Have you ever assisted your child with a game of pat-a-cake, singing the ABC song, or tying a shoe? Have you coached your kid until her natural drive compelled her to walk, talk, and feed herself? Truth be told, any wise parent “homeschools” their child well before they enter the classroom.
We’ve been conditioned to believe that there is a definite place to attend at a given time to be taught by specific individuals who have been “certified” to do so, so we don’t think in these terms.
Even if you didn’t call it that, you’d already started homeschooling. I prefer to think of “formal” homeschooling as just continuing the natural act of monitoring what your kid is eager to learn about the world around them and assisting them in achieving their self-imposed objectives, step by step, at a speed that keeps up with their drive but does not irritate them.
Keep doing what you’re doing! You’ve already started homeschooling. The part about homeschooling with small children that I remember the most is how much fun it was…
While building forts in the woods, we read a lot of books together, played games that taught basic math concepts, wrote short stories, poems, and letters to Grandma, went for long walks, answered questions or admitted I didn’t know, and researched together, and listened to long explanations of how they solved problems.
So Are you planning to homeschool your child? But when should you begin?
It might be tough to determine when to start teaching your child at home when you’re thinking about doing so. You may believe that it is never too early to begin teaching your child, or that schools must be doing something right.
What is the optimum age to begin homeschooling? So, what is the correct response to this query?
Optimal Age Is Determined By Your Child
You’ve already started training your child at home, assisting them with walking and talking. You’ve been pointing out objects’ names, demonstrating the world to them. When they are ready, homeschooling is a natural extension of this. Yes, it’s true. It’s as simple as that.
It’s entirely up to you when you decide to start homeschooling, as long as you stay within the confines of the law. Is it better to homeschool from birth, send your child to preschool, or wait until they reach the required age? Many pressures exist to do the “correct” thing while making a decision.
Others who feel that early education is important are just as adamant as those who believe that delaying schooling is the best option. Some homeschooling parents realize that one kid in their household requires an early start while the other children require more time.
Consider the following factors while making your decision:
- Laws governing homeschooling
- Temperament of the child
- The temperament of the parents
- Siblings that are older or younger
- Child development research at many ages and stages
- Methodology of teaching
- Skills in readiness
Are you still not convinced? Why don’t you continue reading?
Various Stages and Ages Research
Jean Piaget, a behavior research scientist, spent many years monitoring children in order to figure out when they learned various abilities. His discoveries resulted in precise developmental and cognitive stage age groupings. These findings can help determine if a youngster is ready to progress to formal education. He noticed that children go through the following stages in general:
Sensorimotor (Birth to Age 2)
A lot of learning takes place from the minute the child is born. This is a normal process of learning. Caretakers, on the other hand, can help the process along by offering toys and encouraging engagement. The infant learns to distinguish himself from the surroundings, realizes that his actions have a deliberate reaction, and begins to comprehend object permanence (an object will still be there even if he cannot sense it).
Pre-Operational (Age 2 to Age 7)
The youngster learns how to communicate, realizes that things have words, and categorizes objects according to their distinctive characteristics. Because their thinking is still concentrated on themselves, they will have difficulties comprehending others’ perspectives.
Concrete Operational (Age 7 to Age 11)
Intensive formal learning may be difficult before this time. A youngster learns to think logically about the things that they experience throughout this stage. They start to see numbers as more than just counting, and they can sort and classify items based on a variety of factors.
Formal Operational (Age 11 and older)
Most youngsters learn to think rationally about abstract topics by the age of eleven. They start to worry about the future, ideological issues, and hypothetical notions.
5 Benefits of HomeSchooling
Homeschooling isn’t the same as it once was. What began as a method for Catholic parents to include religion into their children’s education in the 1980s and 1990s is now more widespread.
Homeschooled students enjoy the same access to online learning, friendships, and extracurricular activities as public school students, but without many of the disadvantages, such as regimented lesson plans and bullying.
Here are a few reasons why homeschooling is a good idea nowadays:
- Personalized learning is an effective teaching technique.
- Students can have a better understanding of their passions.
- Kids can build long-lasting connections through social media.
- Cliques and bullying are not common among students.
- The “real world” and schooling are not separate.
How Much Does it Cost to Homeschool?
Homeschooling families spend an average of $600 per student each year on books, materials, and other educational expenses.
Is it true that since the coronavirus, more parents are opting for homeschooling?
Most American families experienced homeschooling to some level after the coronavirus upended the education system in the United States. That experience may have changed their minds about homeschooling. According to a study conducted by RealClear Opinion Research, 40% of families are more inclined to homeschool after the coronavirus lockdowns are lifted. According to EdChoice research, more than half of black parents (53 percent) said the virus has made them more friendly to homeschooling. According to BestColleges data, the number of homeschooled kids is predicted to rise by 10% this school year, from 2.50 million to 2.75 million.
How long does it take to homeschool a child?
Homeschooling can be continued until a kid completes high school and enrolls in college. Families might opt to homeschool their children for the whole of their schooling or for only a few years before sending them back to a traditional school.
The popularity of homeschooling is beginning to be noticed by most colleges. Homeschooled graduates have been sought and accepted by Ivy League colleges.
Bottom Line:
When you talk to other people about the right age to start homeschooling, you’ll hear pressure from both sides of the debate. Those who believe in delaying teaching are concerned that their youngsters will never catch up. On the other side, some parents may place too much pressure on their children at an early age, suffocating the child’s desire to study.
Focus on your child’s needs to relieve the stress. Give him just enough to keep him interested, but not so much that he becomes frustrated. Always be willing to adjust your speed or slow down depending on the situation.