deeper understanding and mastery of concepts, reducing the likelihood of gaps in learning. In traditional schooling, the curriculum generally follows a predetermined timeline, and children must progress collectively with their peers.

  • Access to Resources and Expertise:

Traditional schools often have access to extensive resources, including libraries, laboratories, specialized equipment, and extracurricular programs. They also offer access to qualified teachers with expertise in specific subjects. While homeschoolers may face challenges in accessing certain resources, such as fully equipped science labs or specialized facilities, they can utilize community resources, online materials, virtual programs, and local educational institutions to supplement their educational experience.

  • Parental Involvement:

Homeschooling requires a significant commitment from parents, as they take on the role of the primary educator. This involvement allows parents to have a deep understanding of their child’s progress, strengths, and areas for improvement. It also strengthens the parent-child bond and creates a supportive learning environment. In traditional schooling, parents play a supportive role, but the responsibility for instruction lies primarily with the teachers. However, parent involvement can still be significant through participation in parent-teacher associations, volunteering, and engaging in their child’s education at home.

  • Standardized Testing and Accountability:

Traditional schools often have standardized testing requirements mandated by educational authorities to assess student performance and school effectiveness. These tests provide a benchmark for comparison and accountability. In homeschooling, testing requirements vary depending on local regulations. Some homeschooling families choose to administer standardized tests to gauge their child’s academic progress, while others prefer alternative assessment methods such as portfolio reviews, evaluations by qualified professionals, or participation in academic competitions.

  • Cost Considerations:

The cost implications of homeschooling versus traditional schooling can vary significantly. Traditional schooling usually requires payment of tuition fees, school supplies, transportation costs, and expenses associated with extracurricular activities. Homeschooling costs can vary depending on the curriculum chosen, educational resources, materials, and any external classes or activities. While homeschooling can be more cost-effective in some cases, it requires careful budgeting and resource planning.

  • Exposure to Diversity and Different Perspectives:

Traditional schools provide an environment where children interact with peers from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs. This exposure fosters understanding, tolerance, and the ability to navigate diverse social settings. In homeschooling, socialization opportunities need to be deliberately created to ensure exposure to a variety of perspectives, cultures, and experiences. Engaging in community activities and group learning experiences can help provide a broader social environment for homeschooled children.

  • Support Systems and Community:

Traditional schools offer built-in support systems, including guidance counselors, special education services, and access to professionals who can address specific needs or challenges. In homeschooling, parents may need to seek out and coordinate support services independently. However, homeschooling communities, online forums, and local support groups can provide valuable resources, advice, and a network of like-minded individuals who share experiences and offer support.

When deciding between homeschooling and traditional schooling, it is crucial to consider the unique needs, learning styles, and goals of your child. Homeschooling offers flexibility, customization, and individualized attention, allowing for a personalized educational experience. Traditional schooling provides structure, socialization opportunities, and access to specialized resources. Ultimately, the choice depends on factors such as your child’s learning preferences, your ability to commit time and resources, and the educational environment that aligns best with your family’s values and goals. Remember, both homeschooling and traditional schooling can provide quality education; the key is to choose the approach that best meets the needs of your child and family.

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Perry Bradley

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essay pros and cons of homeschooling

The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling – Is It Something Parents Should Consider?

E ducation is an important part of every child’s growth and development. Thanks to global events like the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the educational landscape has experienced some seismic shifts. With many students around the world having to resort to online learning, it was new territory for a lot of people. But thanks to all the technological advances society has made in the past couple of years, transitioning to school at home was less daunting than it seemed. Because of these changes, homeschooling, once a less common choice, has risen to become a frontline topic in education debates. As we step closer to the future, it’s of utter importance that parents become aware of both the potential benefits and drawbacks of homeschooling if they’re considering taking this route.

The Advantages of Homeschooling

Let’s first take a look at the advantages that come with homeschooling your child. One of the most prominent benefits that stand out immediately is the flexibility it provides. When it comes to traditional schooling, your child’s educational journey is dictated by the school’s curriculum, their schedule, and other institutional restrictions. In comparison, homeschooling allows parents and their children to customize the learning process to best suit their preferences. It provides an opportunity to further explore subjects of interest, adapt to individual learning styles, and learn at a pace that works best for the student. 

