When a parent decides to homeschool, the issue of how it will affect the child’s development is one of the first things that occur to parents. Many people view education as something parents should control completely, but this is not necessarily true.
The United States government is one of the only governments in the world that allows parents to control their child’s education completely. Most European countries, for example, require school attendance until a certain age and do not allow parents to decide where or how they want their child to be educated.
Homeschooling can significantly improve a child’s development because it allows a parent to tailor their child’s education to match their needs. If a learning style is deemed “unsuitable,” an individualized program can be designed for students based on their particular strengths and weaknesses.
In addition, a homeschooled child’s education is not limited by a teacher’s schedule. A parent can be flexible, tailor the curriculum to match the child’s needs, and quickly provide remedial help to someone struggling with a subject.
The flexibility also allows parents to take their children on educational trips that may not be available during a typical school day. A child may be able to spend more time with their parents because their school work is completed at home.
Table of Contents
Ways how homeschooling affects child development
1. It Affects Children’s Social Skills
Homeschooling affects children’s social skills because it provides a unique environment where children can develop social skills. Homeschooled students have their parents as their primary authority figures and are typically more closely supervised by them than other students.
Additionally, homeschooled students do not have the option to avoid class work by forming friendships with other students. As a result, many parents report that their homeschooled children are better at getting along with others and spending time alone than other children are. In these ways, homeschooling can provide a unique chance for a parent to teach social skills to their child.
2. It Affects Children’s Physical Fitness
Homeschooling positively impacts children’s physical fitness because it helps ensure that children get adequate exercise throughout the day. Many parents report that their homeschooled children receive more physical activity during the school year than they would in a traditional classroom.
Additionally, many of these parents say that their homeschooled children are better at physically active throughout the day than other children. As a result, homeschooling encourages physical fitness for the child.
3. It Affects Children’s Schoolwork
Homeschooling affects children’s schoolwork because it provides an individualized learning experience for each student. Instead of a one size fits all approach, a homeschooled student is given a curriculum that allows the student to learn at their own pace.
This means that the parent only needs to provide the learning materials for the subject being taught, allowing additional time to work on issues that are slower maturing.
4. It Affects Children’s Time Management
Homeschooling affects children’s time management because it allows parents to spend more time with their children during school.
Instead of teaching their children in “silos,” many parents report that homeschooled students are exposed to different subjects daily and can work on learning each subject individually if necessary. In these ways, homeschooling encourages time management for the child.
5. It Affects Children’s Academic Skills
Homeschooling affects children’s academic skills because it enables parents to spend more time teaching the “basics” of each subject.
This can allow a parent to make up for weaknesses in a particular topic and build upon strengths in the same issue. In these ways, homeschooling encourages academic skills for its child.
6. It Affects Children’s Self-Esteem
Homeschooling affects children’s self-esteem because it provides an environment that teaches students that they have control over their own lives and education.
This can be achieved through a parent’s freedom to create a personalized learning experience for their child. In these ways, homeschooling encourages self-esteem for the child.
7. It Affects Children’s Creativity
Homeschooling affects children’s creativity because it allows parents the time to provide a creative environment for their children if that is their desire.
The freedom and flexibility that homeschooling offers to parents can be used to give their children more time to experiment with new ideas and new projects. In these ways, homeschooling encourages creativity for the child.
8. It Affects Children’s Imagination
Homeschooling affects children’s imagination because it allows children to be more creative in their learning. As explained above, a homeschooled child is more likely to experiment with new ideas and projects. In this way, homeschooling encourages children’s creativity.
9. It Affects Children’s Mood
Homeschooling affects children’s moods because it allows parents to work individually with their children.
Not only can a parent tailor the lesson plan for each child, but they can also choose what activities the child participates in throughout the day. In these ways, homeschooling encourages children’s moods for its child.
10. It Affects Children’s Social Skills
Homeschooling affects children’s social skills because it allows a parent to teach a child at a pace that is best for them.
A homeschooled student is more likely to have one-on-one interactions with their parent throughout the school day, allowing parents to focus on teaching their children how to get along with others and develop friendships that may not be found in a traditional classroom. In these ways, homeschooling encourages social skills for the child.
Conclusion
Homeschooling is a unique educational option that gives parents more flexibility and control over their child’s education. On the other hand, homeschooled children have more in common with their natural peers than they do with their classmates in a traditional classroom. Research is beginning to emerge that homeschooling can positively affect a child’s social, physical, academic, and creative development.
Combined with the fact that homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular among parents, it appears that this educational option is likely here to stay. Whether or not this will be for the benefit of children across the country remains to be seen.
Although public schools are generally accepted to teach children how to get along with others and communicate effectively with their peers, research indicates that homeschooling may be just as successful in this area if done correctly.
