The Coronavirus Pandemic of 2020 has caused a lot of parents to homeschool. But many parents have been homeschooling for a long time. Many parents who homeschool, are passionate about their decision to educate their kids in their home environment. However, some parents have been forced to homeschool due to a loss of job or illness.

Legal requirements for homeschooling in the U.S. vary from place to place. Some states have few or no requirements; others ask for portfolio reviews or standardized testing at certain intervals. In almost all areas of the country, parents do not need an education degree to homeschool.

Pros and Cons

There are differences in beliefs when it comes to homeschooling. Many parents choose to homeschool their children because they see the many benefits of homeschooling. Differences in ideology and issues with public school policy are only a few reasons why some parents choose homeschooling over public or private schools. Most colleges are beginning to take note of homeschooling’s popularity. Even Ivy League universities have recruited and accepted homeschooled graduates. While there are positive aspects, there are also negative aspects.

Here are 10 potential benefits of homeschooling for parents:

• Continuing education. You can continue to learn alongside your child.
• Save money on school clothes/uniforms and travel to/from school.
• Freedom from school schedule.
• Determine the curriculum.
• Create strong bonds with their children.
• Provide religious and ethical instruction for their children.
• Spend extra time helping their children develop any special talents they possess, including musical, athletic, etc.
• Take children on vacations when public school is still in session.
• Be able to integrate pertinent life skills into the curriculum.
• Adapt teaching methods best suiting how their children learn.

Here are 10 potential disadvantages of homeschooling:

• Spend large amounts of money on books and other learning materials.
• Constantly adapt to be effective teachers, especially when unsure of what you are teaching.
• Constantly motivate their children.
• Be around their children all day.
• Frequently explain their reasons for homeschooling to friends and family with unsympathetic about their decision.
• Restrain anger and remain patient when children struggle with learning.
• How to handle the difficulties at moving at a slower pace than public schooling.
• Lack of social interaction for their children.
• Lack of activities for children to be involved in.
• No personal time.

Homeschooling can be hard on everyone. Many children don’t have the patience to sit in front of a laptop for hours on end. Kids can play games online for hours and hours, but not receive educational materials for that long. Frustrating…I know.

What do you think?