by Teresa Dear

Created on: October 24, 2009

There are many reasons to decide to homeschool your child. Here are a few reasons to begin homeschooling, and they are also excellent reasons to continue homeschooling when you review your choice each year, or when doubts start creeping in.

1.) You have control over the material your child learns. What kind of worldview included!

2.) You can decide with your child the depth and duration of topical studies. To skim the main ideas or to delve into the deepest detail of whatever topic- you are the judge of when a unit is completed!

3.) Never again be a slave to the school year or the school day: go to the grocery store or the amusement park when you want to, not the same week as everyone else! Stop getting bogged down by the crowd.

4.) Be the major influence in the shaping of your child, instead of his peer group!

5.) You can have the ability to take advantage of all the opportunities for interesting, character-shaping talks with your child as they arise.

6.) Delight in the fact that your children will be able to interact and converse with all age groups, not just their own. Instead of being surrounded by equally ignorant peers, your child will meet a variety of people throughout the average week- just like an adult's life. Have you ever been segregated by age in your job or hobby?

7.) Homeschool for the way that your kids will be able to investigate "community helpers" and business owners in person, instead of through a worksheet.

8.) Homeschool to know that your child can answer the questions of strangers and relatives with more than a few noises or a noncommittal shrug, that they know the reasons behind life's decisions and how to enunciate them clearly.

9.) Homeschooling gives your family the freedom to educate the way you see fit- be it stringently organized and monitored or loosely flowing from skill to skill.

10.) For the community of similarly-believing families and the support that comes from those who understand the difficulties and joys of such a lifestyle-shaping choice.

11.) For the joy of spending each day with the children you love and observing them and assisting them as they journey to adulthood.

12.) For the assurance that no other teacher could ever care more or try harder than the one your children had... you.

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