When I wrote “10 Reasons NOT to Homeschool,” I shared the lies and fears that kept me from homeschooling. But since that time, I thought it was only right to share “Reasons TO Homeschool!”
Before I jump in, I have THREE disclaimers (…just like the last post):
* First off, this is only my fifth year, so I am not a seasoned ‘professional‘.
* Secondly, I believe and trust God’s Word. So many of the reasons I wrote about reflect Biblical truths.
* Most importantly, I have read through the Bible, but never found a straight-forward commandment that says it’s a sin to not homeschool every child at every grade. I have personally been the target of harsh judgement, so I know it hurts terribly– especially when someone tries to add to God’s laws to inflict shame or control. So, although I am PASSIONATE about HOMESCHOOLING, I would never wish to cause guilt on others who are not doing it the same way as my family.
Okay… I’m excited, so let’s GO!
10. It’s FUN!
Since you’ll have more time with you child, you’d be crazy not to truly enjoy it! Whether you are teaching fractions, making chicken salad sandwiches or taking a break to climb a tree, be intentional about making it memorable!
Here’s a few tricks that have helped to make school enjoyable:
* Play music to focus, relax, finish a project or just to dance and have fun!
* When someone’s overwhelmed, take a break, go outside, play a card game, do a chore, have a snack or just cuddle.
* For us, NO screens really help all of our attitudes and focus. Simply using real books and keeping all devices put away helps everyone (myself included) not get distracted with texts, phone calls, emails and notification-dings.
* Find ways to make learning exciting! (Go on a field trip. Use a rainy day to watch a documentary on what you’re learning in history. Use art, cooking and other resources to make your subjects come alive.)
* If you have a younger child, you can pretend and ‘play school’ or even allow the child to ‘be the teacher’ for a subject or day (depending on how well they plan and what the subject is).
* Regardless of these tips or any other, remember real JOY can ONLY come through the Lord! So read God’s Word daily, pray for joy and, despite your circumstances, allow the fruit of the spirit to SHINE THROUGH YOU for your family and others to see!
9. FAMILY BONDING
We’ve all experienced clicks, gossip and division in school, right? Well, not only can we avoid bringing some of these harmful, learned behaviors into our home, but with intentional parenting and prayer, all the extra time together opens the door for your children to grow up as best friends!
This doesn’t mean there aren’t HUGE ARGUMENTS AND TEARS ‘differences‘. It just means we have more time to build strong, healthy moments together. Then, when the hard times come, we also have the margin to direct each person back to God’s Word- learning how to love, understand, forgive and hold no records of wrong.
8. AVOID LABELS
Whether you’ve experienced it yet or not, public schools are great at assigning labels on kids.
While some kids might get the ‘good‘ labels (“Honors English” or “MVP“), I’ve personally witnessed unnecessary and incorrect ‘negative‘ labels being put on my own kids. Labels stick and affect self-confidence all throughout life. Homeschool allows the freedom to breeze through some subjects and, if needed, take twice as long to learn the ones that don’t come easily- all without any fuss, meetings or stereotypes.
7. CURRICULUM
If you believe the Bible is true and you desire your child to not be taught things contradicting the truth, you must educate yourself on what’s really happening now. Starting as early as elementary school, children are being taught theories, lies and deception that is contradicting to God’s Word.
Seeing this personally was a big factor in what affected our decision to pull the kids out of public school. One of our children wrote an excellent argumentative essay based on her beliefs, but received enough backlash from her teacher that Matthew had to get the principal involved. Our example is very minimal compared to the agenda from places like Planned Parenthood who are actively trying to normalize middle schoolers getting on birth control and experimenting with sexual activity at an early age.
Not only do I LOVE having the FREEDOM to learn history and science through a Christian worldview, it also makes me smile to see it in other subjects as well. (“If there were 30 girls in the church youth group, but only 10% of them…”)
6. FLEXIBLE LEARNING OPTIONS
My FAVORITE reason! The possibilities are ENDLESS with homeschooling!
