Are homeschooling myths holding you back from doing it? Let’s dive in and debunk these homeschool myths.
Homeschooling Myths Debunked
When you decide to homeschool, you may have feelings and thoughts that hold you back. Maybe they are beliefs you hold. Maybe they are opinions and ideas you heard expressed from those around you. It is easy to let all the thoughts and worries get to you. There are a few homeschooling myths many of us have heard and wondered about when deciding if we should homeschool. You may feel overwhelmed and nervous, and these myths may be the thing that holds you back from doing it. We are going to dive into these myths and debunk them. Before we begin, please take a moment to pin this post to your homeschool board.
Homeschooling Myth 1: I’m not qualified to teach my children at home
I am a firm believer that parents who truly care about their children makes them more than qualified to be in charge of their children’s education. You have been their first teacher since the day they were born. You have taught them some of the most difficult things humans ever learn, such as mastery of language, physical mobility, and behavioral skills. Even when your children are in school, you, their parents, are their primary educator. They learn their values and morals from their parents and family.
Teachers don’t know everything. They look things up. They have computers, books, videos, maps, colleagues, special guests/teachers that come to the class and provide added instruction. As a homeschooling parent, you take on the role of learning alongside your children at times. You also accept that you can not provide everything for them, and there are times where you will seek tutors or classes to fill in the spots where you can not provide what they need.
Homeschooling Myth 2: Unsocialized Homeschooling Weirdos
I always love that quote that goes along the lines that my children are not weird because we homeschool. It’s because I am their mom. We have all heard and even asked the question, “what about socialization?” It is believed that homeschoolers must sit at home twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and not let their children out of their sight for even a moment. However, this could not be further from the truth, especially here in New York. I have met and talked to many homeschooling families who have not had this experience. All good parents want their children to have friends and healthy relationships. I have not met a parent who didn’t want this for their children.
Parents hire teachers and tutors, enroll their children in sports, extracurricular classes, sign up or start co-ops, organize field trips, play dates, and so much more. Homeschooling very seldomly occurs entirely at home. More often than not, homeschooling occurs in the real world. Homeschooling is not like school. You do not need to be seated at a desk for seven hours. Instead, much of the time, it occurs anywhere but a desk. It happens around and with people of all ages, not orchestrated with people in your one location with students of the same age.
This education approach results in a social sophistication that you can’t get or maybe even understand without seeing it. Homeschooled children interact with people from all walks of life, all ages, and in a wide variety of ways.
Homeschooling Myth 3: Homeschooling is Expensive
It is easy to believe that you can’t homeschool because you can’t afford it. However, the way the world is now, we have the ability to have everything or a fair amount of what we need at our fingertips. With a computer, wifi, and a library card, you have access to unlimited resources to fuel your homeschool. Here in New York, homeschoolers are eligible for student MetroCards, providing free transportation to make it easier to go outside classes, co-ops, and field trips. Plus, with proof of homeschooling, you can receive discounts at museums and more. With just a little research, you can find many free or discounted opportunities in your area.
This is not to say that homeschool costs nothing. It can cost nothing or close to nothing. It can also cost a lot depending on your wants, needs, and budget.
When I started homeschooling, I wasn’t working, I had little to no budget to support our homeschool, but somehow I made it work in a tiny, one-bedroom apartment in New York, so if I can do it, I believe you can too.
Homeschooling Myth 4: Homeschoolers Can’t Get Into College
According to my research, most selective colleges actively solicit homeschoolers. They know that homeschoolers have what it takes to succeed in college since most homeschoolers have been self-directed independent learners who are socially well adjusted. Colleges also seek diversity, and adding homeschooled students will provide much-needed diversity to their campuses.
Most homeschooled high school students take college-level courses at their local community colleges. They have jobs, internships, volunteer work, and overall much more real-world experience than their traditionally schooled counterparts. Homeschooling allows students to be selective in their learning and many children become experts in their interests. They know what they want to learn and the best ways they can understand it. They usually have a more well-rounded education and know what works best for them. Something most traditional schoolers can’t have.
Can you Homeschool?
I hope that debunking these homeschooling myths helped ease some of your concerns. There is good and bad to any choice you make. If you have your child’s best interest at heart when making the decision, I feel like you can’t go wrong. You can do this, take it one step at a time and soon it will get easier and easier.
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