The only way you can find out about home education is to try it.
When we started home educating in October 1997, it was with reluctance. Somehow, even though there are many families who educate their children at home, it seemed easier to stick with the school system. That's what 'everyone' does, isn't it? Well, nearly everyone. Apart from a few child prodigies (who must surely be burned out by all that pressure), and some who are so shy that school was a nightmare for them (but how would they ever learn to cope with society at home?) and a few with special educational needs whose parents were martyrs for the sake of helping their children develop to the fullest possible extent, away from 'special' schools.
But we moved abroad and decided to try home education for a few months while we settled in.
After a few months, my younger son (who had loved his school in the UK) said that he felt that all children should have at least a year of home education, perhaps in between the primary and secondary years (around age 11). He said that it had helped him to relax, and to find out just what he did and didn't know. He liked not having to work at the same rate as several other children, and having as long as he wanted for reading and writing. He liked being able to ask any questions he liked, whenever he liked, and digressing off the planned topics for the day if something else cropped up. But still he thought he would like to go back to school one day.
Now, nearly ten years later, the boys have finished their 'school' years, and have no regrets about having continued their education at home. I wish I had known what a fulfilling path it would be, and how motivated they would become, back when we were about to start. I would have liked reassurance. But then again, perhaps it's one of those things where you simply have to try it out and see what happens. Maybe home education is not for everyone - but surely all parents should at least consider it. I know that many children are happy in school, as my sons were in the UK. My article Not anti-school but pro-choice in education explains this further.
Worries about home education
But for those who still have questions, and would like them resolved, I've tried to explain things I wish I had known years ago. For instance, if you are worried about the amount of time it might take, read Is home education time-consuming? If you are concerned that your child needs school to be stretched academically, read Will home education limit a child's achievement?
Most people do realise that learning at home is more efficient than in school. Research has shown this, time and again. The NHERI site gives some fact sheets about home education research in the USA, and a recent report at Durham University, UK, shows that similar results occur in the UK.
Social skills for home educated children
There is an ongoing myth that 'social skills' need to be learned in school. A few years ago I listened to a radio show where all the panel were agreed that school could not provide such a good learning environment as the home, but felt that social skills needed to be learned in the school playground. They seemed to miss the point. It is generally anti-social skills which are learned in a school yard. For more on this subject, read my articles on 'socialisation': The dreaded 'S' word (part 1) and The dreaded 'S' word (part 2).If you still believe that somehow age-peers are needed, read Peer socialisation or peer pressure?<
Getting started in home education
If you've decided that you will take the plunge, first ensure you've done all that's necessary - if anything. You can find relevant information on the page about getting started with home education. You may wonder what to do at the beginning, particularly if your child is angry or bored at the idea of learning. If so, read my article De-schooling which suggests ways of taking 'school' out of your child. Probably the most important skill that a child can learn - at whatever age - is reading. So long as this is unpressured, most children learn to read sooner or later without difficulty. But to inspire a lifelong love of books, you must spend plenty of time reading aloud to your children, from birth to late teens! My article Raising bookworms suggests ways to do this, and suggests some good authors for reading aloud.
Are you wondering what to teach, or what resources to buy? Take a look at the home education resources page which suggests some links, and some alternatives to formal curricula. Over the past three years we've veered towards an interest-led approach, known as 'autonomous' education in the UK, or 'unschooling' in the USA. Yet in September 2000 my sons started using a curriculum as part of their learning. If that sounds like a contradiction in terms, read Unschoolers using curriculum?
Mathematics in home education
Lots of home educators are worried about teaching maths. This is probably because their own teaching in school was so poor that they've developed a fear of numbers. Perhaps this is why so many home educators - even the unschoolers - find text books or use a curriculum for maths ('math' is the American equivalent). But this can cause stress. Read What do you do when your child hates mathematics? If you have young children, and are wondering how to introduce mathematical concepts, look at Mathematics for toddlers and its follow-up Fractions for four-year-olds. For children who struggle with multipication, teach them some of the number tricks - look at Introducing multiplication, multiplying larger numbers, and in particular how they can do Multiplying on fingers! For children who want to get a little beyond simple numbers, read Algebra for six-year-olds. And if you think you could cope with elementary maths but would be stuck with older children, try maths and the home educated teen.
Home education as a lifestyle for all the family
Home education is a lifestyle in itself. Even if you believe in 'school at home', you will probably find that your family becomes closer as you grow and learn together. A big problem in many homes is the influence of the flickering box in the corner. If this is a problem, read Is your child addicted to TV? If you suspect your child may be hyperactive, particularly after watching TV or playing computer games, look at Attention deficit or highly spirited? If, on the other hand, your children seem bored by formal work, consider whether you have Gifted children.
And if your child seems neither gifted nor has learning disabilities, but you still have problems communicating or understanding each other, look at Understanding personality types. When you begin to understand your children better, you may want to consider how they begin to love learning. Many parents offer external rewards, but some experts suggest that rewards actually destroy, rather than encourage learning. For more thoughts on this topic, read How is your child motivated?
And how do the parents survive? Home education is a lifestyle choice. Many home educating families have homes piled with books, art materials and half-finished projects. If you want your home to be tidier - or are worried that it is impossible - read Clutter or Cleanliness? If you feel that you're eating nothing but junk food, or always in a rush to find something that the whole family likes, perhaps you would find some ideas in Cooking for home educators which also links to several of my recipes.
It's important - for parents as well as children - to meet other home educators. Often there is a local support group which meets regularly for chat, outings, or craft projects. But what do you do if you can't find anything appropriate? Try Starting a support group for a few initial ideas. And finally... if it all seems too good to be true, or if you're sure you can never begin to emulate all the ideas you've read, have a look at the article Be encouraged!