Thinking about homeschooling? Here are 29 advantages of homeschooling I’m grateful for every day!
Deciding to homeschool my kids is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made for my family. Hands down. Although, when I first started, I had no clue what I was doing.
But after 9 years and 3 kids, I can happily say that although homeschooling is hard, it’s more than worth the effort. In this article, I’ll share 29 advantages of homeschooling that I’m grateful for every day.
If you’re on the fence about homeschooling or want an idea as to why so many families are choosing it over traditional schools, then keep reading!
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Academic Advantages of Homeschooling
Before we dive into the advantages of homeschooling, I want to be clear that there are more than just 29 benefits of homeschooling. There are so many ways that homeschooling allows your child and your family to grow and flourish that you’d be reading all day if I tried to list them all.
So I’m sharing several of the reasons that appealed to me when I first decided to explore home education. Plus, some other great ones I’ve discovered along the way.
I hope they inspire you and help you come to a decision about homeschooling your kids.
1.) Personalized learning
One of the most obvious advantages of homeschooling is that it allows you to offer your child personalized learning. You can make sure that you teach your child in the way that they learn best.
This includes:
- Finding a curriculum that fits their learning style
- Taking more time on tough learning concepts
- Skipping busy work on topics that are quickly mastered
- Allowing for more breaks when needed
- Adapting lessons for children with special needs
- Trying different homeschool philosophies
As a homeschooling parent, you can teach in a way that works with your child instead of expecting them to work with the system.
For example, my daughter had issues with her vision for a few years. She required eye therapy and wasn’t able to do very much up-close work, including reading and writing.
In a traditional school setting, it could have strongly impacted her learning. However, since we homeschooled, I was able to find teaching methods that didn’t rely on her vision as much and allowed for more breaks when needed.
This allowed her to stay on track with her learning and not fall behind. Being able to personalize a child’s learning like that is one of the best benefits of homeschooling.
2.) Flexibility
Another advantage of homeschooling is that it allows for a lot of flexibility in your child’s education. I absolutely love that we’re not “stuck” doing anything.
If we want to take advantage of beautiful weather, we can set aside our schoolwork for later and hit the park. If a friend calls with an impromptu field trip idea, we can go!
We’re also able to be flexible with our curriculum. I’ve ditched so many curriculums throughout the years that weren’t working for my kids.
It’s nice to have that freedom to find something that works for them and not be stuck with a curriculum just because it’s the one their traditional school is using.
3.) Making learning fun
Another really beautiful advantage of homeschooling is that you get to make learning fun. Public school is often about crowd control. They’re trying to teach the kids, yes, but there are so many cool things they can’t do because they also have to keep the kids from getting out of control.
In homeschooling, you get to do all the fun stuff with your kids. You can go on field trips, have science experiments in your kitchen, and make learning games a part of your school day.
There aren’t nearly as many rules about how you teach your child which leaves so much more opportunity to make it exciting and engaging. And, bonus, making things fun is one of the best ways to motivate kids to learn.
4.) Deeper study
Next on our list of advantages of homeschooling is that it allows for deeper study. A term you hear in the homeschool world a lot is rabbit trails.
A rabbit trail is when you follow an interesting topic and explore it until you reach the end or everyone loses interest. This might include research, books, websites, videos, or field trips.
When kids are allowed to explore their interests in depth, they learn so much more about the topic than if they were stuck on a unit study that skims over things. I’ve been blown away by the things my children can learn when they’re interested in a topic.
Because homeschooling doesn’t take up as much time during the day as public school, it allows for deeper study of topics that interest your child.
5.) Learning out in the real world
Another academic advantage of homeschooling is that kids get to learn out in the real world. When it comes to learning about something, there is only so much you can learn from a book.
If you’re learning about land formations, what do you think would be more effective, reading and watching a video about lakes and streams or actually visiting one? Visiting one of course!
You get to see and hear the currents flowing by. You learn what types of bugs thrive in the humid environment.
If you’re really lucky, you might see what types of animals call that area home and explore the types of plants that grow the best there.
