Should I homeschool my two children?

Answer 1

Sure why not!

Answer 2

Here are some questions to determine that:

1) Do you enjoy being with your children?
2) Do you have fairly decent parenting skills and/or are you willing to work on improving them?
3) Are you committed to making it a good educational experience?
4) Are you committed to finding social opportunities and taking the kids to them?
5) Is your spouse supportive of the idea?
6) Are you interested in learning new things?

If all those answers are yes, then go for it. If there's one no, examine whether homeschooling will actually work for you. The more no's in there, the more difficult it will be to make homeschooling work.

Answer 3

I am an advocate for homeschooling. I went through the public school system, and I've been homeschooling seven years so I've seen both worlds. I think homeschooling has many benefits. Socialization being one of them! With a little effort on your part, your children can enjoy rich social lives without all the negative nonsense that comes with public "education".

And who says you need a BA degree? That's absurd! I am a high school graduate, and yet I somehow manage to string two sentences together just fine. :)

However, the real answer to your question is: I don't know :) It's a question only you can answer for yourself. Do what you feel is best for you and your children.

Answer 4

It's really not something anyone can tell you-- you have to make your own choice. Read up on homeschooling, check out some homeschool message boards and decide if you think it would be right for your family.

You don't need a BA to homeschool... you just need to be willing to find learning resources for things you might not know. Learn with them, or find them a class in a co-op, museum or community center, or find a tutor or a good computer program and curriculum for your weak areas.

You don't need to be a SAHM to homeschool... if you are, great! If not, you just have to be organized and plan things well. You can always leave your kids work to do in the daytime, then give one-on-one instruction a couple of evenings a week or weekends.

Your kids won't necessarily be socially deprived... unless you plan on keeping them in the house 24/7, but that's pretty unrealistic. Most homeschool kids have more than enough social outlets:

Homeschool support groups, co-ops, library programs and classes, community center classes, music/art/performing arts classes, sports teams, 4H clubs, Sunday school, volunteer opportunities, day camps-- childrens museums, historical landmarks, science centers, aquariums, botanic gardens and the like often offer programs and classes, and there are always playgrounds and places like Chuck E. Cheese where kids can go just to play.

Homeschooled kids can get way more varied and more positive social opportunities than their public schooled counter-parts, it's a shame public school proponents are not aware of all the things out there beyond the classroom walls.

Answer 5

I really recommend that you read the book "So You're Thinking About Homeschooling?" by Lisa Whelchel; it is fun and informative. And it will better help you made the decision about what is best for your kids.

And don't buy into all that nonsense about how they won't learn social skills or have friends or will be weird. First of all, school is not the only place to learn social skills or meet people. And there are plenty of weird kids who go to school, too. And most psychologists and sociologists will tell that socialization is never neutral; it is positive or negative. And negative socialization is more likely to happen when kids are put in a situation for six hours a day five days a week for nine months a year with thirty other children and only one adult, who is not a parent to any of them.

Good luck making your decision!!

And in response to some of the responses above, being exposed to dangerous and negative social interactions on a daily basis does not make kids tougher. It makes them more vulnerable and often shatters their confidence. Homeschooled kids do not live in a bubble, either. They still have bad experiences, just not as often or as severely.

And look at all of the colleges, including Ivy League, that actively recruit homeschoolers because they find them to be more mature and self-disciplined than many of their schooled couterparts.

Answer 6

That depends on you. Do you want to? Do you believe in homeschooling? Do you think you should?

I avoid generalizations, like saying everyone should homeschool. Every family is different, so what works for my family might not work for yours.

I homeschool my kids and have never regretted it. For my son I believe it saved him from a lifetime of underachievement. (I won't give too many details here, but he had some MINOR developmental delays and the Public
school system treated him like he was severely mentally handicapped and not capable of learning. He now scores well above average on his achievment tests.)
My oldest daughter is almost high school age, I am having to make a greater effort at providing social outlets for her, but I AM making that effort, and she isn't suffering from any lack of socialization.
My kids have had so many experiences we would not have had time for if they had been stuck in a classroom all day.
I love homeschooling. I wouldn't stop know even if the "perfect" school opened next door, (although I might see if my kids could take individual classes now and then, in my mind a "perfect" school would welcome that).
I love my kids, I enjoy spending time with them. Homeschooling is great.
My kids are all smart, high achieiving and well rounded. They socialize with other kids their own age, as well as with people of all different ages.
So there is my opinion of my homeschool experience. Only you can decide if you would feel the same way. You certainly could try, you just might like it! :-)

PS, you don't need a bachelors degree to teach your kids. You just need to be familiar with the subject you are teaching. If you do find something you can't teach, you can find another homeschooling parent to help, have your child take a DVD course, or hire a tutor.

