Homeschooling Fears: 5 Ways to Overcome Them Successfully6 min read

As a parent, it’s normal to worry about your kids. Whether it is about their futures, their education, their peers, how they grow up, and even who they grow up around. Almost every decision that you will make for your children is driven out of worry and care for them. That’s just how it is! But our homeschooling fears may do more harm than good.

It is this worry and care that causes many parents to decide to homeschool their kids. But worrying for your child is one thing and homeschooling them out of fear is another!

Let us take a look at some of the fears that parents have when they choose to homeschool their kids.

2 Common Homeschooling Fears

Fears about the system

Many parents decide to homeschool their kids because they don’t trust the education system out there.

They are afraid that the culture will destroy their kids’ minds and beliefs. Or that their kids will be exposed to bad language, ideas, influences, or shady people. Some parents will homeschool their children because of their religious beliefs.

All these things have only one thing in common –they’re all rooted in a fear of some sort.

As parents, you somehow feel the need to be in control of every aspect of your child’s life. You may believe that if things are not in your control, then they may not turn out the way you planned.

Fears about yourself

There are also fears that many parents can have while homeschooling. Have you ever felt like you are not good enough to teach your children? That you may lack the abilities to teach and mentor your kid because you aren’t a certified teacher? These are normal thoughts for any homeschooling parent, but make sure they don’t color your decisions.

Many parents may worry that their kids are missing out on “real” school experience or not having as many friends as they grow up.

5 Things to Remember to Overcome Homeschooling Fears

Nothing’s a Guarantee

Let’s start by saying this: homeschooling is not a guarantee that your kids will turn out the way you want them to. Just because you choose to homeschool your kids does not mean that they will embrace your religious beliefs by default. Neither does it mean that they’ll always make life choices that will make you super proud. Your kids are humans too! They are going to mess up irrespective of what kind of an education they have.

As parents, you should prepare them for the best possible life ahead of them. But that said, your kids are not ingredients in your foolproof recipe. They will not necessarily turn out the way you want them to. So, if you’ve decided that homeschooling means your kids will turn out perfectly according to plan, then you may have taken on an impossible task!

Your Kids Control Their Learning

No matter how much we adults like to believe that we are in control of everything, the hard truth is that we’re not. While you can be in control of how you teach your kids, you are not in control of the outcome.

As your kids grow and learn, you’ll have a deep impact on shaping them and their lives. You will teach them, read to them, discipline them, talk to them, advise them and guide them almost every step of the way. But at the end of the day, they will make their own choices!

Let Go!

Homeschooling may put your kids on the “right path”, but it may also not! There is no actual way to know that your child will turn out to be the best simply because you chose to homeschool him! As a parent who is homeschooling, the sooner you accept this the more peace you will have. You will be able to focus on actually teaching and guiding your child without constantly worrying about the results or the future.

Just have some courage. Be confident. Know that homeschooling your kids is surely worth your time and effort. And this is true not because of how you think they will turn out, but simply because you love your kids. And you want to teach them irrespective of how they will turn out in the future.

Dismiss your Doubts

Are you doubting yourself and harboring fears about your abilities to homeschool your child in the best way possible? Don’t be afraid! Doubts about whether or not you’re good enough to homeschool because of your education, certifications (or lack thereof) should not make you wonder whether you can do it.

Just sit down and think about this for a minute or two – who knows your kids best? Who do you think loves them more than you? Does this answer something for you?

When it comes to homeschooling your kids, it does not matter whether you are a certified teacher or not. Various studies show that children who are homeschooled consistently perform as well if not even better than students in public and private schools! Your level of education and qualifications as a parent make little to no difference in homeschooling your kids.

There are so many resources and curriculums available to guide you. The bottom line is that you don’t have to know everything–nobody does! And you’re certainly not alone.

Socialization Comes Naturally

And when it comes to wondering about your kids missing out on friends and social interactions, then you needn’t worry about that either. Homeschoolers have plenty of opportunities for socialization. You can join a homeschool support group. These groups offer many activities like sports, bands, choirs, graduation ceremonies, proms, play dates, and field trips.

You will always have opportunities for social interaction and community. If there is something in particular that you want for your child, you can always take up the responsibility of creating that environment or organizing it yourself!

You don’t need to worry about keeping up with mainstream schools or doing it “right”. Focus on your child and his needs and work at that pace. Always keep in mind that homeschooling is not going to look the same as normal schooling. Every homeschooling family is different. You just need to trust that you’re doing the best you can for your children and that they are learning at the right pace, the right way.

Now You’ve Addressed Homeschooling Fears, What Next?

Knowing that fear has no place in a happy homeschool, what do you do? The answer is simple: Just relax. Enjoy your children. Spend an afternoon in a local library or take your kid out to the farmer’s market. Enjoy their company, have enriching discussions and conversations. Don’t hesitate to show your own interests and passions to your kids and encourage them to find and follow theirs.

Above all, remember to focus on what matters the most. Your child needs to grow and learn with you in a healthy and happy way. Don’t make it burdensome. Appreciate your children and help them to mature into independent and good individuals. Since the outcome is not in your hands, you can only make the most of the journey. You can do your best in the areas that are in your control.

Homeschooling from and with fear will neither benefit your child nor you in the long run. Instead, be at peace with yourself and the process. Know that no matter what, everything will turn out to be just fine. And until then, cherish the journey because one day it will be over!