What Are The Cons Of Homeschooling?

While many parents are choosing to home school their children, others are put off by the cons of homeschooling.  The cons of homeschooling, to some, far outweigh any benefits of this alternate learning tool.  Some of the cons of homeschooling include the following:

No socialization
Children do not only go to school to learn how to read and write.  They also learn social skills, important social skills that they will need to carry on in life.  Yes, a child who has the benefit of a one on one education will probably move ahead of those who have to study in a group - but are they ahead socially?

One of the cons of homeschooling, which is a major negative, is that children who are home schooled are not socially advanced.  They may be able to blow other students away in academics, but socially they are far behind.  Getting along with other people is crucial for survival and this skill is taught throughout the formative years in school.  Sometimes the lessons are difficult ones to learn, but each time your child struggles with a bully, gets into a fight with a friend or gets picked on by another kid, they are learning a life lesson.  As parents, it hurts us to see our children learning such lessons and we are inclined to want to protect them from this behavior.  However, we cannot hope to be able to protect them throughout their lives.  The lack of socialization in home schooling makes it one of the major cons of homeschooling.

Limited Exposure To Activities
Children who are home schooled are often limited to their exposure to different activities.  Their parents may be excellent at teaching them math, science and the basic classes that they will need to get into a good college, but what about the classes that are not so basic?  What about the child who really excels in art and wants to take more art classes?  He or she may not be able to do so because the home schooling budget is limited or they will get discouraged by their parents who would prefer them to learn other “more important” subject matters.  One of the cons of homeschooling is the limitations it places on learning choices.  Parents often mean well when they encourage their children to take certain classes in school.  However, children have to eventually learn to do what they want to do in life.  The purpose of raising children is to raise independent and happy adults, not to make up for anything you missed when you were a child.  Many parents do not heed this lesson and project their own needs onto their children.  Any parent who is home schooling their child should be in tune with the wants and needs of the child and encourage their pursuits, even if it is something that the parent does not deem to be “important.”

Less Activities
There are obviously less activities when a child is home schooled.  Activities may be limited to those that are offered at the nearest park district or recreation department.  Colleges do not only look at academic records when it comes to accepting students for admission - they also pay close attention to extra curricular activities engaged in by the student.  One of the cons of homeschooling  is that there are no such activities available.  Parents can also forget about scholarship money that may be issued for a student who excels at a certain sport as they will not get a chance to play the sport for the school and be scouted by any colleges, although there are some school districts who will accept talented students who are home schooled. 

Home schooling has become much more common today than it was years ago.  Parents are choosing to home school their children for a multitude of reasons.  However, there are certain cons of homeschooling that must be addressed and alleviated in order for the home schooling endeavor to be truly successful.  Children have to develop both academic and social skills in order to survive in the world today.  Anyone who home schools their child needs to address the lack of socialization that comes with this territory.