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Homeschooling:  Redefining Education Beyond the Classroom

Hi,

I’m Alix and it’s my mission to help as many of the next generation as possible work in jobs that meet their passion and purpose, making them happy and fulfilled adults. Taking them by the hand to provide support with hints and tips along the way.

This includes making sure a child gets the right schooling for them, including homeschooling either through choice or necessity.

So, grab a snack and join me today as we dive into the option of homeschooling - via online schooling, or teaching your child yourself.

Intro…

Over the past two decades, homeschooling has evolved from an alternative to mainstream schooling to an educational choice embraced by millions of families around the world. Though it can often be associated with religious or rural communities, children with parents in the Services, for instance, can need the stability of online schooling for continuity and seamless studying when parents have to travel to different countries and time-zones.

So what was once seen as a niche movement has now grown into a diverse system of parents, tutors, and online resources.

Whether motivated by flexibility, safety, or a desire for more personalised learning, homeschooling has reshaped how many families think about education.

The rise of homeschooling – being taught by parents…

With the COVID-19 pandemic, families experienced remote learning firsthand and realised the potential for more personally-tailored approaches.

Many parents discovered that their children thrived outside the traditional classroom - free from rigid schedules, overcrowded classes, and the one-size-fits-all curricula.

And so, today’s homeschoolers come from all walks of life: urban families, world travellers, single parents, and working professionals who coordinate flexible schedules.

The stereotype of isolated, socially awkward homeschoolers has faded, with the added support of online learning platforms, and hybrid schools creating vibrant communities where children learn collaboratively while maintaining individualised instruction.

Why families choose to homeschool…

The motivations for homeschooling vary widely, but most can be grouped into a few key themes:

Personalised Learning:  Traditional schools must teach to the average student, and we know children are not all ‘average’, often leaving some children bored and others struggling. Homeschooling by parents allows tailored lessons to their child’s pace, interests, and strengths. A child passionate about astronomy can spend a week studying stars and space science, while another might dive deeply into creative writing or coding.

Flexible Schedules and Environments: Homeschooling offers freedom from the rigid 9-to-3 school day. Learning can happen on road trips, in museums, or at the kitchen table. Families can travel off-season, structuring days around natural rhythms, or integrate real-life experiences like travelling through Africa and seeing the environment first-hand, or simply learn budgeting through taking part in the weekly shop, while experience in building, cooking, or volunteering could be more useful.

Stronger Family Bonds: Spending more time together can foster deeper relationships. Parents often report a stronger sense of connection and communication with their children, built through shared projects and discussions.

Safety and Mental Health: Concerns about bullying, peer pressure, and high-stress academic environments push many families toward homeschooling. For children with anxiety or special needs, learning at home can provide a calmer, more supportive environment.

Academic and Creative Freedom: Homeschooling allows experimentation with teaching styles - from classical education and Montessori principles to unschooling and project-based learning. Parents can combine traditional textbooks with online courses, YouTube lectures, and real-world apprenticeships.

Common misconceptions…

Despite its growth, homeschooling still faces persistent myths.

One of the most common is that homeschooled children lack socialisation skills through lack of mixing. In reality, homeschool networks can often organise sports teams, music groups, and field trips. Many students interact across age groups, learning to communicate with people of different backgrounds and maturity levels - a skill that serves them well in adult life.

Another misconception is that homeschoolers are less prepared for higher education. However, statistics often show the opposite: homeschooled students tend to score above average on standardised tests and are sought after by universities bringing independence, creativity, and motivation.

Challenges of homeschooling…

Homeschooling by a parent is not without difficulties. Parents must balance teaching with work, household responsibilities, and sometimes multiple children at different grade levels. Creating lesson plans, meeting legal requirements, and maintaining discipline at home requires patience and organisation.

Social isolation can be a risk if families don’t actively seek community involvement.

Also, financially, one parent may need to reduce work hours or stay home entirely. Additionally, some parents worry about their ability to teach complex subjects like calculus or chemistry.

Fortunately, online courses, local tutors, and virtual schools now make expert instruction accessible to almost everyone.

The rise of homeschooling – online schooling…

Technology has revolutionised homeschooling. Online schools can offer structured lessons in nearly every subject. Virtual reality tours take students inside historical landmarks, while apps gamify math and language learning.

Homeschooling communities also collaborate through co-ops - groups of families who meet weekly for joint classes, science labs, or art workshops. These hybrid setups combine the best of both worlds: social interaction and shared teaching expertise.

