If you do a quick Google or Pinterest search for the "benefits of homeschooling" you will be bombarded with hundreds of ideas and thoughts. In order for your homeschooling to fully thrive though, you need to be able to distinguish what YOUR family believes are your foundational reasons for homeschooling. Having your reasons WHY will help you make it through the days that aren't so easy (yes, they happen...sometimes often), when people are questioning your decision and to help you meet your goals as a family through the years to come. Your motivations might change over time but the reasons why you start to homeschool will always be a source of strength that you will draw from in good seasons and bad. I challenge you to write down your top 5-10 reasons you are choosing or considering to homeschooling. Yes, write it down. If you feel like it, make it pretty (or not) and post it in the area you study each day or put it in a file that is easy to see so you can pull it out and be reminded of why you chose to make this very important decision.
For some inspiration, here are 5 of the benefits we feel are blessings of homeschooling:
1. Time
We are only allotted a small amount of time before our children will be ready to leave our nest and make their mark in the world. If you have the family motto of "we do life together," this should include education. I often joke to people that comment about having the boys with me all the time, that "we run in a pack." Does that mean that we are together 24/7? No, but we do spend a lot of time together that we would not get to if they were gone to different schools for many hours a day.
2. Sleep
Growing children need sleep. There are so many studies that have shown that health is directly related to sleep quantity and quality. Homeschool children have the luxury of being able to get a few extra hours of sleep if they need. When they are going through a growth spurt that might mean a lot of extra sleep time!
3. Individualized Learning
Labels can have such an immense impact on our children. Having the ability to teach a child the way they are most successful learning without the stress of "falling below grade level" or "being too far ahead of the curve" is one of the most important aspects of homeschooling.
4. Family Values and Beliefs
When you are truly the primary educator and directing the path your child's education will go, you have the ability to instill your family values and beliefs into all aspects of their life. You can take action, instead of reacting to what is being taught or to the situations and issues that are presented to them while away. When you decide to enrich your homeschooling experience with outside classes, you have the option to choose a program that mimics your worldview and upholds your family’s values and beliefs. There is no "luck of the draw" in homeschooling.
5. Flexibility in your Schedule
When you are the one that sets your routines, you have the opportunity to travel, take days off or adjust learning that fits the needs of your family. Disneyland in February, yes please! Want to take a play day on Friday? You have the ability to motivate your children to give a little more effort to get things done earlier in the week for the fun day! You also have the opportunity to help others during the week if the need arises and that is a lesson that you will all grow from.
As a veteran homeschool mom who has taken advantage of some outside enrichment over the course of our journey, I am a huge proponent that the benefits of homeschooling and believe the benefits FAR outweigh any negatives that might arise as you learn together.
I would love to hear some of your reasons that you are homeschooling or considering to homeschool your children!
Warmly,
Staci