There are a lot of homeschool facts that most people are not aware and there can be a lot of assumptions made when you tell people that you homeschool your children. Here are 6 of the most common things that I wish people knew about homeschooling.
#1 We Homeschool For Different Reasons
When people think about homeschoolers, they probably think that we all choose to homeschool for the same reasons. Some common reasons that people believe we homeschool are:
- We are highly religious and want to be able to teach our children according to our religious principles
- We don’t want our children to be influenced by anyone but us
- We want to control everything that our child is exposed to
- We want to control everything our thinks and believes
Although some homeschoolers do want to have more say in what their child is exposed to, that is not the main or only reason that we think homeschooling is a viable choice. Some other reasons include (but are not limited to):
- Wanting to provide a customized education for our children that takes into account their learning styles, special needs, and unique interests
- Wanting to have a more hands-on approach to our children’s education
- Wanting to explore subjects that are not typically offered in public schools
- Wanting our children to be able to learn at their own pace, rather than being left behind or moving more slowly than they are capable of
As you can see, the reasons we choose to homeschool are complex and varied.
#2 We Care About Socialization
One common question we hear is “How will your kids be socialized if they are homeschooled?” It seems that many people are concerned about whether our kids will be properly socialized. Guess what? We are concerned about that as well. That is why many of us band together to form co-ops. Co-ops are groups of homeschoolers that get together on a regular basis (sometimes several times a week) for learning and socializing. We teach together. We play together. We go on field trips. Homeschoolers are also pretty vigilant about seeking out extracurricular activities and events that we can participate in. We want our kids to be socialized just as much as any other parent.
#3 We Have Fun
Speaking of socializing – homeschoolers actually have fun. We don’t just sit at home reading, writing, and doing math. We go on field trips. We participate in community events. We go on play-dates. Our kids are members of clubs and groups. They play sports and musical instruments. They hang out with their friends.
#4 We Have Doubts and Fears
Homeschool parents are not exempt from doubts or fears. We worry about things as well. We sometimes wonder if we are making the right choices. We second-guess ourselves. We sometimes feel overwhelmed. We make mistakes. We are not perfect – we are humans. Just like any other parent, we don’t have it all figured out. Nor do we pretend that we do. Just like anyone else on this planet, we are trying to get through life as best as we can. That involved quite a bit of trial and error. The most we can do it make an educated decision and try to do the best that we can with what we have.
#5 We Don’t Think Homeschooling Is For Everyone
Although we feel that homeschool is the best option for our families, we do not believe that homeschool is the right choice for everyone. We understand that everyone has to make the best decision for their family. If you believe that public school or private school is the right choice for your child, that is great! We don’t want to shove our choices down your throat. We just hope that you respect our choice – even if it is not the one you would make.
#6 We Actually Have School
Sometimes friends and family members assume that if we are at home, that must mean that we don’t have anything to do. This can lead them to expect us to drop everything at a moment’s notice to do things with them. However, just because we are at home does not mean that we are available. Many of us have schedules and routines that we follow. We have things to do. If you know a homeschool family, take some time to ask about their schedule. And if you want them to do something with you, let them know in advance – just like you would for anyone else.
What homeschool facts would you add to this list? Let me know in comments!
You might also like:
- 7 Homeschooling myths debunked
- Common homeschooling mistakes and how to avoid them
- An open letter to family & friends of homeschooling families
