5 Homeschooling Disadvantages and How to Avoid Them
As a teacher and a parent, I understand the appeal of homeschooling. It allows for more flexibility, personalized education, and can be cost-effective. However, there are also potential disadvantages that parents could make while homeschooling their children. In this blog post, I will share five homeschooling disadvantages and offer tips on how to avoid them.
Photo by Gustavo Fring
Not Fulfilling the Need for Socialization: Homeschooled children may miss out on the same-age socialization opportunities that traditional schooling offers. Parents can seek out local homeschooling groups, participate in community activities, and encourage their children to participate in extracurricular activities or reach out to families they meet on library/museum outings during weekdays. Take into account socializing with a same-age group is not allusive to reality so if you have access to a group of kids of different ages you are giving your child a life-applicable situation.
Limiting Your Resources: Homeschooled children may not have access to the same resources and facilities as traditional schools, such as science labs and sports facilities. To overcome this disadvantage, parents can look into community resources, online classes, science centers, local libraries, and co-ops that offer access to resources that may not be available at home.
Lack of Accountability: Without regular assessments and grades, it can be difficult for parents to gauge their child's progress and ensure that they are meeting academic standards. To avoid this, parents can create a structured daily routine and set clear academic goals and objectives. They can also seek out online resources and curriculums that provide assessments and progress tracking. At HomeschoolToGo we use Weekly “I Can Statements” to help students AND parents stay on track with their goals and we offer a Monthly meeting with the teacher and other Homeschool Parents to check-in.
Become Isolated from Society: Homeschooled children may feel isolated from their peers and miss out on the social benefits of being in a classroom setting. To avoid this, parents can encourage their children to participate in community activities and social events and seek out opportunities for group learning. Extracurriculars are offered everywhere! Perhaps you can do a little research project out of this ‘problem’ with your child.
Burnout: Homeschooling can be challenging and time-consuming, and parents may experience burnout from the constant demands of teaching. To avoid this, parents can use the 80/20 rule: Outsource the aspects of your lifestyle that drain the most energy, and you will cruise through the rest of your days. Prioritizing is also essential to succeeding.
In conclusion, while homeschooling offers many advantages, there are also potential disadvantages that parents can easily make if they are not aware. By taking steps to address these common issues, parents can ensure that their children receive a high-quality education and have a positive homeschooling experience. In most cases, homeschooling will be enjoyable for children when it is also enjoyable for parents. I encourage parents to carefully consider these potential challenges when laying down the structure of their homeschooling life.