For most parents, education is a valuable legacy that they can leave their children. This is the reason why parents exert a lot of effort in providing for school needs and in choosing the best educational method for their child. Nowadays, there are plenty of teaching methods being used in various educational institutions. There is the traditional method, Montessori teaching, Waldorf education, and the likes. One approach to education that has been growing in popularity is homeschooling.
In a nutshell, homeschooling is education outside the formal settings of the school or as some call it home education. Parents and/or tutors are tasked to take charge of the child’s education in a home setting. The main appeal of this approach is its flexibility. The curriculum, schooling schedule, and teaching method can be tailored to the child’s learning style. In a traditional school set-up a specific set of subjects are taught for each school level, and the amount of time allotted for each subject is usually the same. When it comes to homeschooling, the parents can choose subjects that interest their kids even if it is not included in the traditional curriculum. The child is also given the option to learn in their own space thereby minimizing the stress in learning. Parents can adjust study periods according to the child’s performance in each subject. For example, short periods can be allotted for subjects wherein the child already excels while longer periods are given for lessons that may need more work or improvement.
One area of concern for parents who are considering the homeschooling approach is the development of the child’s social skills. Children who are confined in a home setting don’t get as much interaction with their peers as school kids who have classmates and schoolmates that they see every day. On the other hand, home schooled kids can also join support groups for fellow home school students. These groups may organize play dates, field trips, sports fest, and other social activities to foster social interaction among students.
Homeschooling is legally recognized in some countries like USA, Canada, Australia, and UK. Some even have highly regulated home education programs to help maintain educational standards. However, this doesn’t mean that homeschooling will work for everyone. This is a decision that the whole family should agree on. Each member must be committed to the program for it to work.
Image Credits:
David Castillo Dominici – FreeDigitalPhotos.net
