Inside: Is homeschooling better for your child? Learn the reasons many parents pull their kids from school and how to deal with a kid that’s different.
You envision what the first day of school will look like.
The friends your child will make, the fun he’ll have, the projects you’ll work on together, the prom, graduation, and everything in between. It’s so exciting!
The big day arrives and you walk him to the door of his classroom. You have to man up and be strong so you don’t bawl like an infant as your Kindergartner crosses over the threshold.
He’s gone from being your little baby to a young boy at his first day of school!
It’s happening! This is the first of many special activities during his school years.
And then…
All those dreams come to a screeching halt. Things aren’t going the way you planned.
There’s a problem! For whatever reason, your child is having issues in school.
It’s not uncommon, although it feels like it. It’s not something people go around talking about.
These struggles can become so troubling for you and your child that you might ask yourself something you never thought you would. “Should I homeschool?
Is homeschooling better for your child?
Set up an appointment and we can talk about your options.
I have 25 years teaching experience, a bachelor’s degree in education, and a master’s degree in special education.
Table of Contents
Reasons to Homeschool
Child Falling Behind at School
Child Struggles with Religion in School
There’s No Way I Could Homeschool
What Are the Reasons to Homeschool?
Below is a list of common problems in school that children can face. Many parents find they become serious enough to take their child out of school and start homeschooling.
Your Child Gets a Special Needs Diagnosis
You’re called in for a meeting at the school. The news you get is like a bombshell being dropped.
The teacher thinks your child is having trouble learning and wants to test him. After hearing those words, you hear little else. How did this happen?
After a long drawn-out process of testing and meetings, you get the diagnosis you feared. Why can’t my child be like everyone else?
Your child has a learning disability or maybe it’s ADHD, autism, or any other label out there.
No matter what, your child is different. He won’t learn the same way as everyone else. It will be harder and maybe he’ll even have to go to a special education room sometimes.
You don’t want this for your child, but you don’t feel like there’s any other choice. But there might be!
Your Child Is Being Bullied
Your child is withdrawn when he comes home from school. He doesn’t want to discuss what’s going on. He’s scared to go back and doesn’t want you to talk to the teacher. These are all signs your child is being bullied.
This has become an enormous problem in schools today. Even the best teachers can’t be around your child every second of the day. It can happen in the bathroom, the lunchroom, or on the school bus.
The effects of bullying can be devastating and carry into adulthood.
It’s hard to know why your child is being singled out. Why he’s different from everyone else. But it doesn’t matter. It’s happening and staying in that environment can have a serious impact.
Your Child Isn’t Fitting In
No matter how hard your son tries, he’s just not fitting in at school. He can’t seem to make friends.
He sits by himself in the lunchroom or stands against the wall during gym class away from all the other kids.
He seems fine at home. He’s a normal kid with hobbies and interests like everyone else.
Except he’s not.
For whatever reason, he doesn’t make friends as easily.
Maybe he…
- Argues with people
- Doesn’t like loud noises
- Gets nervous in crowds
- Does much better with a few select kids he’s comfortable with
- Worries often
- Has some funny quirks
Not being able to make friends or get along with others can be a tough situation at school. Your child is uncomfortable all day long. It’s hard to concentrate on school work when being in a classroom setting is stressful.
You Have a Child Falling Behind at School
The school system caters to the majority. It’s just how it is. There’s one teacher in a classroom of many students. Those who can keep up do well and those who can’t, get left behind despite the best efforts.
If your child didn’t learn his math facts, and it’s time to move on to long division, he will have problems.
If your child is taking longer to read than the rest of the class, they can’t wait.
If your child remembers things better when he’s able to move around, he’s out of luck. A child out of his seat and moving around in the classroom is a distraction.
If your child is not a traditional textbook learner, there is no other curriculum for him. Everyone has to use the same thing.
It may be a while before you realize this. You might not even know it’s going on. You trust that the school will keep you abreast of any issues, but you’d be wrong.
Kids slip through the cracks all the time or get passed on from grade to grade, and they’ve missed vital skills. Year after year these kids keep slipping and the gap gets so wide, it’s hard to close.
And then your happy Kindergartener is now a miserable third grader who hates learning and doesn’t want to go to school.
Is homeschooling better for your child?
Set up an appointment and we can talk about your options.
I have 25 years teaching experience, a bachelor’s degree in education, and a master’s degree in special education.
Your Child Struggles with Religion in School
Being a Christian or any other religion in a secular school can make a child feel left out and alone. They teach topics such as evolution that may go against her beliefs.
Maybe she wants to pray before she eats her meal and is embarrassed because the kids make fun of her or she’s told she’s not allowed.
Even though you want your child to be a light in the world, it’s hard to build that solid foundation she can stand on when she’s being bombarded with ideas that contradict your faith and she’s made to feel like an outcast.