Homeschooling gives you the time and opportunity to go places and reinforce your learning with hands-on experiences.
6.) Control over the curriculum
Another very nice advantage of homeschooling is that you have control over the type of curriculum that your child uses. I for one, LOVE this benefit of homeschooling.
Public schools have to follow certain guidelines and use a specific curriculum. Even private schools are often stuck with one or two options that they can choose from.
However, when you homeschool your child, you get to decide what books they read, which videos they watch, and the type of projects they do.
You don’t have to worry about controversial topics or leaving out certain religious viewpoints. You can pick whatever material you want for your child.
7.) Allows for a love of learning
Last on our list of academic advantages of homeschooling is that it allows your child to develop a love of learning. Homeschooling allows for a slower pace and more time to dive deep into topics that interest your child.
You get to personalize their learning so that it feels natural and is more fun. All of that can translate into a love of learning.
It becomes enjoyable, rather than a chore or something they have to do. Or even worse, something they avoid like the plague unless someone is making them do it.
Children are born with a natural curiosity and love of learning that we often see through the preschool years. It’s not until they go off to school that it becomes a chore or a struggle.
Homeschooling allows children to hold on to that love of learning for much, much longer. As a result, they become lifelong learners who embrace learning for all of its possibilities.
Physical Health Advantages of Homeschooling
Now let’s dive into the physical health advantages of homeschooling. This is how homeschooling can promote your children’s health and well-being.
8.) Safe learning environment
First things first, when you homeschool your child, you ensure that they are learning in a safe and nurturing environment. You don’t have to worry about them being exposed to school violence, bullying, or dangerous situations.
It’s sad that things have gotten to a point where parents often don’t feel like their child is safe going off to school, but it’s an unfortunate reality.
When you homeschool, that worry is completely eliminated. You get to keep your child safe and provide them with the security they need to learn and thrive.
9.) Less exposure to germs and illnesses
Another advantage of homeschooling is that your children are exposed to a lot less germs and illnesses. Plain and simple, they are around a lot less people.
I worked at a daycare for about 8 months when my oldest was a toddler. During those 8 months, she brought home almost every germ that went through that place. It was awful!
My other children, who were home with me all through their early years, almost never got sick.
When you homeschool, as long as your family is healthy and taking precautions, the chances of them catching something are much less.
Plus, if your child does manage to get sick, you can allow them the time to get the rest they need to recover quickly.
10.) More sleep
Another advantage of homeschooling when it comes to physical health is that your children get more sleep.
Public school children have to wake up early, stay awake all day, and often don’t get to bed until late. This can lead to chronic fatigue and problems with concentration and focus.
When you homeschool, you can create a schedule that works for your family. You can adjust the times throughout the week depending on what works best for you.
Plus, with a homeschooling schedule, you don’t have to worry about rushing around in the morning or running late for school. That alone can help kids get an extra hour of sleep each night.
It’s always brought me a lot of peace of mind knowing that my children have been able to get the rest they need. Especially when they were younger.
We could plan our events and schedule around their natural sleeping pattern so that they had plenty of rest and energy for the day.
11.) More time for physical activity
Lastly, homeschooling allows for more time to get physical exercise. When you homeschool, you have the flexibility to take breaks throughout the day to get outside and move your body.
You also have more time for things like sports and active hobbies. Public school children often have very short recesses and then have to go home and do homework.
They don’t get nearly enough time to run around and play. With homeschooling, you can give them the time they need to be active during the day and get all of the benefits that come with it.
Children are born to move and explore. It’s part of how they grow and develop for a very long time. Much longer than traditional learning environments allow for.
Homeschooling allows for the freedom to let kids be physically active. These experiences help them physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally.
Mental Health Advantages of Homeschooling
Now, let’s talk about the advantages of homeschooling that applies to your child’s mental health. These are the ways in which homeschooling can help nurture and develop your child’s thoughts, emotions, and mental well-being.
12.) Healthy relationships
When you homeschool, your children get to build healthy relationships with their family members and other adults in their lives.
They don’t have to go off to school each day without the support and stability that a strong home relationship provides. You can provide them with guidance, love, and support in all areas of their life.