Homeschooling can also create a stronger bond between the child and parent who is acting as both a teacher and mentor. This heightened level of involvement can produce a comprehensive understanding of the child’s strengths, weaknesses, and interests. When you tailor the learning environment to fit these elements, children may develop a newfound love for learning, leading to an overall better academic performance. 

Lastly, studies have evidence showing that homeschooled children tend to mature more quickly than their peers due to the real-world, practical experiences they encounter. They tend to be more independent, self-driven, and thanks to their opportunities of experiential learning, it can help foster essential life skills. 

The Drawbacks of Homeschooling

Despite plenty of benefits which we’ve just explored, homeschooling isn’t without its own set of challenges. One of the most significant concerns is the level of commitment and effort it demands from the parents. The responsibility of planning and executing lessons, evaluating progress, and sourcing resources will fall entirely on the parent/teacher. For parents juggling work, personal responsibilities, or multiple children, this can be far too much of an overwhelming task.

Another issue that often gets asked is the potential lack of socialization. Traditional schooling provides children with a platform to interact with peers, engage in group activities, and build friendships. While homeschooling can still offer small group interactions or virtual collaborations, it can never fully replicate the breadth of social experiences offered in conventional schools. 

Finally, not all parents feel equipped to teach every subject, and as children advance to higher grades where subjects become more specialized and difficult, this becomes a bigger problem. While online resources and additional tutoring can help, these options all come with additional costs that may not be available for the family.

Should Parents Consider Homeschooling?

Since the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic essentially turned homes into classrooms for a good year or so, many parents got the chance to gain firsthand experience of homeschooling. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the rate of homeschooling rose to 11% by September 2020, more than doubling the number from the prior year. The data suggests that many parents have found value in this unique educational approach. 

But at the end of the day, whether or not parents choose to consider homeschooling is a deeply personal decision that is largely influenced by the family’s circumstances, values, and resources. Before making this decision, it’s important that parents fully and carefully consider all the pros and cons of homeschooling, and apply it accordingly to the context of their child’s needs.

The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling – Is It Something Parents Should Consider?

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What is Eclectic Homeschooling & How To Start [Full Guide]

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What is Eclectic Homeschooling?

Pros and cons of eclectic homeschooling, how to implement eclectic homeschooling, 3 challenges in eclectic homeschooling, is eclectic homeschooling a perfect fit for your family, how does splashlearn work with the eclectic homeschooling method.

Schooling your kids but feeling stuck in a rut?  Eclectic homeschooling might be the answer!  This blog dives into how you can ditch the one-size-fits-all approach and create a learning adventure that’s exciting and perfect for your unique child.

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Eclectic homeschooling is all about creating a perfect learning experience for your child.  It’s not a set program but rather a way to pick and choose the best teaching methods and resources to fit their unique needs and interests.   Think of it as customizing your child’s education!

Here’s your handy roadmap to navigate eclectic method of homeschooling! Let’s break it down into simple steps:

1. Discover your child’s learning style & interests

Every child is unique! Before starting, take some time to understand your child’s learning style . Do they learn best by seeing (visual), hearing (auditory), or doing (kinesthetic)? What are their passions? Knowing this helps you choose resources that will truly engage them.

2. Start with clear goals

Where do you want your child’s learning journey to go this year? Jot down some learning goals and objectives for different subjects. This will be your compass, guiding you in selecting resources and activities.

3. Explore a variety of resources

Textbooks are great, but they’re not the only option! Dive into the other homeschooling resources available!  Think online programs , unit studies, educational websites , documentaries, and even fun projects! The possibilities are endless!

4. Create a flexible schedule

Create a weekly schedule that incorporates all the amazing resources you’ve gathered. Remember, flexibility is key! Leave room for spontaneous learning opportunities or unexpected adventures that arise from your child’s curiosity. Don’t forget to schedule breaks and playtime too!

5. Adapt and Adjust

Incorporate assessments like quizzes or projects to check your child’s understanding.  If something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to adjust your course!  The key is to find what works best for your unique crew.

