You want your child to get the best education possible. However, the schools in your area aren’t great, or maybe they are good. Private schools can be expensive. You’ve thought about homeschooling too. How do you know which option to choose? Here are some points to consider:
Is there someone available to teach?
If both parents currently work and both need to work, then obviously, a full-time homeschooling curriculum isn’t for your family at this time. However, don’t forget that learning can happen anytime, so take advantage of opportunities when they arise.
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Is someone capable of teaching?
Even if you have someone at home to teach, does that person have the right personality to be at home with the children all day and teach as well? Homeschooling involves a different mindset and structure of the day.
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Are the kids all right?
Even if you would like to homeschool, are your kids interested in it? They may enjoy the change of scene involved in attending a traditional school, playing with their friends, and enjoying their parents only as parents and not as teachers. Or, they may prefer or even thrive in a less structured or rule-based learning situation. Remember, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
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Supplementing works
Whether you decide to homeschool or not, supplementing your child’s education is always a good idea. For example, if your child attends a traditional school, you may still want them in organized sports or take music lessons. If you homeschool and want your child to learn a language you don’t know, you can locate expert resources to help.
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Do your research
Before jumping into anything headfirst, make sure you examine all possibilities. For example, do you like the school and its teachers at the local traditional school? Do you like their policies and curriculum? Is the school safe? For homeschooling, you can connect with other homeschoolers to learn their strategies and curriculum to find out what will work best for your child.
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Change is good
Whichever stream you decide to take, it doesn’t have to be forever. If a traditional school isn’t for your child, then explore homeschooling. On the other hand, if your child doesn’t take well to homeschooling, try a traditional school. You can even try homeschooling for one year and evaluate its effectiveness for your child and family. There’s nothing wrong with changing your mind if the situation isn’t working.
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Is it working for the family unit?
While your child may thrive from the selected schooling method, how does it work for the family? For example, traditional schools may require drop-off and pickup times that are hard to meet given parents’ schedules. Homeschooling may take so much of the teaching parent’s time that there is little time for the other family members. Education is essential, but it has to balance out with the needs of everyone to work satisfactorily.
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There is no definitive answer. Many children benefit and even enjoy traditional school, while others can thrive in a homeschool environment. Examine all the possibilities and choose the best for your child and family to predict success.
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Edublox offers cognitive training and live online tutoring to students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and other learning disabilities. Our students are in the United States, Canada, Australia, and elsewhere. Book a free consultation to discuss your child’s learning needs.
