Homeschooling is not new to us. It is legal and allowed to have your children schooled at home rather than let them attend public or private schools.

Though there are more details to know and understand about how homeschooling is regulated throughout the world and in different countries, the below benefits and drawbacks of homeschooling may help you in deciding if it is better to keep your children’s education at home than have them attend public or private institutions.

Pros

1. Safer environment

One pressing concern of all the parents is their children’s safety. With the increasing number of shooting and gun violence in different schools in the country, parents are often worried about their kids’ security in their so-called second home. Apart from that, the issues of bullying, sexual assault, bad influence, as well as physical and mental abuse are some of the social elements that parents nowadays are concerned about. So making your home a school for them, seems to be a good idea as you feel they are better protected there with the people who love and care for them the most.

2. One-on-one education

If compared to the typical school with an average class of 15 to 35, a mother who teaches 3 kids will be more beneficial when it comes to the attention given to the students. Helping your children about the subjects or topics that they don’t understand will be easier since you can dwell on a particular area for a longer time. Knowing what needs to be learned more will also be faster as you only have one or a few students to teach.

3. Adjustable schedules

It can also be a disadvantage but with a prepared daily schedule that is being strictly followed to practice and teach discipline, parents can enjoy the flexible schedules of homeschooling. You need not wake up too early in the morning to prepare your child for school. You also don’t need to worry if he will miss the bus or if he’ll skip breakfast because you overslept and wasn’t able to cook. The whole family’s daily routine will be more relaxed. You can even change the schedules monthly or from time to time.

4. Emphasis on knowledge and not grades

Though a healthy competition for higher grades is good, it is sometimes not enough when it comes to an effective learning and gaining knowledge. Short-term memorization and late-night studying for the sake of good grades will not contribute to the actual learning and understanding of lessons and their implementation in life. Without competition, homeschooling inspires the parent and the child to focus on real education.

5. Develop your Own Curriculum

Some parents are not happy with the curriculum format of their children’s school. They may think that their voice will not be heard if they try to ask for a subject to be included or excluded to the syllabi. In homeschooling, your thoughts and voice will surely be heard. You can include the topics that you think is important in building the character or enhancing the capabilities of your child. May it be related to religion, humanities, or sports, you have the freedom to choose. Another factor that you can develop in homeschooling is the learning or teaching styles that you implement. You can combine online modules, textbook reading, physical activities, and other set-ups which are sometimes limited in an actual school.

6. Stronger Parent-Child Bond

Having more time to spend with your children for a deeper relationship is definitely an advantage of homeschooling. You will be able to spend productive time together wherein your children can learn good manners, appropriate social behavior, and personal boundaries. You can also learn more about your children and yourself as you teach them and as you grow together.

7. Concentrate on the child’s abilities

Another advantage of homeschooling is exposing your children to the subjects that they have interest in. Sure, fundamental subjects such as Mathematics, English, and Science are still to be taught and learned but you can give more time and attention to subjects like Music or Sports in which your children show potentials. Helping them enhance and develop their talents is sometimes lacking in private or public school education and can be given priority in home education.

Cons

1. Costly

You may not spend money on tuition fee, transportation, food, and other costs involve in enrolling your child in a school. But you should think again as when you decide to homeschool your children, either you or your spouse has to put your career goals aside for you to concentrate on teaching your children. That means giving up your job to prioritize your children’s education. There will then a one less paycheck to cover the same expenses at home.

2. Less organized structure

There may be parents that were able to successfully homeschool their children. But it’s not an easy path to take. There will be limited resources and the parents have to rely on themselves in deciding the structure to use in teaching, learning, and implementing the curriculum. Unlike in an established school wherein the curriculums and teaching methodologies are more structured and better-planned.

3. No training or skills for teaching

Parents who decide to homeschool their children are not necessarily teachers or have undergone training in delivering education. Most of them are first-timers who are re-learning or still learning the subjects to be taught to their children. This experimental stage may cause the child to get a limited and low-quality education.

4. Limited Free Time

Every parent sure love being with their kids but homeschooling limits the time for one’s self or for quality time alone with the spouse. It will also be hard to act both as a parent and as a teacher, boundaries are sometimes difficult to set and impossible to implement.

5. Less social life

One major disadvantage of homeschooling is the little interaction of your child with other kids of his age. Even if you bring him to parks every now and then to mingle with other kids, it is still not the same experience as going to school every day. There will be no field trips, group projects, or lunch with friends. There are other ways to have your children interact with their peers but there are nice little things that they will still miss out if they are homeschooled.

6. Limited access to sports and other crafts

You can teach your children sports and its rules and fundamentals, but having them experience play the actual sports will be harder for team sports such as basketball or football. This will also limit the discovery of their potentials and the possibility of enhancing their talents. Another aspect that your children might miss out is learning crafts that you are not good at which are being taught in schools by experienced teachers.

7. Social Criticism

Homeschooling may not be new but it is still not a common practice. Having to explain your decision to other family members may gain arguments rooted ina difference in beliefs and lack of information about home education. Your children might also be branded as weird as it is the misguided notion about homeschooled kids. All the doubts and queries pointed at you and your kids might make you think if your decision is right.

Sarah Del Rosario is a freelance blogger from https://smiletutor.sg, a Singapore based company offering private tutorial services in Singapore. When not working, Aileen loves to paint and do crafts. During her free time, she does volunteer in community work.