Feeling a little lost about planning, scheduling, or keeping things organized with Eclectic homeschooling? Don’t worry, it happens! Here are some tips to tackle these common challenges:

Challenge #1: Planning & Resource Overload

There are so many resources out there, it can be overwhelming! But that’s the beauty of Eclectic homeschooling – you get to pick and choose!

  • Get to know your child’s interests and learning style. What gets them excited? Visual learning? Hands-on activities ? This helps you choose resources that spark their curiosity.
  • Think outside the textbook! Educational websites, documentaries, fun projects, even family outings can be part of your learning plan.
  • Don’t try to do everything at once. Build a flexible schedule that lets you explore different topics and adjust as you go.

Challenge #2: Time Management 

We’ve all been there – juggling a million things! Here are some tips to keep your Eclectic homeschooling running smoothly:

  • Schedule, schedule, schedule! Block out time for different subjects and activities in your weekly plan, including playtime and breaks!
  • Create routines. Consistent routines help your child adjust to homeschooling and make learning a natural part of their day.
  • Involve the family! Maybe your spouse leads science experiments while grandparents join story time. Sharing the responsibility makes things easier and more fun.

Challenge #3: Finding the Balance Between Freedom and Structure

Eclectic homeschooling offers freedom, but some learners need structure. Here’s how to find the sweet spot:

  • Set clear learning goals. What do you want your child to achieve in a specific period? This guides your resource selection and activities.
  • Include regular check-ins. Quizzes, projects, or chats can help you gauge understanding and adjust your plan.
  • Maintain a flexible structure. Create a daily or weekly framework but allow room for spontaneous learning opportunities from your child’s interests.

Eclectic homeschooling offers a unique approach to education, but is it right for you? Here are some questions to help you decide:

1. Do you enjoy tailoring learning experiences to your child’s interests?

Eclectic homeschooling thrives on customization. If you enjoy creating learning experiences that spark your child’s curiosity and cater to their unique strengths, then this approach might be a great fit!

2. Are you comfortable with flexibility and planning?

This method allows you to adapt the learning journey as needed. However, it also requires planning to select resources and create a schedule. If you enjoy a balance between flexibility and organization, Eclectic homeschooling could be a good choice.

3. Can you manage your time effectively?

Eclectic homeschooling requires juggling various resources and activities. If you’re confident in your time management skills, you can create a smooth and enriching learning experience for your child.

By reflecting on these questions, you can gain a clearer understanding of whether Eclectic homeschooling aligns with your goals and lifestyle.

SplashLearn can be an excellent resource for families practicing eclectic homeschooling. This online program offers activities such as games , worksheets in subjects like math , reading and ealy skills, which can be either a core part of your homeschool curriculum or a supplementary tool. Here’s how SplashLearn fits into the eclectic homeschooling approach:

1. Customization for diverse needs: SplashLearn is designed to cater to various learner types, including gifted children, those who learn differently, and typical learners. You can tailor the experience to meet your child’s unique educational needs by choosing specific activities and subjects.

2. Flexible learning: With SplashLearn, children can progress through lessons at their own pace. If a child masters a concept quickly, they can move on; if they need more time, they can repeat lessons as needed. This flexibility is a cornerstone of eclectic homeschooling, allowing you to adapt the learning journey according to your child’s pace and interest.

3. Engagement through technology: Kids often enjoy learning through interactive digital formats. Unlike traditional textbook approaches, SplashLearn uses engaging, colorful animations and activities that make learning fun and dynamic. This helps in keeping your child interested and motivated.

4. Ease of monitoring progress: SplashLearn provides detailed reports that track your child’s progress, including the time spent on each activity, quizzes scores, and lesson completion dates. This feature simplifies record-keeping and helps you monitor your child’s learning effectively, which is especially useful when assembling a homeschool portfolio. If you’re an eclectic homeschooler looking for a flexible and engaging learning tool that adapts to your child’s unique educational needs, start your free trial with SplashLearn today!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the benefits of an eclectic homeschool approach.

