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All over the world homeschooling is growing in popularity - once just the bastion of a select few, more and more families are now seeing the benefits of learning in a non-traditional way, with approximately 3.4% of American children now being educated in this way. But what makes them choose this path, and could it be the right fit for your family?
Embracing Individuality
One of the main problems with a traditional school environment is that it is very difficult for a teacher to give individual attention to everyone in the class, even with teaching assistants and parent volunteers to help out. All children learn in different ways and at different rates, so a big benefit of homeschooling is being able to tailor it to your particular child's needs. Are they a kinaesthetic individual who learns through doing, or maybe an auditory learner, who learns better by listening to you and repeating it back? Homeschooling means that you can not only play to their strengths, but also to their interests - if your child is going through a phase where they love dinosaurs then it can be a great opportunity to learn about that era, including the geography and science that goes along with it. Just playing with Lego can provide many opportunities to learn about STEM subjects... the options are endless, and you can work with your child to ensure they have the best possible learning experience.
Challenging Situations
Although fun and exciting, homeschooling can also provide challenges: a major one is the time commitment it involves on behalf of the parent (although the flexibility of homeschooling means that some are able to juggle work around it). It can also be expensive - not just through the loss of hours that you could be working if they were in a traditional school setting, but also purchasing curricula, courses for them to work though, and the resources that go along with them. It's also important to bear in mind that different countries (and even states or areas within countries) can have different requirements, with many requesting regular visits and proof of ongoing education, so check with your local government department before embarking on the journey. For many families around the world though, the benefits of homeschooling far outweigh these challenges.
Making The Right Choice For Your Family
Overall, it's important to remember that homeschooling will not be the right fit for every family - it's a big responsibility for the parent who is taking on the teaching role, and a big commitment from all involved to make it work. For those who embrace it though, it can be an amazing learning choice, allowing their children to flourish and grow at their own pace and in their own way.
