Do homeschoolers miss out on “normal” school activities? Yes and no. However, we have to decide whether or not the benefits outweigh the negatives.

I’ve been homeschooling for a long time – 18 years! Over the course of my homeschool journey, I have encountered many questions from others about my decision to homeschool.

One thing that comes up over and over again is the concern that homeschooled kids miss out on the ‘fun’ parts of attending a ‘regular’ school.

I’ve thought long and hard about that statement. For me, as a homeschool mom, I have to weigh the pros and cons of what my kids may miss out on. Is it worth it to send my kids to public school just so they can experience x, y, and z?

Do homeschoolers miss out?

So, do homeschoolers miss out? Well, yes and no.

Yes.

They miss out on having to get up early to catch the bus. They miss out on being confined to a classroom seven hours/day. They miss out on peer pressure and bullying in the classroom. They miss out on being taught by an individual who is just ‘doing their job.’ They miss out on homework and busy work.

On the flip side, they miss out on the dynamics of working with a group on class projects. They might also miss out on prom and band and team sports. They will miss out on receiving instruction from another teacher if solely schooled at home. They’ll miss out on chatting with their besties around the lunch table.

No.

If you desire for your children to receive outside instruction, many areas have options available to homeschoolers.

See if your area has a co-op that your child can attend. My daughter has been attending co-op for the past three years, and she loves it! She loves her teachers. She’s made plenty of friends, and she’s been able to take classes that I can’t (or wouldn’t) teach at home.

There are also many colleges that offer dual-enrollment classes – some are even offered for free. This gives teens an opportunity to take outside classes, taught by someone other than mom and dad, and earn high school and college credit at the same time.

Children can and should be involved in outside activities whether at church or sports or other activities. This helps them learn to relate to others, but it doesn’t have to be confined to an institutionalized classroom setting.

Some school districts allow homeschoolers to participate in extra-curricular activities. I have a friend whose homeschooler plays on the high school football team. I know others who are able to take a class or two at the local public school while taking the bulk of their classes at home.

Most homeschooled parents are passionate about their calling. Unlike some teachers who are teaching for the paycheck and summers off, parents want to provide their children with the best education built on the foundation of their choosing. The freedom to homeschool allows me to tailor Emma’s education to her learning style, future plans, and passions.

Maybe.

When we lived in Texas, we were not a part of a co-op or any other homeschool group when my oldest graduated from high school at home. So, he didn’t get to participate in a traditional graduation ceremony. He says that it didn’t matter to him, but it did make momma a little sad.

I did purchase a mortar board and a certificate of graduation. We did have a graduation party with his other friends from church who graduated from the public schools in our area.

He didn’t go to prom, but he could have if he wanted to. He had plenty of friends he could have gone with, but that just wasn’t his thing. Isaac, who currently attends public school, didn’t go to his first dance {Homecoming} until this year – as a Junior. So, he had the opportunity but not the desire.

Our co-op does host school dances for the high school kids. They have a graduation ceremony at the end of the year. So, if that is something that is important to Emma at that age, we’ll explore those options.

My bottom line…

None of those things they may miss out on – prom, homecoming, a graduation ceremony, band, etc. – is important to me in the grand scheme of things. None of those singular events is important enough to me to put my kids in school full time.

My ultimate goal is to provide my children with the best education possible built on a Christian foundation. I want them to learn at their own pace with an education targeted to meet their strengths and weaknesses on an individual basis.

What are your thoughts? Do you think homeschoolers miss out? Or, do the benefits outweigh the negatives?

Encouragement for Homeschool Moms

Below, I’ve featured just a handful of books meant to encourage homeschool moms that will help your readers celebrate their favorite characters. You should be able to find them at your local library or bookstore. If you can’t find them locally, you can click each image cover to purchase them on Amazon.

Creating Homeschool Balance – “Creating Homeschool Balance” will help you understand what balance looks like, feels like, and how to create it.

Your Goals This Year – No matter which kind of homeschool parent you are, this book will help you understand the stages of homeschooling high school, put you on the path to success, and keep you from feeling overwhelmed. You can homeschool through high school, and here are the tools to help you.

Scheduling: The Secret to Homeschool Sanity – When you homeschool, it’s important to take time to plan and rest, and not just work, work, work! Using schedules in your homeschool can help you avoid burnout.

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