I love that homeschooling allows my husband and I to teach our kids what healthy relationships look like instead of their peers and friends.
13.) Self-discipline
Another advantage of homeschooling that applies to mental health is the ability to develop self-discipline.
When your child is learning in a school setting, it can be difficult for them to learn how to stay focused and on task. They are often tempted by their peers or games and activities in the classroom.
However, when your child is homeschooled, you have a much better chance of helping them develop those important self-discipline skills.
My daughters have both learned to wake up, get ready for the day, and do their schoolwork and chores without me having to fight with them every day. That’s come from practicing self-discipline early on with their schoolwork and routine.
It’s the small daily habits that can make a big difference in their lives down the road.
14.) Better time management skills
Homeschooling also promotes better time management skills. When your child is in a traditional school setting, they often have very little control over how they spend their time.
The teacher directs when they work on each subject and for how long. Their meals, breaks, and even trips to the bathroom are timed and regulated.
Children get little to no autonomy in their day-to-day life. Therefore, they struggle to regulate themselves when left to their own devices, even as they get older.
When you homeschool, you can give your child the space and opportunity to learn how to manage their time. You can teach them about setting goals and creating systems that will help them be successful.
15.) More confidence and better self-esteem
One of my favorite advantages of homeschooling is that it allows your child to build more confidence and develop better self-esteem. Even with amazing teachers and a great school, it can be hard for children to feel like they fit in. It’s even harder when there is bullying or other negative behavior happening around them.
When you homeschool, your child has the freedom to learn at their own pace and in the environment that best suits them. They have a safe place to explore their interests and cultivate their talents without worrying about what other kids think of them.
It doesn’t matter if they’re having a hard time mastering division. There is no one to judge them if they make a mistake reading aloud.
In essence, there is no one around to compare themselves to. Which takes a lot of the stigma and negative energy out of learning and helps them to focus on growing, developing, and becoming the best version of themselves.
Seeing my children grow up and be uniquely themselves, without the pressure of fitting into a certain mold, has been one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve ever had as a parent. As a homeschooler, you get to do this too.
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- The 20 Biggest Beginner Homeschool Mistakes You Want to Avoid
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16.) Less stress
With all the other mental health advantages of homeschooling I’ve been covering, it’s probably no surprise that homeschooling is often way less stressful for children.
When kids are in school, they are constantly bombarded with information and expectations that can be hard for them to keep up with. They might feel frustrated or overwhelmed by the ever-changing curriculum and have difficulty keeping up with their peers.
Homeschooling eliminates all of that stress because your child will be able to learn at their own pace and focus on the subjects that interest them. They won’t have to worry about trying to keep up with their peers or compete for grades and recognition.
They don’t have to stress about a bully deciding to pick on them today or whether they’re wearing the “right” shoes to school.
Also, they get to stay in a safe and loving environment and just be themselves. Which leaves them feeling more relaxed, less overwhelmed, and much better equipped to learn and grow.
17.) More independence and autonomy
Another one of the best advantages of homeschooling is that it promotes more independence and autonomy. Rather than just being told what to do every day, homeschooled students become partners in their education.
My daughters often work on their schoolwork independently. I’m always nearby to provide help and guidance when needed, but they’ve learned how to set their own homeschool goals, plan their days, and figure out the best way to approach a challenge.
They know how to research, find information to help solve their problems, and ask questions to find out more. It’s been amazing to watch them develop these skills and become self-directed learners.
18.) More time for hobbies and interests
The last mental health advantage of homeschooling is that kids get more time to pursue their hobbies and interests. It takes a lot less time to teach 1 child than it does to teach 25.
This means we finish our school days really early compared to public schools. That leaves time for my kids to explore the things that really interest them.
My oldest daughter loves to draw. She spends hours a day trying new techniques and bringing to life different ideas.
My younger daughter loves to create digital stories on Canva. It always amazes me what she comes up with.
The extra time that homeschooling provides allows my kids to really dive deep into their interests and develop skills they wouldn’t have had a chance to explore in a traditional school setting.
