Why do you homeschool?

[susieSA]

I am curious as to why those who homeschool thier children chose to homeschool..

We are seriously looking into homeschooling at the moment.

What are some advantages & disadvantages you have experineced?

[Elgama]

I have so many reasons for home education I like spending time with my kids, I feel they get a better education as its one on one, its more flexible, they don't have to mix with anyone they don't want to, my younger 2 get more time spent with them because they don't have to run their sister back and forward from school.

Big advantage is life is more relaxed, there is no missing prayers and scripture study because we got up late, another is my daughter is better behaved,

Yet to discover a major disadvantage main one I can see won't happen until Isaac is at school anyway.

-Charley

[Lilac]

My oldest is in 6th grade and I have a 4th grader, 2nd grader and Pre-k.

I cannot say enough how much I love homeschooling.

There are so many reasons to homeschool I don't know if I can type them all. But my biggies are:

1. A Godly place for my children to learn. God is the center of our lives and that includes our schoolwork.

2. We are free from other influences that I don't like. I'm not going to expand on that because I don't want to give examples and offend anyone. But I don't have to "undo" things learned at school that conflict with our values.

3. I LOVE that we can move as slow or as fast as we need to.

4. No boring busy work. When we learn it, we move on. Nothing is worse than busy work that is meaningless. Busy work just kills a child's love of learning.

5. My kids get 1 on 1 time with their teacher.

6. The kids have a JOY of learning.

7. Minimal use of textbooks...we try to use books and life as much as we can.

8. I have the deepest joy in seeing my kids learning. My three oldest can read because I taught them!!! How totally excellent is that!

9. We have fun. Learning is fun! We learn, I learn and we learn together.

10. We can go on all cool field trips while the school kids are in school.

I love to discuss homeschooling and would be happy to help anyone who is starting out.

Many blessings.

[Moksha]

I ran into one lady who kept her kids home so they could help with housework. That seemed like a bad reason.

[Elgama]

Originally Posted by Moksha

I ran into one lady who kept her kids home so they could help with housework. That seemed like a bad reason.

if its the only reason its bad, but I do get my kids to help out and I think its good for them

-Charley

[Lilac]

That woman musta been joking with you.

The number 1 thing I don't like about homeschooling is that your house takes a beating.

Four kids. One mother. School books, projects, papers, toys and stuff can be scattered everywhere within a few hours. It is downright scary what four hours of school can do to a house.

By the time my husband comes home from work, our house is in bad shape.

I'm not the only one...it is a common problem with homeschooling families.

[susieSA]

Thanks Lilac.. I will defenitly message you should we decide on homeschooling...
At the moment it looks like a really big possability.

The thought of sending my child to school scares me.. Especially when you read about what goes on in schools here... And private school is defenitly out.. Because that would take most than half what is earned every month.. Totally crazy...

I must say though that I have found some great curriculum stuff online & in many other places too...

What appeals to me about homeschooling is the one on one attention... And going at your child's pace etc

[glow_inthe_dark_girl]

Im also curious on this subject. I wonder if homeschool doesn't keep your kids form socializing with their peers?

[Connie]

Here's a fun quote you might enjoy:

"Home-schooled and Skipping the 'Joys' of Modern Education"
*
When my wife and I mention to our well-intentioned friends that we are strongly considering home-schooling our children, we are without fail asked, "But what about socialization? "
*
Fortunately, we found a proven method by which our kids can receive the same socialization that public schools provide.
*
On Mondays and Wednesdays, I will personally corner my son in the bathroom, give him a wedgie, and take his lunch money.
*
On Tuesdays and Thursdays, my wife will make sure to tease our children for not being in the "in" crowd, taking special care to poke fun of any physical abnormalities.
*
Fridays will be "Fad and Peer Pressure Day", in which we will all compete to see who has the coolest toys, the most expensive clothes, and the loudest, fastest, and most dangerous car - all while dyeing our hair the same color and ripping our jeans.
*
However, every day, my wife and I will adhere to a routine of cursing and swearing in the hallways and mentioning our weekend exploits with alcohol and immorality.
*
If our kids attempt to use the bathroom without permission, we will punish them immediately; and we have asked them to hold us to a similar standard by reporting us to the authorities in the event we mention God or try to bring up morals and values.
*
And just think - all these benefits without a dime of taxpayers' money!
*
Alan Brymer
Stafford
*
(from the Fredericksburg, VA, Free Lance Star)

[Connie]

One more just for fun:

"The 'socialization' that goes on in schools is, for many homeschoolers, precisely the thing they hope to avoid by homeschooling. It's more than the peer expectations of drugs, sex, alcohol, and foul language. It's more than the relentless pressure to be thinner, stronger, wealthier, and more clever. It is, for many homeschoolers, the not-so-subtle undermining of values taught in the home. Homeschoolers argue that far from being a place where children meet people who are different from themselves, school is a place where children learn instead to gravitate to those most like themselves, and to create stereotypes about those who are different. They learn that adults are the 'enemy,' that younger people are to be mocked, and that older people are dangerous."

Wish i could give you a reference. I wrote it down from a book a friend let me borrow and failed to write down the book. I'll go search for it, i have an inkling what it was called.

Edit: Okay, i'm pretty sure i found the right one. It was Homeschool Your Child for Free by LauraMaery Gold and Joan M. Zielinski