Deciding on the best school choice option for your child can be a stressful experience for parents. With the range of school choices in our community, the very personal decision becomes even more complex. No matter what option you’re considering, the ultimate goal is to find a school where your child can thrive.
We’ve put together a series interviewing parents who have made different school choices, hoping to help you feel more informed.
Below, we’ve spoken with a homeschool parent to gather insights that may help clarify your decision.
What initially led you to choose homeschooling for your child?
My husband was homeschooled from kindergarten through graduation, and he values that experience for so many reasons. By the time our oldest child reached pre-k age, we had the shared conviction and job flexibility for me to become her first teacher. And we’re still loving it three years later.
What unique opportunities or experiences has homeschool provided for your child?
Homeschooling helps us skip the struggle between attendance and experiences. Hotel rooms, AirBnBs and even the backseat of my minivan have become our classroom – not to mention the educational opportunities our travel and daily adventures afford, even if they’re just around the metro.
How does homeschooling support your family’s values and lifestyle?
Quality time is so important to us. But with my husband’s crazy schedule as a first responder and my part-time work, our time together doesn’t always fit into the normal after-school hours. Homeschooling has given us more togetherness than we would otherwise have.
How does your homeschool adapt to meet your child’s specific learning style/needs?
With my oldest, I dove into kindergarten with a very intense curriculum that I quickly realized was not a good match for her learning style or my teaching style. With a little research and help from our homeschool community, we switched to a curriculum that is very hands-on and arts-based. Now, we are both actually enjoying the work and that makes all the difference.
How has your homeschool impacted your child’s motivation to learn?
My middle child loves to learn. My oldest? Not so much. Since we homeschool, however, we’ve been able to cater our studies to her existing interests in a way that has gradually (soooo gradually) improved her motivation to learn over the last three years.
What have been the biggest challenges within homeschooling, and how have you/your child overcome them?
Of course, there is the stereotype that homeschooled children miss out on socialization. Perhaps it’s a stereotype for a reason, but I’ve found this to be one we can overcome with a little intentionality. We stay engaged with our church and extracurricular activities, and I continue to see social connection and skills grow in each of my children.
How does your child experience community and/or belonging within homeschooling?
I appreciate how homeschooling allows my kids to integrate into various ages and areas of our community. Peer-to-peer connection is so important, but I also love that my children are consistently surrounded by and learning to connect with people of diverse ages, stages and backgrounds.
How has your child’s mental health been impacted by homeschooling?
My oldest has gone through periods of intense separation anxiety. Homeschooling has given us the ability to address this gradually, easing her into activities and events at a pace she is comfortable with. Now, she can hop into any group and I think that is largely due to our freedom to self-pace.
In what ways can you see that homeschooling is equipping your child for long-term success?
Every day is an opportunity to learn practical life skills. While they help me cook, accompany me to the post office, or even witness me in professional settings, they are learning how real, day-to-day life works. I believe this will serve them well when they encounter similar responsibilities of their own.
Taylor is MetroFamily’s social media manager, a freelance communications professional and full-time mom. She homeschools her three elementary-age children, and in her fleeting free time can be found buried in a pile of fiction books.