Eclectic homeschooling allows personalized learning that tailors education to a child’s specific interests and needs, promoting a flexible and engaging learning environment.

How do I choose the best eclectic homeschool curriculum?

To find the best eclectic homeschool curriculum, assess your child’s learning styles and interests, and look for curricula that offer diverse, customizable content to suit their unique needs.

What should the eclectic homeschooler keep in mind when planning their homeschooling year?

The eclectic homeschooler should focus on flexibility, creating a mix of structured and exploratory learning opportunities that cater to various interests and learning styles.

How can I effectively organize an eclectic homeschool schedule?

Organize an eclectic homeschool schedule by balancing core subjects with exploratory learning, allowing time for your child’s interests to guide the learning process. Use a planner to maintain structure while remaining adaptable to new educational opportunities.

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  1. Pros And Cons Of Homeschooling

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  1. The Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

    As you weigh your decision, give some thought to how each of these might impact your own circumstance and trust that whatever decision you make will be the right one for your family. Pros. Freedom. Flexibility. Individualized education. Strong relationships. Cons. A lot of work. Less time for yourself.

  2. Homeschooling vs Traditional Schooling: pros and cons

    As for the SATs, homeschoolers scored a nationwide average of 72 points more than their traditional schooled counterparts in the United States in 2020. Safety: The risks of COVID-19, school shootings, and other unfortunate situations are minimized at home. The extent of safety will also vary upon the neighborhood the school and home are located in.

  3. Homeschooling: Pros and Cons

    Pros of Homeschooling. Those who stand for homeschooling insist that it provides tailor-fit education. The child has a chance to learn at their own pace, which can be slower or faster than that of public school students'. It is true that every child is special and every child's needs matter. Still, in cases when children cannot cope with ...

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    Homeschooling is rather advantageous because it provides the representatives of the general public with an opportunity to experience freedom. This point includes both the freedom to decide what to do and when and the freedom from adverse situations. For instance, parents have the possibility to change the planned organization of lessons if they ...

  5. Should I consider homeschooling my kids?

    Homeschooled kids do better in college. Homeschool families are all religious. Homeschooled kids are more creative. Homeschooled kids lack social skills. When it comes to homeschooling, there are no lack of strong opinions — as well as misconceptions and prejudices. The truth is that homeschooling has changed dramatically over the past few years.

  6. The Research on Homeschooling

    Posted September 1, 2021|Reviewed by Gary Drevitch. About 4 to 5 million children in the United States (or approximately 8 to 9% of school-age children) were homeschooled in March 2021. This ...

  7. 15 Critical Homeschooling Pros and Cons

    15 Critical Homeschooling Pros and Cons. Homeschooling is the process of teaching a specific curriculum to a student while at home. It is a curriculum that must be approved by the student's local jurisdiction or state and must include documented hours of education. The primary benefit of homeschooling is the flexibility it provides, allowing ...

  8. Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

    1. Easier to teach and easier to learn. Teaching one-on-one means that you can adapt your teaching method to the child's individual learning style. This makes for more effective learning. If the child is visual, you can include photographs, graphs, and charts in your teaching in order to help them absorb the material more easily.

  9. The Real Homeschooling Pros and Cons: What You Should Know & Why

    6. Adaptable to Your Child. Despite what some people think, one of the biggest homeschooling pros is that it's an effective way to teach your children. When teachers have large classrooms, it's almost impossible to adapt a lesson and resources to each child and their individual needs.

  10. Homeschooling Pros and Cons for Kids and Parents

    Understand homeschooling pros and cons before deciding if it's right for you. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, just over three percent of American families homeschooled their children. In the years since, that number has jumped to just over 11 percent overall, and as much as 16 percent among Black and Hispanic families (Eggleston and Fields, 2021).

  11. Advantages and Disadvantages of Homeschooling Essay

    Introduction. Homeschooling refers to the form of education that takes place in a home setup and usually without the restrictions that are found in a traditional education system (Cogan 1). The parent or guardian of the child plays the major role of being a teacher. We will write a custom essay on your topic. Lyman (1) defines home schooling as ...

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    But home schooling could really be a good fit if your child: Is gifted or has a learning challenge and would benefit from more individual teaching. Has sensory issues and finds the school ...