Social Development Advantages of Homeschooling
Next, let’s tackle the social development advantages of homeschooling. I know socialization is a hot topic when it comes to homeschooling.
So many people are afraid that if we don’t put our children in a room with 25 other kids for 8 hours a day, they won’t know how to interact with people. I’m happy to report, this is far from the case.
Here are some ways that homeschooling actually helps your child’s social development:
19.) More time for character development
One great benefit of homeschooling is that you have more time to teach character development. Character development is the process of helping children acquire and strengthen virtues, values, and traits that will enable them to become responsible, empathetic, and well-adjusted individuals.
In essence, how you teach your child to be a good person. It’s a part of parenting that can be hard to address when you’re caught in the hustle and bustle of the school day.
When you homeschool, you get to integrate character development lessons into your child’s learning. By doing this, they will gain important life skills that will help them better interact with people and the world around them.
20.) Better role models for social skills
Another perk of homeschooling is that you get to provide your child with better role models for social skills. Something I’ve never understood is how people think that going to school creates good social skills for kids.
They’re stuck in a group of 20-30 kids all their own age. What usually happens is the most popular or dominant kids set the social standard for everyone else. And it’s not always a good one.
Honestly, it reminds me more of Lord of the Flies than a good model for teaching children how to act.
But when you homeschool, your child has more opportunities to interact with people of all ages and learn different types of social skills from them.
You get to pick the people that are around your child and guide them on how to behave in certain situations. Plus, they spend a lot of time with you and will pick up the social skills that you model for them.
21.) Exposed to a wider mix of people
Another one of the advantages of homeschooling is that your children will be exposed to a wider mix of people. They might not be exposed to a higher number of people, but they’ll meet a lot more different people than they would at public school.
Most homeschooled children get to be out and about in the world more than public school kids. They go on field trips, run errands with their parents, and travel more.
This allows them to meet people from different backgrounds and learn about cultures they wouldn’t have been exposed to in school.
This helps broaden their perspectives of the world and teaches them how to interact with a variety of people.
22.) Avoid bullying
As I’ve mentioned a few times already, homeschooling allows your child to avoid bullying. This can be a great relief for parents and children alike.
Bullying is still rampant in public schools, even with all the awareness campaigns and anti-bullying initiatives out there. And with social media, it’s become even more invasive into children’s day-to-day lives.
When your child is homeschooled, they don’t have to worry about being bullied or facing peer pressure. You can much more easily remove your child from situations in which they’re being picked.
You have much more control over who they interact with and they build more self-esteem and confidence, which will make them less likely to be targeted by bullies in the future.
23.) More support for kids during tough times
Last on our list of social development advantages of homeschooling is that you get to be there more for your kids when they’re having a tough time. You’re often one of the first people your child will turn to when they’re struggling, rather than their friends.
Growing up can be tough. Kids can often feel overwhelmed and unsure of how to deal with their feelings.
When you homeschool, you get the opportunity to be there for your children during these times and help them work through what’s going on in a safe and supportive environment.
My oldest daughter often still comes to me to sort out issues as she begins navigating her teenage years. I feel good that we’ve developed a strong enough relationship that I can help her work through those tough moments.
Advantages of Homeschooling for Parents
Last on our list are the advantages of homeschooling that apply to you, the parent. Yes, homeschooling can be a lot of work, but it’s not all just for your kids.
There are a lot of wonderful things that homeschooling can bring you as you teach your child.
24.) Stronger family bonds
First on the list of advantages of homeschooling for parents is that it creates much stronger family bonds. You spend a lot of time with your children when you homeschool them.
And all that time together is one of the best ways to create a strong relationship. This forms between the kids and the parents and between siblings.
You get to be there for every little victory and every big moment. You’re also there for the tough times too. That’s what builds a strong family.
I can’t imagine that I would be as close with my kids or that they would be as close together if not for the extra time we get together.
25.) More time to teach faith and family values
Another benefit of homeschooling for you, the parent, is that you have more time to teach faith and family values to your kids. You have more time to read Bible stories, discuss faith-based topics, and talk about values that are important in your family.
