Is it hard to homeschool high school? Should we only homeschool until our teen is ready for the upper grades? What are the benefits of homeschooling all the way through? These are some of the questions that many parents may have when it comes to deciding if they should homeschool through the later years. As a homeschool high schooler myself, I would like to share with you some of the things that I have been able to benefit from in my high school journey.
Homeschooling can help you keep a good relationship with your teen. When you homeschool your teen, it can give you the opportunity to maintain a closer relationship with them. When your child is away all day at school and then doing homework when they are home, there isn’t much time to spend together. By having your children home more you can also be more involved in, and have an influence over, the things that your children are learning. Homeschooling gives you a closer view into the activities that your kids are participating in. When you have a good relationship with your children, you are able to work with and communicate with your teen better in order to help them learn in fun and creative ways, as well as build memories.
Homeschooling allows more time to pursue hobbies and interests. One of the great things about homeschooling is that students don’t have unnecessary busy work or long hours of extra study. Homeschoolers can get their necessary work done for the day without being rushed or having to wait on the other students to get done with their own assignments before moving on to the next subject. Once they are done, they have plenty of extra time to enjoy hobbies and interests which may include reading, writing, hiking, listening to music, crafts, dancing, playing board games with siblings, fishing, and the list goes on and on!
Homeschooling provides an environment where there are more positive influences and less peer pressure. Homeschooling doesn’t guarantee that your teen will avoid ever being bullied or face rude comments, but for most kids it takes the stress away from having to be on guard all day, everyday, from negative and hurtful comments and classmates. In our world today, kids are being targeted, and not just by other students either. They are being attacked by the culture and educational system as well. When you homeschool, you are creating a safe place and a shielded fortress for your children, so that they can be taught the truth from Scripture, and they can learn how to defend their worldview. It can be hard for anyone to stand up against the world, how much harder is it for children to have to face it? You as the parent are better able to protect your child from this when you are by their side, and they know that you care and are there for them.
Homeschooling provides a bright future.
All of these things can apply to families homeschooling children of any age, but once you hit high school, it can look a lot different. As the parents you aren’t just teaching them school subjects, you are developing their character and also implementing values and life skills that will stay with them for years to come. A lot of the decisions that kids make in their teen years will affect their whole lives. When you are closely connected with your teen and have built a good relationship with them, you can offer advice and wisdom for them to consider.
For me, being homeschooled and having a good relationship with my parents has really helped me to think about my future and make wise decisions now that I won’t regret later. I am so thankful for my parent’s decision and sacrifice to homeschool my siblings and me all the way through high school. I value their wisdom and advice in my life. I can say that I am so blessed to be homeschooled through high school.
Natalie Cox is an IAHE intern. She is a homeschooled junior, and she enjoys spending time with her family and working on hobbies, along with helping to pick out some of her highschool classes. Some of her interests include photography, crocheting and knitting, journaling, blogging, spending time with and learning from like-minded Christians at church and through email. Her plans after she graduates include some kind of ministry (or mission) work as she awaits the day where, Lord willing, she can homeschool children of her own.