Homeschooling Resources in Visalia, California

Homeschooling is often – and wrongly – perceived as a fringe movement of parents who are electing to take their children out of the public school system. In reality, homeschooling has become increasingly popular in the United States over the past decade. Over 2.3 million American children are homeschooled as of 2018 and this number is only expected to increase over time.

Those who possess misconceptions about homeschooling practices often wonder what the possible benefits could be of removing children from a conventional education environment. They worry that socialization, quality of education, and other concerns could stunt a child’s development and put them behind their peers. While it’s only natural to worry about ensuring your child gets the best possible education, the well-researched can understand how homeschooling could be the best option available.

Below are six very compelling and very valid reasons to homeschool one’s children. Consider these when making the important decisions regarding your child’s educational pursuits.

Homeschooling Allows for More Freedom

Modern-day students are very busy. The older they get, the more they will end up having to take on in order to be successful and handle the personal matters in their lives. Between work, sports, other activities, caring for family members and other responsibilities, it can be challenging to succeed in a crowded classroom. The rigid timetable of the school day means that students have very little time to dedicate to other things that are important to them and their well-being.

When homeschooling is implemented, the schedule can be drafted around the student’s needs so that they do not risk falling behind their peers academically or be forced to shirk their other responsibilities.

Individualized Learning Boosts Scores and Self-Esteem

Public schools are becoming more crowded, year after year, forcing educators to spend more time teaching the whole room versus individual or smaller groups of students. This means that, for students who struggle in the classroom for any reason, they are not likely to get the kind of high-quality, individualized attention that they need to excel.

When students get the attention they need, their scores improve, and they feel more confident about their academic standing. When the opposite happens, it’s not uncommon for a student to become withdrawn and show plummeting grades or test scores. Homeschooling enables parents to teach the material in a way that fits their student, rather than a generalized approach that won’t reach them.

Parents Can Learn a Lot, Too

In preparation for one’s homeschooling ambitions, parents have a lot of reading that they have to do in order to ensure their child gets the most accurate information possible. For those of us who don’t remember much from our school years, or who didn’t receive a high-quality education when we were in school, this can be an eye-opening experience. Many homeschooling parents are astonished at how much they learn while going over their child’s educational materials.

Students are Exposed to Fewer Sicknesses

We all know that in the school environment, a flu or cold travels fast. Confined spaces plus sick children equal a widespread ailment that could have your kid feeling pretty lousy. Children with compromised immune systems could face even more serious consequences as a result of becoming sick from another child. Parents of children who deal with these very real concerns may choose homeschooling to minimize their risk of exposure to illnesses that could set back their academic and personal lives.

Another benefit of homeschooling is that your child doesn’t necessarily have to miss everything just because they’ve come down with something. Unless they are severely sick, it is entirely possible to continue their education on their sick days. This way, your child doesn’t introduce their virus to the public, but they still don’t have to worry about falling behind.

Bullying Isn’t a Concern

The most common reason for parents to elect for homeschooling is to remove their children from a troublesome school environment. Many educators do not handle bullying with a good approach – if at all – and bullying victims can fall through the cracks. At home, with one’s parents as their educators, schoolyard bullying is removed from the equation entirely.

This means that your student is less likely to fall into the pit of low self-esteem, poor academic performance and depression that effects many children who have been bullied. When they do not have to fear their classroom bully, they can focus on the academic matters at hand.

There is a Higher Quality of Education Possible

Many parents have concerns about the quality of education available at conventional public schools. Larger classroom sizes, few teachers and even fewer resources can lead to a classroom environment that isn’t as conductive to learning as it should be. Students who are homeschooled tend to be on par with their publicly educated peers, with many exceeding the test scores of their friends who attend a traditional school. This is true of students whose parents have no experience as educators, in addition to students who do have educators as parents.

Your reasons for homeschooling are all your own, but these six reasons present a very compelling case for a homeschooled environment. Consider these aspects of homeschooling when the option crosses your mind.