I’m sure most of you readers know, but if you don’t- we are a homeschooling family. Right now, our kids are 5, 3, and 6 months old, so we haven’t begun any formal lessons yet, but I knew before Henry was born that I wanted to homeschool. Although we weren’t homesteading at that point, I felt in my heart it was important for us to keep our children at home. Now that we are working as a family on the homestead, it felt natural for us to homeschool as well. Here’s exactly why we chose homeschooling:
- Homeschooling allows for ample time outdoors. Whether it’s working in the gardens, helping care for animals, or just enjoying free play in the yard, the kids are able to spend most of their day outside. Studies have shown how important time outside is for children, yet some schools are cutting the already short recess they offer to have time to squeeze in extra academics. It is vital that our children are able to spend as much time enjoying the outdoors, especially in their early years.
- Tailored approach to education. With homeschooling, we have the option to tailor our children’s educations to one that fits their individual needs. With increasing class sizes, this is not something that is available in the public school system. If something isn’t working for one of the kids, we can make changes until we find a way of learning that best suits them. We don’t have to go by a one size fits most approach.
- Handpicked curriculum. There are so many curriculums available for homeschoolers to choose from, or you can even create your own! I knew I wanted a rich literature based curriculum that would expose our children to a feast of great ideas from beautiful books. It’s also important that we are able to teach our children from the Bible along with spending time learning life skills. Homeschooling provides the freedom to decide exactly what to teach our children.
- Gives time to pursue their own interests. Another great thing about homeschooling is that we can make time for the kids to pursue their own interests and passions. Not because they have to for a report or presentation, but because they love learning and want to pursue knowledge outside of the set curriculum. Right now, Henry wants to study engineering to become an astronaut, and Lillian wants to care for horses, so we can make sure there is time available during their day to learn about these things (even if it means Henry is taking apart multiple items in the house to see how they go back together), or to invest time in hobbies or other skills they are interested in.
- Maximizing family time. We have our children for such a short time, and it’s important to us to spend as much time together as we can. I also firmly believe that family should be the biggest influence on children instead of their peers, especially in these formative years. We want as much time as possible to lay a strong foundation before they enter adulthood, and to us, homeschooling is the answer.
Would you ever consider homeschooling? Any homeschool veterans have advice for those about to start their first year? Sound off in the comments, and don’t forget to subscribe! Also check out our YouTube channel for some of our recent adventures, and follow us on Instagram at abundantlifehomestead for a look into our daily life.
We did some homeschooling and you are spot on with your reasons for doing it!! I enjoy reading your posts and seeing the family grow.
Thank you so much!
Beautiful. We chose home education for many of the same reasons. Mostly, it just made the most logical sense. I could work outside the home, surrender my paycheck to daycare/childcare espenses, miss my kid’s firsts and learning progression and introduction to new ideas, relegate the responsibility of their training and character molding to paraprofessionals and their peers, or… I could step back from my career pursuits and be all-in with my kids. I promise you won’t regret this time with your children. Mine are 6, 4, 3 and 1. It has been DIFFICULT and CHALLENGING. But unquestionably WORTH IT to see my children flourishing.