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There are so many decisions to make when asking yourself “is homeschooling is right for my family?”.
It takes time, patience, and dedication to introduce homeschooling into your home. Think about your daily schedule and temporarily plan out how you envision your homeschool day-to-day to be like.
Would you want to have a large portion of your educational day be in the morning, the afternoon, or scattered throughout? The great thing about homeschooling is that there are so many options to make it work!
If you find that you have been contemplating homeschooling for your children, here are some things to think about that will help you decide if homeschooling is the right choice for you.
And if you’re already leaning toward yes, my guide on Homeschooling vs Traditional School and How to Homeschool for Free is a great next read.
Is homeschooling right for your family?
- Clarify your goals, know your reason, not just your desire
- Make sure at least one parent has the bandwidth to lead daily learning
- Talk to your kids and get their honest buy-in first
- Test it with a structured trial day before committing
- Research your state’s legal requirements before you start
When our family made the decision to homeschool Aiden, we put a lot of thought into it. We discussed our goals and plans, and did lots of research as well, and finally decided that it was the right thing to do for him and for us. When making the choice to homeschool your children, take some time to think about the following:
What Are Your Homeschooling Goals
Understand your goal of wanting to homeschool. There is a difference between wanting to homeschool and understanding the reason to actually homeschool. The want is great, but there also needs to be an end goal that you are striving for. Not only do goals help you stay on track, but they also keep you focused on the task at hand.
How Do You Plan To Homeschool
Create a plan that works well for you and your children. Will both parents be working, or will one need to stay home? One benefit of homeschooling is that you can alter your daily schedule so that it is beneficial for all involved. While there are benefits of having some flexibility, understand the importance of having a daily schedule in place. Structure is important when it comes to creating a positive homeschool learning environment. Even more important? Communicate the plan and day-to-day schedule with your children so they are aware as well. The more you communicate, the easier it is for everyone involved to be able to transition effectively and efficiently.
Have You Done Enough Research On Homeschooling
Research local resources in your city that you can lean on for support. Let’s face it, there may be times when we need help with homeschooling. It’s normal and okay to excel in different areas of education, and need a little boost in others. It is also at that point that you seek resources. Check with your local library as well as your local school district to see if there are resources available where you can connect with other homeschool parents in the area. There may be some great co-ops as well that you can network and connect with to find support and brainstorm thoughts and ideas. Let’s not forget all homeschool groups on Facebook. Being surrounded by support from others who also homeschool makes it so much easier.
How do you start homeschooling?
- Check your state’s legal requirements before anything else
- Choose a homeschool method that fits your family’s lifestyle
- Pick or build a curriculum around your child’s learning style
- Set a flexible daily rhythm with consistent structure
- Connect with local homeschool groups for support and community
Make Sure To Discuss Homeschooling
Talk to your children and find out their thoughts and feelings about homeschooling. For a child, it can be a confusing time to really understand what homeschooling means. How do they envision it? Some children think of homeschooling as a way to NOT have to go to traditional school to be able to stay home and play the day away. While this sounds tempting, it just isn’t the reality. Introduce them to the world of homeschooling by having a “test” day at home, where they can see the basic structure and outline for the day. Pick a weekend day, or a day when everyone is home, and set the day up in a similar structure to show how a homeschooling day would be. Have lesson plans prepared, teach the subjects on the schedule, serve lunch, and go through the entire day of what a basic homeschool day would entail. Think of how much more effective it is to show your child how homeschooling works rather than having to try to explain all the ins and outs that could happen. If you have been planning to homeschool before your children were of school age, then this will most likely be an easy transition for you.
Decide Whether To Homeschool Or Not
Make the decision to homeschool, or not, based on the fundamentals of your family. If you envision that homeschooling will allow more family time, the creation of a stronger bond, and the ability to learn and grow together, then that sounds like a solid foundation to give homeschooling a try. Ultimately, the choice is up to you and what works best for your family.
When you finally decide that you want to homeschool or not, and it feels like the right decision for all involved, then that decision becomes a positive choice. There is no right or wrong answer, and no one-size-fits-all solution when deciding if homeschooling is right for your family. Understand your goals, your family’s needs and wants, and base your decision on those factors. Once you understand and see the positive outcome that can occur with homeschooling, you are already well on your way to long-term homeschool success!
Our family made the decision to homeschool Aiden when he was about two years old. My husband and I attended traditional school, had amazing teachers along the way, and turned out fine, of course. However, I really wanted us to be the ones to educate Aiden. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Child & Adolescent Development and a Master’s Degree in Family Services, which I felt would give me the direction I needed to take on this task. At this time, my sister Ells was in the 10th grade in high school. We discussed several homeschooling options with her, but she ultimately decided that she would prefer to continue to attend public school, and we were just fine with that.
For those who plan to homeschool or are already homeschooling, how did you make the decision to homeschool your children?
Frequently Asked Questions about Homeschooling
1. Is homeschooling better than public school?
It depends entirely on your child and family. Homeschooling offers flexibility, one-on-one attention, and a customized curriculum, while public school provides structure, peer socialization, and credentialed teachers at no cost. Neither is universally better. The right choice is the one that fits your child’s learning style, your family’s lifestyle, and the goals you’ve clearly defined together.
2. How many hours a day is homeschooling?
Most homeschool families spend two to four hours on focused instruction per day, depending on the child’s age. Younger children need less structured time, while high schoolers may need more. Because homeschooling eliminates commuting, transitions, and classroom management time, families often accomplish more in fewer hours than a traditional school day requires.
3. How much does homeschooling cost?
Homeschooling can cost anywhere from nothing to several thousand dollars per year, depending on your approach. Families using charter school programs like Inspire Charter in California receive funding ($2,800–$3,200 per child annually) to cover curriculum and materials. Unschooling and free online resources can bring the cost close to zero. It’s as affordable as you make it.
4. Do homeschooled kids socialize enough?
Homeschooled kids socialize differently, not less. Co-ops, sports, community activities, field trips, and travel all provide rich social opportunities. According to the National Home Education Research Institute, homeschoolers often show stronger social and emotional development than traditionally schooled peers. Aiden has always had a strong social life, and homeschooling has never been a barrier to that.
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