Last week I wrote about misconceptions people make about me when I tell them I homeschool, and a few people asked me why I have chosen homeschooling, so I wanted to share with you my five main reasons!
(I read this book, "Homeschooling; Take a Deep Breath, You Can Do This" and it helped me finalize my decision and encouraged me in the thought that I can do this, I highly recommend reading it!).
Keep in mind these are just my personal feelings and thoughts that I have in regards to my boys and their educational experience, given the options we have in the area we live. I believe children find ways to thrive no matter where they are, but I'm trying to give my boys what I think will be best for them. I've been fascinated and in love with the idea of homeschooling ever since I was a child, so it's always been something that I knew I might do.
No matter what schooling experience I were to choose for my kids, I could find 5 good reasons or benefits for that experience, so these are just the 5 I have for homeschooling.
1. I'm not impressed with our schools
Arizona has one of the worst educational rankings in the country, and the county I live in has one of the lowest ratings in the state. I admit, this is my "go-to" answer when people ask me why I'm going to homeschool. It's something that makes sense and that everyone can understand.
2. I don't agree with Common Core
I am really against all of the testing, excessive amounts of homework, and early reading requirements. I just don't want my boys to be put under that kind of pressure. I want them to enjoy learning and not have to worry about being tested constantly. And the reading thing is like potty training - little kids can be taught to read early on - but they all learn eventually and studies have proven it doesn't make a difference when they learn. They've actually only shown possible negative consequences for children learning to read before they're truly ready.
3. I want them to be able to be as active as possible
I've asked friends and family how much recess is provided at their schools, and it's so much less than I got as a child. We got so much that I remember walking around bored on the playground. That's what I want for my kids. I want them to be outside, bored and roaming, playing and being curious.
Common Core standards combined with less time outside is just overkill for me. I want my boys to have as much of a childhood as possible.
4. I want to protect them
I want to protect them physically, emotionally, sexually, and spiritually.
I was driving past the school by my house, and I saw a group of boys standing near the fence, probably about 7 years old. Three of them were facing one boy, and one of them jabbed the boy so hard in the forehead that his head flew back. My heart hurt so bad I almost couldn't stand it. So many people would say that's the way of the world and that's what kids need to learn how to survive, but I completely disagree. No human should have to experience things like that, especially not a vulnerable child.
I just personally don't feel that a group of 20-30 children of the same age being put together with only one or two adults is normal, healthy, or fair to the children. It sets up an environment of survival and competition. I know for myself, I could've used this kind of protection when I was in school. Many things happened to me or that I witnessed that I never told my parents about. I hope to give my boys a different experience than what I had.
5. I want to stay close to them
As much as my boys drive me insane, I want to stay close to them. Childhood is such a fleeting moment in time as so many older parents tell me, I want to be the one who is there for them and who guides them to adulthood. I want our family to be close, for my boys to be close with one another, and for me to be close to both of them. I want to know what's going on in their lives and to not grow distant from spending most of the day apart. Parents can stay close to their kids no matter what kind of schooling the have, but homeschooling would pretty much guarantee it in a lot of ways.
Bonus reasons for homeschooling:
- no early, rushed mornings
- learning in our pjs
- vacations whenever we want, and when school is in session so we have places like the beach all to ourselves
- personalized and tailored education
So those are my main reasons for choosing to homeschool my boys. Like I said at the beginning, I could find 5 good reasons for any schooling choice, be it public school, private, charter, Montessori, etc. There are pros and cons to everything. This one is just the choice I've made based on my personal perceptions and opinions.
Carolina Brenes
This makes me think I should homeschool...
I'm just so overwhelmed by the idea but I'm not sure my kid would thrive in a regular school system.
Jessica Dimas
I was overwhelmed by the idea for a long time too, it wasn't until I wasn't so overwhelmed with two little ones that I was able to consider it. Also once you start researching it, you see that it's much less overwhelming than you would think...you aren't spending hours a day doing school, especially when they're little.
Carolina @ Mama instincts
This makes me think I should homeschool…
I’m just so overwhelmed by the idea but I’m not sure my kid would thrive in a regular school system.
Alycia
These are all great reasons. I know I wouldn't ever home school but #1 would be a huge deciding factor for me if I did.
Jessica Dimas
Yeah that reason really leaves me no choice. And there aren't many alternative options either unless I want to drive pretty far every morning.
Ashley
Those are all the reasons that I chose to homeshool, but also because the education is lacking in the province we currently live in compared to where we are from. If we were living back home I wouldn't be homeschooling.
Jessica Dimas
Yep same here, we just really have a lack of options. I think I would probably homeschool regardless, but it would've been a tougher decision if I had good options to choose from.
Tiffany (A Touch of Grace)
I remember when we were considering moving to the Phoenix area I was looking at the schools and couldn't believe how terrible the school system is there. We were talking about private school for A. We are actually still talking about it quite a bit; mostly because of the public school system these days. I don't like what I hear kids coming home with, but I don't think homeschooling is for me either. If they ever get charter schools here I'd probably do that.
Everyone has their reasons and these are all great ones.
Jessica Dimas
Yeah our school systems here make alternative schooling decisions much easier to make! If I didn't want to homeschool, I would definitely prefer a charter school.
Meloni
Thank you for sharing this article. I am overwhelmed at the thought but agree 100% with everything you listed above. Our 3 little ones are so innocent & hungry to learn. I enjoy spending time teaching them and being with them. I know it's a short season in our lives.
