8 POSITIVE reasons people are choosing to home educate their kids

The society we live in today LOVES a scandal and parent's waking up to their own freedom is making government and society alike freak out. The heavy propaganda around home education is being whipped into a frenzy - that home educating parents are 'pushy' or 'permissive', that kids will be left without potential in their future careers, unable to sit exams, weird and not fitting in....

Movies, TV shows, magazine articles, popular news, the government - all have been pushing an agenda that school is best and honestly, we are growing very wise to the fact that it absolutely is not for a large majority of kids.

Whether they are thriving 'academically' and becoming world-class people pleasers (like me) - or are bottoming out in their grades, acting out, feeling disillusioned - even abused - by the system.... there are no end of ways that our school systems are damaging the potential of our kids today. For those who do well and are able to ignore the BS, leave it with some self-esteem intact and good enough grades to manage in the world around them - it's promises that good grades will equal success are further from the truth than ever with a destroyed economy, minimal employment and skyrocketing cost of living.

The truth is, we are in dire need of out of the box thinkers and so many parents as they realise they have got choices beyond what they ever imaged, are starting to see that if they pull their kids from the school system - their kids may have a chance to grasp that far earlier than they did!

So here are 8 AMAZING, inspiring, positive reasons that parents are choosing to home educate:

1. Personalised Learning: There are so many bazillions of subjects to learn about, so many projects we could do, science experiments we can puzzle through, places we can visit... When you think, how much more the country and world at large can benefit from children getting so much more autonomy to puzzle the real up-to-date challenges of the world around them, building on their own - individual strengths and growing their potential in areas that matter to them.
2. Intrinsic Motivation: There is much proven science around how extrinsic motivation - rewards and punishments - may be an effective way to alter behaviour, but it certainly doesn't foster a sense of achievement for the sake of doing. If we constantly test, assess, punish, give stickers, grades, etc - then we teach our kids that the only thing that matters is memorizing what we want them to and pleasing us. Fostering intrinsic motivation is as simple as providing opportunity and backing off, letting our kids actually enjoy their own learning for the sake of it. Think about that time you fancied learning how to make amazing bread, or wanted to learn the guitar....you didn't need anyone to make you get great at it did you? You motivated yourself!
3. A slower pace: So many of us are locked into hustle culture, we are exhausted, miserable, have no fun, have forgotten what our human needs are, don't eat properly, drink enough water, rest - we live in discomfort daily. We have been told that happiness looks like wealth, a nice house and car - but we have forgotten what else matters to us AS WELL - as human beings.
4. Safety: Bullying is as much a part of the fabric of school as spelling tests and embarrassing PE moments. Except in today's world it is out of control. It isn't that it never happens in the home ed world, but with enhanced supervision it is nipped in the bud instantly and children are given a chance to be coached, supported and if needed - removed, from that situation quickly.
5. Family Connection: We would all love to feel more connected to our family, sadly so many parents are feeling more and more disconnected from their young family members. Home education simply helps to limit this disconnect and allows parents to have far more involvement in their kid's lives.
6. Flexible Scheduling: With a rise in flexible working environments for parents, many are realising that they can be more present for their families. This is allowing families greater opportunity to embrace home education.
7. One to One tuition: We know that class-sizes are on the rise, with teachers more over-taxed than ever before. It is a no brainer that a child with one to one attention or even one to a few in a larger family situation, will get more covered, much faster, and have something explained or offered up in a way that is completely relevant and easier to grasp for the individual.
8. Accessing amazing resources: Schools are struggling more and more to find the funds to keep resources, equipment, curriculum and training up to date. With cooperatives, museums, science centres, local experts and days out, our kids can access so much more than they would in the 4 walls. Equally with online schools, AI tutors and other amazing services cropping up, our kids are accessing amazing tools that gamifies and fast tracks education.

What I hope I have shown you with this article is that choosing to home educate your children is far from the mythical nonsense spouted in our modern society. Your children will have good friends, they will play for longer, they will embrace their own education with enthusiasm, you yourself will find more happiness, a slower pace as a family and more connectedness. You have a choice, don't let propaganda con you out of it!

About the Author: Hi! I'm Kelly — a home education mindset coach and co-host of The Big Home Ed Conversations Podcast. I help parents make the transition to home education a JOY, whether that's quelling limiting beliefs, building confidence, embracing a different pace, or finding a better balance as a family. If this post struck a chord, you'll love our episode Deregistrations On The Rise — listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow us on Instagram and TikTok @bighomeedpodcast, or find out more about coaching with me.