The 5 Best Life Skills for Homeschoolers

There is a ton of myths out there about homeschoolers (un-socialized weirdos) and their parents (jean jumpers, anyone?). Most of these myths and stereotypes aren’t true but have become the homeschooler’s reputation nonetheless. Unfortunately, just like most stereotypes, the negative consequence is that these myths can turn parents away from homeschooling, causing them to miss out on one of the greatest experiences of their lives. The truth is that homeschoolers are often more mature, better prepared to tackle the real world and college, and are able to integrate with all different kinds and ages of people. Life skills for homeschoolers can come pretty easily because students have more time to develop these skills.

The 5 Best Life Skills for Homeschoolers

1. Homeschoolers learn early on how to work and communicate with other age groups. Homeschooling often involves teaching more than one grade at a time, and homeschoolers often attend co-ops, homeschool gym classes, or volunteer opportunities with all different ages. This means that homeschoolers are able to work and communicate with — and learn from — more than just their peers, a skill that’s critical for life in the real world.
2. Homeschoolers are more independent. When you homeschool, much of your day is self-directed. Homeschooled students need to motivate themselves to stay on task and accomplish their goals, especially by the high school years. This serves them well in college and in the workforce, where there aren’t grades and teachers to keep you motivated to accomplish your goals!
3. Homeschoolers have better home care skills. Because our kids are home all day, we often include them in more chores, like laundry, cooking, lawn care, etc. This makes them more prepared to handle these tasks at earlier ages, not to mention how wonderful it is to have many hands making lighter work for us!
4. Homeschoolers can excel at their passions. There’s a reason most junior professional athletes, musicians, and actors are homeschoolers! Homeschooling allows kids to pursue their passions because they have more time and flexible schedules. While your child may not be a pro, you’ll benefit from the focused attention on what interests him or her and from tailoring his or her school day and lessons to what he or she is into right now. This makes learning fun!
5. Homeschoolers are more likely to do well in college. Statistics show that homeschoolers are more prepared to handle the pressures of college, more independent, and do better academically on standardized exams. In terms of life skills, homeschoolers are more likely to know how to balance a budget, meet deadlines, and stay focused on meeting their goals, which translates to a better college experience.

Stronger life skills is just one of the many benefits of homeschooling. If you want your child to develop independence, home economics skills, responsibility, and socialization, the answer could be homeschooling, despite what you may have heard. In a world where our children must grow up faster than we ever did, teaching life skills is more critical than ever. Why not consider homeschooling and daily build into your children those things they will need to know to succeed after they fly your nest?
How has your child succeeded at life skills for homeschoolers? Tell us in a comment below!