According to the National Centers for Education Statistics, over 1.77 million students are being educated at home and this trend is continuing to rise. The National Home Education Research Institute explains that this rise in homeschooling is due in large part to the benefits of homeschool including the ability to create a curriculum based on your child’s learning style, strengthen family relationships and reduce exposure to risky behavior such as physical violence and drug and alcohol consumption. But is homeschooling the right option for your child? Kids In The House interviewed experts and moms on their homeschooling advice to help you make the right decision with your child.

Homeschooling can be a great opportunity to help children who are not succeeding in a traditional learning environment. Many times, the classroom atmosphere is not conducive to a child’s learning style. However, homeschooling allows more freedom in creating a curriculum, which can help your child learn according to their strengths and weaknesses. Amanda Enclade homeschools her children using an “unschooling” method. The “unschooling” method doesn’t involve tests, homework, or work sheets, but uses life experiences to help children learn in a more hands-on way. “The longer you ‘unschool,’ the more you realize that learning is happening all the time, it's around us all the time,” explains Enclade.

The homeschooling process can seem daunting sometimes with the overwhelming responsibility to be both a teacher and a parent. However, alternative education expert Kimberly Etter explains that there are many online resources to help parents teach their children. There are a variety of curriculums to meet your child’s needs and being supportive during the process is important to creating a healthy learning environment. Etter also suggests the possibility of working with another parent. “Homeschool with another parent,” she says. “Sometimes your strengths are someone else's weaknesses and together you can create a wonderful learning atmosphere.”

Many parents worry that their child will miss out on socializing with other kids if they are learning at home. However, Amanda Enclade, who has homeschooled her children, explains that there are many other opportunities to introduce your children to other adults and children. “We participate in lots of park days, which attract all kinds of homeschoolers from all different walks of life,” says Enclade. Therapist and author Susan Stiffleman explains that homeschooling your child also presents a unique opportunity to have them participate in other social engagements on a more frequent basis. “Take advantage of this amazing opportunity if you’re homeschooling your child to go to museums, to go to outings, to do hands-on experiments in science and build things and really make the most of it, because it’s a wonderful chance to really connect with your child and learn alongside them,” says Stiffleman. Homeschooling your child can be a great opportunity for you to connect with them and for them to create lasting relationships with individuals they wouldn’t have known otherwise.

Do you still have questions about homeschooling your child? Join us on Thursday, March 12th, at 1:30pm PST for our live #KITHangout: “HOMESCHOOLING HANGOUT: A Non-Traditional Approach to Learning.” We will be joined by Kids In The House experts Susan Stiffleman, Kimberly Etter and Amanda Enclade, and Ann Zeise from A2Z Homeschooling. Click here to RSVP and ask your questions!