Home Schooling from Both Sides of the Fence

Many different forms of home schooling exist; and though they conjure up images of kids sitting around a kitchen table with mom day in and day out, modern day home schooling is very different. Yes, there is instruction from parents, but it doesn’t just have to be mom any more. And more importantly, it is not just sitting at the kitchen table that is enough to give kids the extra edge you want them to have by educating them at home. Extracurricular activities, science experiments, music class, art fairs and the like are extra stuff you have to make the effort to do in home schooling so that your child gets a holistic approach to education not just books and pens.

Unschooling

In addition to the traditional forms of homeschooling, unschooling is another relatively new concept that is getting many takers today. It is home schooling but minus the syllabus; children take the lead in this form of education and parents feed their curiosity. For instance, if your kids ask questions about why there is such a fuss about the upcoming presidential election, parents will take the opportunity to take them to the library, read a little about past presidents, introduce them to the constitution and then have some hands on activities like trying to come up with a campaign or a fundraising idea on their own. Unschooling and other home schooling parents have lots of support groups, online and in person where they discuss issues and give their children the opportunity get their social needs met.

Disadvantages

Many people who are against home schooling feel the children do not get a sense of discipline and collective spirit that they do in school. They feel the child needs to be more independent; get on a bus, go to school, fend for himself to be able to be ready for the big bad world instead of being nestled in their parents watchful eye all the time. They feel home schooling cannot provide all the band instruments, gym equipment, art materials and audio visual equipment that a school can and hence they feel that in order to get a more rounded approach to education, they need to go to school.

Both sides have their points and there is no correct answer. You need to see what works for your family. Perhaps give it a trial run in the summer and then see if home schooling works for you and your children; good luck.