This is something that can be hard to do when you’re rushing around from school to activities and trying to get the kids dinner.
But when you homeschool, you are able to seamlessly weave faith and family values into your lessons and into your everyday life.
I know this is often a strong motivator for many families when they choose to homeschool.
26.) More time with your kids
As I’ve mentioned, when you homeschool, you get a lot more time with your kids. But just sit for a minute and let that sink in…
You get more silly jokes over meals. You get more “Hey Mom, watch this!” You get more snuggles, laughs, stories, activities, and all of that.
Ask any parent whose children are older and they will say that time flies and you’ll miss these moments with them when they get older. Well, when you homeschool, you get to be there for so many more of those.
You get to know that you were there for almost all of it. As a mom, that brings me so much peace and happiness.
27.) More influence in your child’s life
With all that extra time and those strong bonds that you build with your child, you end up having a lot more influence in their life. You get to shape who they become and the kind of person they will grow up to be. That’s a huge responsibility, but also a huge privilege.
I feel like I get to mold my children more intentionally, instead of just being along for the ride in life.
This doesn’t mean that you have complete control over them, but rather that you can encourage, teach, and support them as they learn how to make their own decisions and navigate the world around them.
You become the voice of reason more than their friends, ensuring they get the right kind of advice for tackling life’s challenges.
28.) You get to learn alongside your child
An advantage of homeschooling that I didn’t really consider in the early days is that you get to learn with your child. Many people are afraid to homeschool because they don’t feel knowledgeable enough to teach their kids.
The reality: 99% of us homeschool moms are learning it with our homeschool students. Whether that’s going over it in the curriculum before we try and teach the lesson.
Or we might be learning with our child as we sit next to them while they do their classes. Sometimes I’m even searching through Google for answers when my kids come to me with a question about their schoolwork lol.
It all amounts to the same thing. As their knowledge grows, so does mine. I’ll tell you for a fact I know way more dinosaur names and facts than I ever did as a kid.
29.) Travel year round
Another fun perk of homeschooling for us parents is the freedom to travel year-round. If your kids are in public school, you’re kind of stuck fitting any vacation or trips in during summer or a break in the school year.
And trust me, the travel industry is well aware and they raise the prices of everything accordingly. Travel destinations also tend to be a lot more crowded because so many other people are stuck in the same boat.
But when you homeschool, you get to travel year-round and not have to worry about missing important days of school or events. You also don’t have to deal with sky-high prices because of peak season crowds.
Plus, it’s really easy to work school into travel days since you often have a bit more flexibility in the timing of things. It’s great for creating really unique learning experiences, as you can get up close and personal with some incredible sights around the world.
Is there a downside to homeschooling?
It probably wouldn’t be completely fair to go over all these advantages of homeschooling and not talk about a few of the downsides. As much as I love homeschooling, I won’t lie and pretend it’s all easy-peasy sunshine and roses.
There is a price to pay for all the benefits we just went over. Here are what would be considered the disadvantages of homeschooling:
- You’re responsible for your child’s education.
- You have to meet homeschooling laws and requirements set down by the state.
- Very little personal time for you, the parent.
- It can be challenging to work, so many parents live off 1 income.
- You might have to deal with disapproving friends or family members.
- Some homeschool curriculum can be expensive.
For me personally, those disadvantages are far outweighed by the advantages. I seriously couldn’t imagine raising my kids any other way.
But it’s important to be aware of them and decide if you truly think homeschooling is right for your family or not.
Conclusion to the Advantages of Homeschooling
I hope this list of advantages of homeschooling has inspired you to try it out or even just consider it. Homeschooling is one of the best things we’ve done for our family and I honestly couldn’t imagine sending them back to traditional schools.
If you have any questions about the advantages of homeschooling I didn’t answer here, feel free to comment below or email me at admin@atouchofhomeschooling.com. Follow me on Pinterest for more homeschool and parenting advice.
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Candice is a mom of 3 who has been homeschooling since 2013. She has an A.A.S. in Early Childhood Studies and cares deeply about helping other parents get the information and resources they need to help them homeschool their children with confidence.