Answer 7

If you do decide to homeschool, definitely put your kids in an extracurricular activity that offers a social in/output. School is great, but it may not be the best for your situation.
I could not homeschool because I feel that the mom (in this case) should be a mother but not a school teacher, instead, she should educate her children on other things like the home, people, friends, wisdom, etc.

Answer 8

Yes, homeschool your children, if you have the resources go for it! Your children will have more opportunities to meet more people of all ages, they will have the chance to work at their own pace and you will have the chance to develop a closer relationship with them.
The time spent in conventional school on administrative activities and waiting on the other students is time wasted. Your kids can be out playing and socializing while the PS kids are stuck on a bus for hours. They can go to the park, meet with other homeschooled kids or join you at a charity event.
You will have days when you question your choices, especially those days when the kids are being kids! But, if you apply yourself to the educational and social development of your children they will exceed everyones expectations.

Answer 9

I am pro homeschool, even homeschool my own kids but I dont think its right for every family. The parents have to be willing to put forth the effort to homeschool. If you are willing to give up the 7 hours your kids are gone each day and take on the responsibility for their education go for it, if not leave them in school. As for all the responses on socialization, homeschooled kids get plenty, unless of course you plan to lock them in a cellar 24/7, they will socialize.

Answer 10

Every child is different, and every person is going to have their own opinion about home schooling, How old are your children? And do you feel you can devote the time it takes to home school? My 14 year old was home schooled for 3years
but my six year old has been in public school for 2 years and taking Spanish for two years. It takes time and devotion and your children have to be focused enough to do the work at home. I would suggest joining your local home school groups to meet other families who home school, and involve your children with all homeschooling outings and activities. I have loved homeschooling my son. My aunt home schooled all three of her children they all are in college and doing wonderful. Best of luck to you and your family

Answer 11

This really depends on you - are you willing to do what it takes to educate your kids? If so, I say go for it. If not, they may be better off in a classroom.

I am pro-homeschool, I'm going into my 4th year of homeschooling my son, and I wouldn't trade it for the world. I have seen him grow by leaps and bounds, I get to learn right along with him, and I get to have a large influence in his life that classroom-schooled kids and parents may struggle with. He trusts me enough to come to me first with things - I can explain things to him without wondering what he's hearing on the playground.

I can also tailor his curriculum to his needs, which honestly would not be easily (or even feasibly) met in most classrooms. He's far above grade level, but also dyslexic, so his curriculum doesn't look anything like most schools - but it works really well for him.

If you're willing to put the research, planning, and patience into it, I really encourage you to homeschool. It's not nearly as intimidating as it seemed 4 years ago, but it does take work. The benefits, however, far outweigh any inconveniences.

As far as socialization, well, that's pretty much a byword coined by the NEA to combat homeschooling. It's the best thing they can come up with, since on average homeschool kids are more mature, more academically advanced, and better suited to handle life's challenges - all because they've been allowed to prepare for life at their own pace, whatever that might be.

Yes, there are some homeschooled kids that are socially challenged...but honestly, they're just plain socially challenged. They'd be socially challenged (and probably jumped on the playground) if they were in school.

Homeschool kids today have tons of social opportunities - sports, Scouts, co ops, play days, field trips, apprenticeships, lessons, church activities...heck, my son finally asked if he could give approval on things before I signed him up for them - he was on the point of exhaustion from all of his "social opportunities"!

As far as college goes, a huge percentage of colleges and universities are not only accepting homeschoolers, they are courting them...and college kids who were homeschooled are, on average, doing an excellent job.

There are a lot of pros to homeschooling, and while it isn't for everyone, be encouraged to give it a try if you're willing to do it well. From what I see, the kids that it doesn't work well for are the kids whose parents don't put the effort into it.

The one thing I will caution you against - don't give credit to answers or opinions that generalize....such as the "socialization" thing. In your research, whether it's here, in a book, or talking with others, look for specifics. There are good and bad results possible with everything - but as far as I can see, we can't go through life making decisions based on generalizations (and largely uninformed ones at that).

Good luck, whatever you decide to do!