Busted! Twelve Myths About Homeschooling That Don’t Need To Hold You Back

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So you’re thinking about homeschooling, but a few thoughts about it are making you hesitant to take the plunge. Look at the list below and see if any of these homeschooling myths are holding you back.

  1. My child will lack socialization.  If you mean the chance to practice social skills through interaction with their peers, there are so so many opportunities for this outside of school! Sports, scouting, church activities, playing with neighborhood friends, play dates with other home schooling groups, homeschooling co-ops…the list goes on and on. Consider, too, that socialization for a child requires a role model to show them how to treat others and interact with one another – something you can do for your child on a daily basis.
  2. I’m not a teacher.  Au contraire, my friend! You are your child’s first teacher. Under your tutelage, your child has learned to walk, talk, carry on a conversation, say “please” and “thank you”, and close the door when they go outside (okay, maybe you’re still working on that last one). You don’t need special “teacher” training to teach your own child. All you need are resources, a willing heart, and a teachable spirit yourself.  
  3. I need a dedicated classroom space in my home.  I’ve seen them too – the homeschool rooms on Pinterest that scream “organization” and “cute”. But you don’t need to duplicate a traditional school classroom in your home. We use the kitchen counter, the living room sofa, and my daughter’s princess tent as our “classroom”. We take school on the road in our car. We keep our books on a shelf in the dining room. Homeschooling is much more about how you learn than about where you learn.
  4. I don’t have the time.  Because school takes seven hours a day, right? Actually…no. Many homeschooling families spend half that time doing formal lessons, especially in elementary school. By the time a child is in middle and high school, he or she can work much more independently as well. One advantage of homeschooling is it frees up time for other activities!
  5. I don’t know if I really want to homeschool all the way through high school.  Fair enough. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start now. Many families take it year by year, and even student by student. They may homeschool one child and not another, or they may homeschool for fifth grade, but not for sixth. However, just to put this thought in your head, there are many families who have successfully homeschooled all the way through high school, and there are many local resources to help you do it!
  6. I wasn’t a good enough student myself.  Especially in math, right? It seems like the subject areas that can scare a parent off the most are math and spelling, with the idea if you struggled with it, you won’t be able to help your child out. But again, there are many resources to assist you with helping your child learn all that he or she needs to.
  7. My child won’t learn from me, and we would drive each other crazy.  Let’s break this one down. Is this because you and your child have different learning styles? You learn fine from a book and he is kinesthetic and needs to move around? If so, it is good to learn about these different learning styles through helpful online articles (like this one from the Home School Legal Defense Association). However, if you are more concerned because your child does not respect your authority and will not obey you, these matters should be addressed whether you choose to homeschool or not. Many of the homeschooling struggles I have encountered this year are more about my parenting and less about homeschooling; it’s just that homeschooling has caused those issues to rise to the top where I get to (have to!) deal with them upfront.
  8. I need a farm. And at least four children.  Many parents with fewer children, and especially those with only one child, wonder about the wisdom of homeschooling with a smaller family. There is a perception that most homeschooling families live on farms, raise their own chickens, and have six or seven children. While that may represent one portion of homeschoolers, it is certainly not the only one! Check out the book “So You’re Thinking About Homeschooling” by Lisa Welchel (Blair on “The Facts of Life”) for some excellent examples of a wide variety of homeschooling families, and check out this page for some links to blogs and websites about homeschooling an only child.
  9. My children will be too sheltered.  Like the concern about not learning social skills, how “sheltered” your children will be is up to you. When you homeschool, you do control more of what (and how much) your children are exposed to. However, a traditional school setting is not the only way to introduce your children to different cultures, languages, and traditions.
  10. It’s too expensive.  That depends on how you approach it. Yes, you usually need to purchase books and other materials. Unless you choose a route that is free, like K12 or the Easy Peasy All-In-One Homeschool website. With the Internet now, there are so many free materials you can access, in addition to the public library. Google “saving money homeschooling” and you will find a plethora of articles to help you out!
  11. My child won’t get a well-rounded education or be able to get into college.  Actually, nearly three-quarters of homeschooled students go on to college, compared with about half of the general population. And there are many, many resources to assist you as you homeschool through the high school years to make sure you are checking off the right boxes for your child’s future education.
  12. I’m not patient enough.  Neither am I!!! Homeschooling is stretching me way outside my comfort zone and forcing me to grow in some uncomfortable ways. And you know what? I am growing and learning and changing, right along with my daughter. That’s good for me! Don’t let the fact that you haven’t made it in the patience (or any other) department scare you off from starting this grand adventure!
What are some other myths about homeschooling?  Share them – and help bust them – below!
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Kristi Bothur
Kristi is a pastor’s wife, mother, writer, and former public school teacher for English for Speakers of Other Languages. She grew up all over the United States as an Air Force brat, but moved to Columbia in the 1990s to attend Columbia International University, and has called the Midlands “home” ever since. Her days are kept full with the antics and activities of her children - homeschooling, church activities, American Heritage Girls, and Trail Life - as well as writing and leading her Columbia-based pregnancy loss ministry, Naomi’s Circle. Kristi is a contributing editor for “Rainbows and Redemption: Encouragement for the Journey of Pregnancy After Loss” (www.rainbowsandredemption.weebly.com) and a co-author of “Sunshine After the Storm: A Survival Guide for the Grieving Mother“ (sunshineafterstorm.us). She shares her thoughts about faith, family, and femininity on her blog, This Side of Heaven (www.thissideofheavenblog.com).

6 COMMENTS

  1. GREAT article! I will be homeschooling our oldest son beginning this fall and many of these issues have crossed my mind at one point or another. Thanks for breaking them down like this!

    • That’s exciting, Tonya! I hope you find the rest of our series helpful as you get started on this journey! I wish you the best!

  2. My son is in 6th grade and went to a private Christian Academy for years K-3 and we homeschooled with K12 for grades 4&5. This year, we thought to round him off with a public school education. All those early years I thought I was providing the best for my son with expensive tuition and one-on-one learning. But after just half of this school year completed, I am discovering a whole new world in public education. So far this year my son has been accepted into Beta Club (an honors program for kids with A/B grades,) Honor Band, attended school dances, participated in concerts, had opportunities for charity events and of course has the daily socialization of his peers… right from one organized, central nucleus. Of course I could have figured out ways to do this all on my own, and I basically had to! But, I have to say, public school has really provided more opportunities than I could have imagined. Home school is wonderful for some families!! But I don’t think it should be presented as a “Magic Bullet” for everyone.

    • Angela, I completely agree! The purpose of our series is to make homeschooling more approachable for those who want to pursue it as an educational opportunity for their children, not to suggest that it is the solution for every family. I was a public school teacher for many years and agree that there are many opportunities there as well. I’m glad your son has found his niche there!

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