Note: When my daughter had to leave mainstream school, she explored and found an online school that was known for teaching students whose parents had to travel across time zones, giving stability and continuity. It did cost to ‘send’ her there, but the cost was far outweighed by the benefits.

Each student signed in with their own code and sat through structured lessons. If a student unexpectedly doesn’t sign in, their parents are notified.

In our case, it meant my daughter could get up, have breakfast and run round the garden for exercise before signing on. There was no stress of going into a school rampant with bullying. She could choose what to wear, so no uniform expenses and, as long as she had a computer and printer, she was set.

The school was interactive, with pupils being asked questions and the ability to ‘put their hands up with a question’ was covered. I cannot praise the school enough and, although she was thrown in at the deep end just as she was just starting her GCSE years my daughter did brilliantly.

Credit due all round.

Practical tips for homeschooling…

Obviously, when homeschooling there are the practicalities to consider, so let’s consider the obvious, and not so obvious, ones.

Setting up a learning area – create a set spot in the house where homeschooling can be comfortable and productive. Make it an area that your child recognises as the place to focus. If you lack space, a kitchen table can do, you just need a flat surface for books and writing pads, comfortable seating, and good lighting.

Clear some space nearby where their lesson and reference books can be kept. Depending on their age, a set of dividers can be helpful for your child in sorting work into sections, with revision cards at the ready and ensure a pencil and pen, and colouring pencils for art are all accessible.

Creating a structured timetable – It’s not important to follow a 9 – 3 day, but it is important to maintain a timetabled structure, for your child, throughout the week. Children need the discipline of knowing that school time is school time.

Different students will be at different stages of their education creating different expectations. Homeschooling as a parent gives you the power to make your teaching methods the best for your child from knowing what your child already knows through to what they need to learn.

It’s up to you whether you schedule, say an hour for maths, then another for science, languages, history, and geography etc, but if you’re heavily into one subject, it can take longer to go through and that’s fine. While they’re ‘in the zone’ of a lesson, it can make sense to continue with it.

Make sure that the core subjects are covered, perhaps spend more time on those that they’re struggling with. It can be where homeschooling thrives.

Also include break times and periods of physical activity. These give you both a chance to step away, breathe and then re-focus.

Your children’s input on their schooling can enhance the experience for both of you. Listen to their thoughts, ideas and suggestions, putting into practice any of them will make your child feel included in the process, which, in turn, can lead to self-confidence and keenness to learn.

It could be tempting to skip a lesson if you’re tired, or got the washing to do, but reducing lesson times is not good discipline.

And if your partner would be more adept at teaching them in some subjects, but works, set aside some time at the weekend to cover those lessons, reducing their time ‘in the classroom’ during the week to make up for it.

One last point, remember to take time out to share any worries your child has on any part of the process.

Your expectations…

Knowing your child will give you the knowledge to know if your child is struggling. If this happens, look at ‘outside the box’ ways to teach them. Counting toys and games, going on the computer for a virtual tour of ancient Rome or taking time out to watch videos of how to do calculations can relieve the pressure on you both and you can watch and re-watch videos until the ‘penny drops’ and things make sense.

As they get older…

With age, your child may be able to handle some lessons alone. You will always want to be there to help but letting them figure things out for themselves can give them life-long confidence, an important (if not school-curriculum) lesson.

Homeschooling in the real world…

Success stories abound.

Some homeschoolers graduate early, launch businesses as teenagers, or pursue college degrees before turning 18. Others use their flexible education to explore creative careers in arts, music, or entrepreneurship.

Parents often find that homeschooling not only transforms their children’s education but also their own understanding of learning - turning it from a chore into a lifelong habit

And in conclusion…

At its core, homeschooling represents a broader cultural shift: from standardised education to personalised learning. It challenges the assumption that one system can serve every child equally well. It also reminds us that curiosity, creativity, and connection can flourish outside institutional walls.

Homeschooling isn’t about recreating school at home - it’s about redefining what school can be.

As technology, community resources, and global connectivity expand, the possibilities for learning beyond the classroom continue to grow.

For many families, homeschooling isn’t just an educational choice - it’s a lifestyle built on freedom, flexibility, and the belief that learning happens everywhere.

And a last thought, remember to encourage your child at every step. Praise their efforts – whether the results are good or bad, children respond to praise. It encourages them to try harder, just to get that smile you give them and, homeschooling is certainly a reason to smile.

Lastly, I wanted to both wish you luck.

Good luck,