You Have an Outside the Box Thinker
Perhaps your child is more creative, artistic, or musical than others. He does better in a situation without structure or boundaries that constricts his imagination.
He can get absorbed in a topic for hours and not want to be bothered. He likes to follow his interests, and he’s able to show what he’s learned by making something with his hands rather than taking a formal test.
Being in a classroom is suffocating. He would rather act out a story with toy figures than write a paper. He’d rather be outside exploring the woods than sitting stationary in a chair looking at pictures of the forest from a book.
Many inventors, scientists, and musicians are out of the box thinkers. Think Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, Benjamin Franklin, Louis Armstrong, Steve Jobs, Walt Disney. And many of them were homeschooled because they flourished in that environment.
You Have a Gifted Child
Your child is gifted, and you thought school would be easier for him. Sometimes the complete opposite is true.
Possibly he’s bored, not getting the grades you expected, and maybe even hiding the fact that he’s smart so the kids don’t make fun of him.
The public school system is perfect for average everyday kids. The gifted? Not so much.
The teacher has to come up with extra materials to engage him. Often this won’t happen. Who has time to make up extra lessons every single day for one child?
What happens? Your child is told to read a book quietly at his desk when he finishes early. He’s sent to the computer to do more lessons while he waits for everyone else to finish.
Better yet, he’s sent to work with the kids who aren’t grasping the concept. He becomes the teacher’s aid.
Again, there are a lot of wonderful teachers. I am not badmouthing them. Remember, I was one of them. I just know the reality of what a teacher is trying to deal with each day.
Dealing with Different
Any of these situations can turn your life upside down. Those visions of your child’s future vanish.
You feel out of control, concerned, shocked, and you hate to admit it, but maybe even a little embarrassed. Your child isn’t like everyone else’s and you don’t know what to do about it, but you know something needs to change.
The school system isn’t doing a lot to help and you feel all alone. It’s not like you can turn to your friends and talk about it because it’s so far removed from what their child is like. You’re left dealing with the situation by yourself.
Embracing Different
This is where what I tell you may be a little hard to swallow. Different is okay!
Yep, you read that right. You know how I know? Because I’ve been there and come through on the other side.
It’s time to wipe the tears and quit wallowing in what could have been. I’m not trying to be harsh but normal is gone and there’s nothing you can do to change it.
But you know what there still is? This great kid that’s your child and you love him! And he still has a wonderful future ahead of him. Just not the one you thought.
It’s okay to mourn the loss of what could have been for a bit, but then you’ve got to move on. Staying stuck in that place isn’t helping anyone, especially your child.
He has so many wonderful qualities and THAT is what you will focus on.
My son was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was in second grade. I had a special education degree and still didn’t catch it! Talk about feeling stupid! I was too close to the situation, and I knew there was something that wasn’t right but couldn’t put my finger on it.
I remember the sick feeling in my stomach the day I got the diagnosis. His life flashed before me and it was way different than I imagined.
But I had to get over that and take action. I was his advocate. No one else would be.
I could have continued to have a pity party and play those visions over and over in my head of all the things that wouldn’t be. Or I could make some decisions.
I had to ask myself, “Is homeschooling a better option?”
Is Homeschooling Better?
Is homeschooling better for your child? You need to take a serious look at the situation and determine if your child would be more successful when removed from the school system.
I’m not saying it’s 100% for you, but it’s worth looking into.
For us, the answer was yes!
I could cater to my child’s individual needs and not have a label slapped on him that would follow him through life.
I found programs specific to his learning needs and even learned how to do occupational therapy myself at home.
He’s now 20 years old and a supervisor at a big chain store. He’s doing very well and no one would know he’s dyslexic. I do not believe he would have had the same success in the public school system.
But There’s No Way I Could Homeschool!
Before you say there’s no way you could ever homeschool, you need to realize it’s not as hard as you think.
Some common objections you might have are:
- work schedule
- patience
- relationship with your child
- time
- not being a teacher
- no expertise
- your child won’t be socialized
- missing out on school events
I’m here to tell you most of those are wrong or with a little help and guidance, you can work through them.
How to Start Homeschooling?
Talking to a homeschool consultant can answer your questions, discuss reasons to homeschool, and help you make the right choice for your family.
It’s difficult to decide what to do and often you just need someone who’s been through it and has some experience under their belt.
A consultant can explain things, help you figure out if homeschooling is better for your child and if so, put together a plan of action to get started.
For many parents this doesn’t seem like a possibility, but I’m here to tell you it is.
If you would like to discuss your options and find a solution that works, set up an appointment today and talk to someone who understands what you’re going through.
And finally get your big question answered- “Is homeschooling better?”
Is homeschooling better for your child?
Set up an appointment and we can talk about your options.
I have 25 years teaching experience, a bachelor’s degree in education, and a master’s degree in special education.
