This is one of the biggest questions parents have when they begin considering homeschooling. It’s natural to feel unqualified, out of your league, even incompetent. After all we need experts in each subject in order to teach our children, don’t we? Nothing could be further from the truth. Here’s why.
1. You are not the source of all knowledge
Shocking! We know. You don’t need to know it all in every field. Why? Because you’re actually the facilitator, not the source. Your part is not to know it all, but to know where to find it and be able to present it to your child and guide them, which any average parent can do! According to HSLDA:
“…research has found little difference between the academic achievement of homeschooled students whose parents were certified teachers and those whose parents were not. They both scored on average much higher than their counterparts in public school.”
The knowledge your child needs is already contained in books, curriculum, online videos and courses. You don’t have to be the source of it all. Also, depending on your area, individual classes geared towards homeschoolers as well as dual enrollment at your local community college are available, often for free.
2. You are not alone
Taking the leap into homeschooling can give you the impression that you’re a lone fish swimming upstream. This simply isn’t true. Homeschooling has grown exponentially in recent years and the number of in-person and online resources and communities have grown along with it. There are many seasoned homeschoolers willing to help advise and share their knowledge freely with concerned newcomers and many new homeschooling families connect and learn together, sharing knowledge and resources. Homeschoolers have the option of linking up with other homeschoolers to form co-ops providing further options and group activities.
3. What if my kids won't listen to me?
All parents and teachers alike, to some degree, struggle with getting children to listen. It can be frustrating and make you wonder if you can get anything done with them at home. While every family is different, we all manage to get our children to do what is really important. Like looking both ways before crossing the street, or going to the doctor or dentist, and taking medicine when needed. Their education is just as important, isn’t it?
In homeschooling we have the option of choosing curriculum that is interesting and life-giving. We don’t have to use dead, dry textbooks. We also don’t have a large classroom of kids to manage so they get personalized attention and their work can get done in a much shorter amount of focused time. Kids have more free time as a consequence of efficiency, and there’s little or no homework so their afternoons and evenings are free for going to the beach, making crafts, or hanging out with family & friends. Without the pressure of homework in the evenings, families have more time to connect and enjoy dinnertime together.
There are many more strategies and methods to help with getting kids to listen and give their full attention to their work that are discussed in other resources on this site.
4. What about socialization?
Socialization is one of the biggest concerns people bring up about in homeschooling. They imagine their kids will be locked inside without any interaction with others. It is understandably a valid concern. We all want our kids to be “socialized”, “normal”, have friends and meaningful relationships.
The reality is that, most homeschoolers get out and about more than the average public schooled child. They are involved in sports, extra-curricular activities like art classes, horseback riding, scouts, or co-ops and clubs. Due to the flexibility of homeschooling students are regularly interacting with people of all ages. Many students take field trips throughout the year to museums and nature centers or participate in community events and programs where they learn to interact and communicate with people from all walks of life.
In contrast students who have been age segregated throughout their schooling years, who have mainly communicated with people their own age, can feel less comfortable and lack the social skills necessary to communicate with a wide range of people and ages.
5. What if I don't "cover it all."
There is a misconception that there is some standard body of information that children need in order to succeed in school and in life and that you will miss it if you homeschool. Yes, public schools operate this way, but the reality is that teachers are so burdened by these “standards” required in their oversized classrooms and the students are so stuffed with mind-numbing information and the “teaching to the test” which inevitably results, that they grow apathetic towards genuine learning and become experts at cramming in order to regurgitate dry facts, and then forget most of what they learned. Most homeschooling curriculum options available today “cover” what students need. Not only that, homeschooling affords children the time, individual attention, and flexibility they need to allow wonder and curiosity to develop and genuine learning to occur.
5. It's totally normal to feel unqualified and out of your league.
Deciding to homeschool is a big deal. Education is one of the most important things determining your child’s future. It is perfectly normal to feel unqualified and out of your league – most successful homeschoolers felt the very same way. That doesn’t mean it’s true. There are good answers to all of your questions and people to help you to make the right decision for you and your family. It’s important that you make an informed decision so we encourage you to continue learning and check out the other articles and resources on our site.