The world at the moment is not as we know it; there are so many changes going on because of the Coronavirus pandemic. The future seems uncertain and might require a lot of adjustment on your part. For single people, adjusting to the new reality might not be as difficult when compared to people who have kids and a large family. As a parent, it’s not unusual to feel overwhelmed during this period, as you have a lot going through your mind about the future and taking care of your kids by yourself all day.

Looking at the current situation, a lot of children might not be able to return to school until next year to help curb the spread of the virus; but does this mean your children should miss out on almost a year of schooling?

Most schools are encouraging parents to participate in homeschooling, as this will help keep your children busy, both physically and mentally, while also ensuring they complete the syllabus for each level at the estimated time. It can be hard to keep a routine and getting the kids ready in the morning can be difficult. However, Homeschooling is on the rise and below are the pros and cons of homeschooling your child.

PROS OF HOMESCHOOLING

Flexibility

A lot of parents are embracing homeschooling for this reason, as it allows you as a parent, complete freedom over how to tutor your child and the choice of curriculum you want for your child.

If you notice that your child has an interest in a particular subject, you can spend time developing that interest. Flexibility also allows you as a parent, to incorporate specific values into your children, or develop a customized approach if you have a child with a special need.

Free Time

Unlike a traditional school that has a fixed schedule for everything, homeschooling does not need to follow such a strict routine. In addition to flexibility, homeschooling allows you and your child the opportunity to go on vacations in the low-season and also adjust the number of months that are spent schooling.

You do not need special notice for appointments with homeschooling and you can draw up a teaching time that works best for your child.

Effective Learning

Since your child will not be in a classroom of over 20 children, distractions during learning time are reduced. You and your child can work through learning materials at a fast pace or a slow pace - depending on what works best for the child.

A one-on-one learning environment helps to increase the quality of education of a child, especially when you consider learning style.

Relationship-Building

If you are practicing homeschooling with your child, it means you will always be present for milestones your child covers; you won’t miss out on essential aspects of their lives as you will always be spending time with them.

Independence and Maturity

When children are homeschooled, their success is in their hands. Homeschooled children are accountable for their education as parents give them assignments to complete on their own – this requires a level of responsibility.

CONS OF HOMESCHOOLING

Societal Pressure

It’s the norm in most areas for children to attend traditional schools and parents who do not follow that path might find themselves misunderstood and frustrated, trying to explain to other people why their children are not in regular schools.

People often believe that homeschooled children lack exposure and the ability to relate well within society, compared with children who attend regular schools.

Opportunity Cost

If you chose to homeschool your child, then you must be prepared for the opportunity cost that comes with that decision. You need to invest a lot of time into planning the curriculum, writing lesson plans, explaining educational materials and keeping your school notes up to date.

It’s taxing and almost impossible as a parent to perform homeschooling while also holding down a regular job. You might need to sacrifice your paid salary job (opportunity cost) to continue tutoring your children at home.

Fear of Failure

Homeschooling comes with a lot of backlashes and a lot of parents fear that their children might fail or lag in the real world. This fear of failure causes a lot of parents to spend hours on subjects and areas where their children exhibit strength; this is not good, as the child then becomes under intense pressure to keep up.

Because a lot of parents do not want to be blamed for the decision to homeschool their children if the child falls short, the pressure to perform exceedingly well is placed on the child.

Training experience

As a parent, before you decide to homeschool your child, you should have a background in education, especially in essential subject areas such as mathematics and science. Since you are the one solely responsible for your child’s education, you will need to dedicate a lot of time, training and effort to the cause.

Steps to Homeschool Success

With so much time on your hands during this current time, you may have decided to homeschool your child. You might be worried about what steps to take, what books to buy and how to make the whole arrangement work. Below are some of the steps required to take charge of your child’s education during this period.

Research Homeschool Options Available

There are a range of styles and methods available online for parents who want to begin homeschooling; it’s essential though that you look for a schooling method that will work for both you and your child. Educating yourself about the best approach to take, will help you make the right decision and define what you want to achieve.

Join a Homeschooling Group

Because of the current pandemic in the world, a physical meet-up might not be possible, but there are online platforms for group meetings. The benefit of joining a homeschooling group is having other people you can ask questions to and who can also share a few homeschooling tips that work for them.

Decide on the Homeschool Curriculum

You can purchase the curriculum you want to use for your child from online stores. You can get books that cover reading, writing, arithmetic and other relevant subjects.

To keep your children engaged and mentally occupied during this period, consider homeschooling.

Elizabeth Shields is a writer and small business owner. She is the mom of two boys with a passion for home design, parenting and healthy living.

The Rise of Homeschooling – Pros & Cons