The coronavirus pandemic has caused many people to re-evaluate and reassess the way they live and work. One of the biggest changes during this unprecedented time was the rise in homeschooling.
Now, with the world slowly moving back outside the four walls of home, many families are sticking with the homeschooling model. Some families are still working to find the balance between working and studying at home. But even through the challenges and transition, families are seeing big benefits.
Not only are children getting more individualized attention, but families are getting more time together and saving money. Homeschooling doesn’t just affect a child’s education. In fact, families who homeschool see savings everywhere from eating out less and getting cheaper car insurance when working from home.
How did COVID-19 affect the homeschool community?
The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t create homeschooling, but it did bring homeschooling to the forefront. Thousands of families have made the choice to educate their children at home long before COVID-19, but the pandemic reinvigorated the homeschool community.
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, homeschooling has increased to almost 12% from 3.3% since 1992. More families are choosing the homeschool route, and that shift has opened up more options in curriculum, accessibility, and community.
What are the benefits of homeschooling?
There are numerous benefits associated with homeschooling. Families who are hesitant about starting the homeschool journey often continue simply because of the benefits homeschool affords.
The most common benefit of homeschooling is the flexibility. Families can choose when they homeschool, both during the day and throughout the year.
If families need more free time in the afternoon, they can complete their studies for the day early on. If they need time off before traditional academic breaks, they can choose to pause their schooling and pick it back up later.
A similar benefit is the ability to Individualize curriculum and lessons to the needs and interests of each child. Homeschooling allows parents to individualize pace and content to better serve each individual child. This is something that simply can’t happen in traditional school settings.
Even more encouraging is the benefit of more time for family extracurricular activities. Because children are home for the majority of the day rather than in a classroom, families can bond and interact more each day.
What are some challenges of homeschooling?
As with all things in life, there are challenges that homeschool families have to overcome. The first is the transition to a new school setting. For families who choose to homeschool children who have been in a more traditional setting, the transition can be difficult.
Students usually go through a period of unschooling to unlearn the routines and expectations from the traditional school setting. It can also be difficult to get students into the rhythm of homeschool when they spend most of their time in their home. Both of these challenges can and have been overcome by homeschool families, but they do present issues early on.
Other families report challenges when it comes to settling kids down for online learning. Online learning is an option when homeschooling, and families who use this tool find their own sets of challenges.
Can you work from home and homeschool at the same time?
Some families who homeschool are able to support their family on one income. This means one parent has uninterrupted time and the ability to focus on the education of their children. For other families, however, this is not an option.
For families that need to work and school simultaneously, there are ways to make things a little easier. The best tip is to develop a routine or schedule. Set aside designated time for work, school, and play.
When it’s time for the parent to work, set the expectation that other concerns or issues will have to wait. It allows the parent to focus on work without distractions and encourages children to play and explore on their own (within boundaries, of course).
Does homeschooling affect your insurance?
One often overlooked benefit of working and schooling at home is the insurance benefits. Because you will be spending more time at home, there will be less time you are driving on the road. Insurance companies take that into consideration and may offer discounted rates and coverage.
If you find yourself telecommuting for work and staying home to educate your children, consider looking into low-mileage discounts or pay-per-mile insurance options. Both of these options cut the overall cost of insurance considerably and include the added benefit of paying for insurance only when you’re on the road.
Homeschooling is a viable and enjoyable option for many families. They enjoy the flexibility and freedom it offers while allowing them to be more involved in their children’s learning and education. If your family is making or has made the transition to homeschooling, don’t forget to investigate all the discounts and options available.
Autor Bio
Laura Gunn writes and researches for the auto insurance comparison site, AutoInsurance.org. She homeschools her two young sons and is passionate about parents feeling empowered to make the decisions that best serve their children and families.
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