The pandemic caused a global upheaval like the world has never known, and education was among the many areas of life that saw huge, game-changing shifts. The sudden switch to e-learning caused massive disruption in school districts that lacked the infrastructure to successfully navigate the change. And as a result, the number of families switching to homeschooling their children in the United States rose dramatically.
In fact, that number more than tripled in the fall of 2020, with more than 11% of families choosing to homeschool, up from about 3.3% pre-pandemic.
For some, this was a triage option only during e-learning. But even as schools make plans to reopen, uncertainty abounds, and it’s likely that the surge in homeschooling will continue. The state of your school district may have you considering an option you’d previously discounted. If you are on the fence about homeschooling, read on to learn about the benefits of homeschooling.
Academic success:
Homeschoolers do better academically than their public schooled peers: their test scores are higher, and 10% more of them graduate college. Learning at home allows the children to learn at their own pace with 1:1 attention. They aren’t bound by the needs of 24 other students in a classroom.
Emotional health:
With bullying made more ruthless by the rise of social media, this concern is more relevant than ever. The emotional scars from intense bullying can negatively affect a child for life. With homeschooling, children can grow into their confidence before experiencing any bullying that can happen in school.
Independent thinking:
A child raised away from environments of peer pressure is better equipped to think for their self. This level of independent thinking allows them to better stand up for their self.
Family togetherness:
Homeschooled siblings spend a lot more time together. This helps them form a bond that just can’t be replicated if they’re in different classes in school all day. Families have freedom to take vacations or participate in activities whenever they want. The don’t have to squeeze them in on days off. Many homeschooling families choose to continue homeschooling just to preserve this type of freedom.
Homeschooling isn’t for everyone, but maybe it’s for you. If these benefits have piqued your interest, give it a try. You might find you never want to go back.