  13. Homeschooling: What do we know and what do we need to learn?

    Homeschooling became increasingly popular during COVID-19, but even before the pandemic, approximately 2 million children were homeschooled in the United States (Ray, 2020).The growth of homeschooling and controversial calls to ban it provide an opportunity to consider what we know, and what we do not know, about this form of education (Bartholet, 2019).

  14. 41 Experts Share on the Pros and Cons of Homeschooling

    PRO - The biggest pro of homeschooling is the love of learning. Homeschooling provides the best possible learning environment to encourage the love of learning. Homeschooling is education safe and secure, allowing children to learn more in a relaxed environment.

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    Homeschooling Vs. Traditional Schooling - The Pros And Cons Pros Of Homeschooling. Customized Curriculum: Tailors the curriculum to the child's learning style. Individualized Attention: Provides focused attention to address individual strengths and weaknesses. Flexible Learning Pace: Allows students to delve deeper into subjects of interest. Time Flexibility: Facilitates unique learning ...

  16. The Effects of Homeschooling: Essay Example and Writing Tips

    In the essay you need to take a clear position. For example, your goal may be to convince the reader of the positive effects of homeschooling, or, conversely, to focus on its negative aspects. Or you can compare the pros and cons of studying at home. Either way, you need to prove your point with arguments.

  17. An Introduction to Homeschooling

    An Introduction to Homeschooling. Homeschooling is an educational option that allows parents to teach their children at home instead of sending them to school. There are today a wealth of resources and opportunities available to homeschooling families, and in a landscape of increasing school choice homeschooling has become more and more ...

  18. RESEARCH FACTS ON HOMESCHOOLING

    General Facts, Statistics, and Trends. There were about 3.1 million homeschool students in 2021-2022 in grades K-12 in the United States (roughly 6% of school-age children). There were about 2.5 million homeschool students in spring 2019 (or 3% to 4% of school-age children) [note 1]. The homeschool population had been growing at an estimated 2% ...

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    1. Greater flexibility in teaching. One of the main benefits of homeschooling is the flexibility provided to parents and kids. You can plan your own routine and teaching strategies through highly flexible ways. You can focus on three day runs, weekend learning, daily sessions, and other strategies.

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    Cons of Homeschooling #1: Time commitment. Homeschooling requires a significant time investment, which is one of the biggest simultaneous pros and cons of homeschooling. So, you should ask yourself whether you can dedicate yourself to providing instruction or find a tutor for all school subjects.

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    Benefits of Homeschooling (5 Advantages + More) Benefits of Homeschooling: Less negative peer pressure, greater self-esteem, and higher academic scores are all advantages of homeschooling.

  22. Homeschooling vs. Traditional Schooling: A Comprehensive Comparison

    Choosing the right educational path for your child is a significant decision that impacts their academic, social, and personal development. Two options that parents often consider are homeschooling and traditional schooling. In this article, we will delve into a detailed comparison of homeschooling and traditional schooling, exploring their distinct features, benefits, and considerations.

  23. College Essay Example

    Read More: Pros and Cons of Reverse Mortgage. Parents can decide based on the advantages and disadvantages of Homeschooling. So, here is a list of pros and cons that help them to decide on their children's schooling. Pros of Homeschooling 1. Flexibility of Learning Parents choose Homeschooling because of the flexibility of learning for their ...

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    It provides an opportunity to further explore subjects of interest, adapt to individual learning styles, and learn at a pace that works best for the student. Homeschooling can also create a ...

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    After evaluating the following pros; educational freedom, one-on-one attention, ability to take life easy, and the option to teach your way, then the cons; cost, and socializing issues. It is often important to think of the child's educational freedom and one-on-one attention when homeschooling. If you choose to homeschool your children, as ...

  26. What is Eclectic Homeschooling & how To Start [Full Guide]

    Eclectic homeschooling is all about creating a perfect learning experience for your child. It's not a set program but rather a way to pick and choose the best teaching methods and resources to fit their unique needs and interests. Think of it as customizing your child's education! Pros and Cons of Eclectic Homeschooling