* FREE Chick-fil-a tour with grandparents and cousins? Yes, please!
* FREE day at Zoo Atlanta library pass with my mom, sister and cousins? Yes, please!
* Friday yard sales with my dad? Yes, please! (Watching my Dad in his element is better sales training than the kids could receive with ANY textbook!)
Everything mentioned above is fun, but we’ve also been thankful to homeschool when Matthew’s dad got really sick. Instead of Matthew going back to Arkansas alone, Ruthie and I packed-up our school books and felt SO GRATEFUL to be doing math in a rehab center.
I only talked about learning options, but there’s also such a strong case for learning TIMES. When we have a late night, instead of having to wake up a child before sunrise for school, what a GIFT to allow them to sleep as long as they need to ‘catch-up’ on sleep!
5. PROTECTION
The Bible is very clear about our responsibility to protect our children’s heart. Although parents may not see, hear or know what their child is getting exposed to, it doesn’t mean it’s not happening. In addition to children getting smart phones earlier and earlier, pornography is being seen and shared as early as elementary school.
Through our children’s public school experience, we found out how common other kids were inflicting self-harm and threatening suicide. This was something that we didn’t anticipate our kids having to process on a daily basis in public schools. To be clear, kids confiding in other kids that they plan to kill themselves is too heavy of a burden for anyone- much less a teenager.
Not only does homeschool protect kids against issues they are not qualified to handle, it also allows healthy feelings to be nurtured properly. When a family pet died in the middle of the night, instead of Ruthie having to catch the bus before sunrise (and worry about it all day), we were able to press PAUSE on school. The rest of the day was spent making a handmade casket, picking flowers, then having a service. What a memorable day that we’ll all remember.
4. TIME WELL SPENT
Once you homeschool, you see how quickly you can successfully accomplish all of your goals- with time to spare! Fight the urge to do screen time after lunch and, instead, look for ways to make the BEST use of your time!
Here’s a few ideas that we’ve loved:
* Serve together
* Visit the sick from your church
* Get active: swim, pickle ball, hike, bike…
* Start a business
* Join an awesome homeschool co-op
* Pet sit
* Travel
* Play with cousins and see grandparents
3. TIME WITH YOUR CHILD!
Childhood is such a short period. Imagine a way to regain over 1,000 *EXTRA* HOURS with your child each YEAR (…and that’s not including bus rides, after school care, extra-cirricular activities and sports)!
2. Child’s SANCTIFICATION
If that word is unfamiliar to you, it’s simply means ‘saying no to’ sinful desires and replacing it with what the Bible instructs- compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, love, forgiveness, peace and thankfulness. (Colossians 3:5-17)
Homeschooling does not produce godliness. However, if teaching your child how to control their selfishness and be more Christ-like IS a priority, you will have LOTS of opportunities to see problems, correct those behaviors and shepherd their hearts back to the Lord.
Ephesians 4:22-24: “…to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
1. Your SANCTIFICATION
Believe it or not, there’s LOTS and LOTS of moments for spiritual growth for YOU. Whether you’re reminding a child to drink water, eat breakfast, read the Bible, start their daily writing assignment, focus during math, be respectful, put the peanut butter jar away, read that book, play outside, start a load of dirty clothes or help get dinner going, there’s TOO MANY plenty of PROBLEMS opportunities to extend grace, patience, love and peace.
Personally, a few of my most treasured homeschool memories have come after I have failed miserably, but was able to gain forgiveness from my child. But more than simply being reconciled with my child, what a beautiful gift for them to see how to go before the Lord and also ask for forgiveness and more love and patience.
When I hear others say, “Oh, I could never do that!,” I agree that it IS difficult at times, but I remind them of Mark 9:23: “And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”
I hope this helps you to see just a FEW of the ways HOMESCHOOLING can BLESS your family!
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Excellent job Mom and Dad!