When You Should Reconsider Homeschoolingby Valorie Delp | More from this Blogger 08 Nov 2006 09:19 PM I'm always asked what made us want to homeschool. I am constantly confronted by moms who swear to me that they couldn't do it, or that it's great for me but not for everyone. But today I had a question that really made me think. A mom of a fellow aspiring ballerina asked me, as we waited for class to finish why should someone not homeschool. I cannot actually think of a single reason why someone couldn't homeschool--to be honest. I think that anyone who wants to, and has the will to do it, can do it. Where there is a will, there is a way. I know people who over come incredibly difficult circumstances and do a fantastic job at homeschooling their kids. With that said, there are some situations in which the homeschooling decision needs to be made very carefully. Special Needs Kids Homeschooling in a lot of ways, is by its very nature designed to meet the unique needs of special needs students. What better way for a special needs child to get one on one attention than by homeschooling? While I advocate home schooling for special needs kids as a solution to the numerous problems many parents face within the special education system, there are a few situations to consider. The thing to consider is where else you might get the help you need to address your child's special needs. The availability of help in the form of occupational therapy, speech therapy and/or physical therapy varies from district to district for homeschooled students. Sometimes they can be covered by insurance. Regardless, it may be easier to obtain the help necessary via the public school system. Parents Who Are Ill I have a good friend who has MS. She and her husband decided to home school their oldest child. Educationally speaking, there was no limit to what this child could do. But imagine never being able to leave the house because your mom was wheel chair bound and couldn't drive. Or being responsible for caring for your younger siblings all day, because your mom was not able to do so. I admire parents who have health issues but take the plunge to home school anyways. I think that to do so requires lots of support from family and friends. If the child can't get out to join activities or is solely responsible for taking care of an ill family member, then perhaps it is better to reconsider homeschooling. Again, I truly feel that anyone can home school when they really want to do so. Just because you have someone in your house that is ill or has special needs, doesn't mean that home schooling is not an option for your family. It does mean that you'll need extra support. It also means, that if you've been convinced that you MUST home school to be a good parent, (and believe me there are some people who believe this), that given the circumstances it may be time to reconsider. Related Articles: 15 Steps to Find the Right Educational Program for Your Child 7 Tips for Beginning to Homeschool Your Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder Protecting Your Special Needs Homeschool Homeschooling Special Needs Kids: Resources Learn more about Valorie Delp  Hello everybody! My name is Valorie and I am one busy lady! When I'm not writing or editing for families, I am busy trying to get my brood of 5 in line. Relevanthomeschooling tags User Comments Brandie (1720) 08 Nov 2006 09:27 PMInteresting comment ... we are in the process of debating waht to do with my 4 year old - my dh and I can not say for sure if home would be better for her or worse for her. Of course with my odlest I knew without a doubt home was for her - but it's hard to figure out if we should or shouldn't with the 4 year old. Community Tags benefits of, benefits of homeschooling, homeschooling, issues in homeschooling, reasons to homeschool, special needs, why homeschool Discuss this article
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