Jessica Dimas
It is overwhelming sometimes at the thought, but I think as they get older, it feels less and less overwhelming. You should read the book "Homeschooling: Take a Deep Breath, You Can Do This" by Terrie Lynn Bittner. It's what convinced me I could do it!
Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom
I love this! So many of our reasons are similar!
It's funny because so many people assume we made the decision to homeschool because I'm Christian - I'm like - no! We made the decision to homeschool before I became Christian. We started because my daughter's anaphylaxis dairy allergy. My husband and I worked alongside the school system in child care and we saw how reckless people could be when it came to life-threatening allergies. I didn't want someone's slip to result in the loss of my daughter's life.
Then we had our other daughter and people were asking if we were going to send her to school, and I was like HECK NO! (That's where some of your reasons that you shared came into play).
I love the flexibility of homeschooling... like take today for example: my oldest daughter slept until 9 am - she obviously needed the sleep, so I let her. We did a lighter load of work today and we'll do a bit extra on another day this week. Our schedule is ours alone!
I also love that I get to learn all over again. With some of the curriculum (Story of the World - which is like history), it's brand new to me! I love it!
I like the community of homeschooling too. People think it's so isolated, but it doesn't have to be! I belong to a few regional homeschool groups and we get together with other homeschoolers at bi-weekly meet-ups arranged by our homeschool board.
Geez - I should write a post! I think I just did!
Thanks for sharing Jessica!
xoxo
Jessica Dimas
I like that your reasons for homeschooling your second daughter are from seeing all the benefits from homeschooling your first daughter. I love the idea of the flexibility; for when they need extra sleep, for when they're sick, for when we want to do something special, etc. I thought I would NOT like the whole "learning all over again" but I have to say I am enjoying it, yes I am relearning things at the preschool level LOL. It's fun!
Chelsea @ Life With My Littles
If you just say any of these ideas to people, I'm sure they'll definitely agree with you! You make some awesome points. Especially about protecting your kids and a more personalized approach. You are amazing!
Jessica Dimas
Thanks Chelsea!
Anna
I homeschool my 3 kiddos and have since my oldest was preschool age. (She's in 3rd grade now). I LOVE it. Can't say enough good things about it. Today we made models of our brains out of play dough! How many people get to say that? 😉 It's challenging, of course, just like everything else worth doing in life, but good for you for being brave enough to take the plunge. You and your kids will never regret it!
Jessica Dimas
I love hearing from other homeschooling moms that are further along, it's so encouraging! I am looking forward to it so much, I hope my boys will enjoy it too.
Angelica
I think about homeschooling more and more for many of these reasons too. Such a tough choice. There are things that happen in public schools that I'm so uncomfortable with.
BTW, I LOVE your blog re-design!! Have a happy new year, Jessica!
Jessica Dimas
It's definitely a tough choice, took me a few years of pondering on it. Thank you Angelica, I hope you have a happy new year too!! ❤️
Melissa
I cannot express just how grateful I am to have stumbled upon your blog!! I saw "The Day My Boob died" on Pintrest, read it, and then 2 hours later realized I was still poking around your blog! I am starting homeschool kindergarten with my 4 & 1/2 year old this fall, and all of my reasons are exactly the same as yours! My family is not religious, and it's really hard to find other homeschooling moms/resources that aren't based on religious beliefs. Keep writing, cuz I wanna keep reading!!
-Melissa
Jessica Dimas
That is so awesome, so glad you found my blog!! Thank you for the encouragement to keep writing, I definitely will! I've been discouraged with the lack of groups and resources for non-religious homeschoolers. I'm thankful for the internet at least where I can connect with other moms who are in the same boat.
Penni
Just found your page through Pinning and plan on getting your eBooks. I also Home School our kids, (our oldest right now is 10 and he's in fifth grade, the baby who is four will be in kindergarten next year). We've been in the Connections Academy for our school since third grade and it's the best thing I ever did for him. For many of the same reasons. Our son, when he went into pre-school already had a first grade reading level and comprehension, so he was utterly bored and getting into trouble. We kept asking the teachers and principles at the time to give him more work, or higher grade work and they refused to do it. The week before second grade was out I took him out and said I'm done. We live in Colorado and the last school shooting we had was about 20 minutes from our home and I was over it. Because eventually both kids were going to be in two different schools and I wouldn't be able to bring both home at the same time if something happened. With him being gifted and talented he wasn't getting the proper education and now he's thriving and can jump ahead grades if needed. Plus, no car pool lanes in the morning, no shopping for school clothes, making lunches that have to be fitted to everyone in the grade, and we like being done with school in four-five hours to have the rest of the day to ourselves. And I like them at home. I like to see what they are doing and that they are safe for this time. This has honestly been the best thing we've done for them, and will continue till they both graduate.
Jessica Dimas
I LOVE all of those benefits of homeschooling you mentioned. Now that school has started, so many mornings I find myself being so thankful I'm not having to be in that rush and dealing with carpool lanes, etc. It's so nice to be able to allow everyone to just wake up and have an easy morning. Yeah I just can't stop seeing the endless benefits of homeschooling, I'm so grateful it's an option. I like them at home too, it's relieving to know they are safe and to watch them learn and just keep that relationship close. Thank you for your comment!