I have heard a lot of people say that they could never homeschool because they would butt heads with their child, or that their child would never behave well enough for them. Well what if I told you that maybe homeschooling is just the fix for that problem? Maybe a lot of their bad behavior comes from being in school! Could homeschooling improve your child’s behavior?
It’s no secret that I am a huge proponent of homeschooling. If asked I can give tons of reasons why I think it’s awesome and why it works really well for my family. SO when someone tells me that they’d love to try it but they can’t because (fill in the blank) I try my best to explain how to overcome that hurdle.
One that I hear a lot. Their child has behavior issues. Maybe it’s that they don’t listen, or they struggle just to get homework done so how would they do lessons? Maybe it’s that they’re too high energy or they talk back too much.
Well…. Here’s the deal, a whole lot of those behavior issues might go away with homeschooling. Yes just maybe homeschooling could improve your child’s behavior in ways you couldn’t imagine!
So, Could homeschooling improve your child’s behavior?
Hear me out here, m’kay?
Generally speaking, why do kids act out?
- They are looking for attention (in all the wrong ways!)
- They are bored or uninterested in what they’re being asked to do.
- They sense their lack of freedom and control over their lives and try to take it back
- And the big one. They learn bad behavior from other kids!
So let’s take a look at how homeschooling addresses these issues and can make a huge difference in how your child behaves!
1-They Get the Attention They’re Seeking (in a positive way!)- Our children want our attention. They equate time with love and want to spend time with us. Think about it, by the time the school bus picks your child up and drops them off every day they are gone from you for probably 7 hours. And we start this when they are only 5 years old! Kids want time to talk to their parents, tell them about their interests and even just snuggle on the couch to watch TV. When you homeschool you don’t have to hear about their day in the 15 minutes you have at the dinner table before you have to run to soccer practice, you are there for their day. You share in what they are learning, help them accomplish goals, and are a huge part of their life! When you homeschool your kids get positive attention from you, they get the gift of your time, and so they stop seeking to get your attention in less desirable ways.
Related Post- How Homeschooling Gives You a Great Relationship With Your Kids
2- They are Not So Bored – When my middle son was about 8 we had a mini trampoline in our living room. He learned his multiplication facts while bouncing on it. My youngest hates history but devours Magic Tree House books (even the historical ones) like nobody’s business. When kids are stuck at a desk all day they get all kinds of pent up energy that needs to come out somehow! When they are learning in a way that is boring or tedious for them, of course, they are going to check out… and maybe act out. Kids need space to move around, they need breaks to exercise their body and get the wiggles out. If your kid is having trouble focusing during homework, it’s probably because he’s been focusing all day! With homeschooling you can teach your child in a way that interests them, challenge them if they need it, and let them get up and move around or stand up while learning… or bounce on a trampoline!
Related Post- Homeschooling a High Energy Child
3- They Have A Lot More Freedom- When was the last time you had to raise your hand if you wanted to pee? How about the last time you couldn’t grab a snack when you were hungry. When did you last read a book that you hated? Here’s the thing about kids… humans in general, we like to have control over our lives. We like the ability to make decisions, we like to do what is best for ourselves, course correct if necessary, and have free time to do what we want. When you homeschool your child gets a say in their life. They can ask for a snack or get up to pee without needing permission. You can work together on finding lessons that they enjoy or find books they love and they have a say in what they’re learning.
There is also so much more time for them to pursue their interests. Homeschooling takes a fraction of the time that traditional school takes. They can get their work done in a few hours and have time to dive into whatever interests them! The freedom to do what they enjoy is huge and can be a big relief and make huge improvements to their behavior.
4- They Don’t Learn as Much Bad Behavior- I’ll never quite understand it, but bad behavior, unfortunately, rubs off… When our kids are in school they see other kids acting out, talking back, bullying… the list goes on and on. We all have that one kid that we don’t want our to hang out with because when they do their attitude goes south! When we remove them from the influence of kid’s who have bad behavior they stop think that is ok, or normal.. or even cool. Our kids get to be who they want to be without a ton of peer pressure and we get to help them find social situations where they aren’t introduced to poor attitudes and behavior issues.
Related Post- The Social (yes SOCIAL) Benefits of Homeschooling
If you have the desire to homeschool take a look at the bigger picture, realize why your child is behaving the way they are and consider if homeschooling might change that. Could homeschooling improve your child’s behavior? Could having more attention, more freedom, and less bad influence make a difference in not only their behavior, but their education, and your relationship?
If you opt to try, remember that it takes awhile for kids to realize their new normal, unlearn bad habits, and get into the groove of being homeschooled. Give it time and look for the improvements, you’re sure to see them!!
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