An only child deserves an excellent education and formation, as does any other child. Don’t deny your child, just because he is your only one, the benefits of homeschooling. Make it work. The home educated only child will profit ten-fold from your daily guidance in how to become a good and decent person by watching you in your daily life. The majority of his life will be spent as an adult so this training is of utmost importance. We have been fed a pile of lies to think that our child’s ability to socialize consists in getting along with a multitude of kids his own age.
Are you homeschooling an only child? Or perhaps your other children are grown (or infants) and there's just one whom you homeschool? Or are your other children in public or private school and there's just one at home during the day? Is there such a large age gap between your children that each child feels like an only? Then this group is for you. All homeschoolers are welcome: new, old, school-at-homers, and unschoolers.
Jenni Ryan shares resources and life experiences about raising a single child and homeschooling.
This blog chronicles the joys of raising and homeschooling an only son.
This article is meant to encourage those who are homeschooling an only child as they go forward in their homeschool journey.
Looking around at the homeschool families you know in your co-op, support group, or church, you might observe that most consist of more than one child. In fact, a 2006 National Center for Education report found that families with three or more children make up 62% of the homeschool population. If you're one of the few with an only child at home, you may be asking yourself the question, "Can I homeschool my only child?"
The Homeschool Only One (HOO) message board is a place where those on this journey with one student could network with others.
Rhonda Clark blogs about life homeschooling an only child.
A homeschool mom and her only son share their homeschooling adventure.
The Parents Review was a magazine that was sent to parents and teachers of Charlotte Mason's schools and correspondence-type homeschools between about 1890 and 1920. This article, by Clement Parsons, was written in 1901. It does contain some interesting ideas about raising an only child, although many concepts will be dismissed as out-of-touch with contemporary thought on the issue. Thus, it should be read in the context of its time.
"Only" children lack even the fellowship of siblings; therefore, especially if they have a very social personality, friendships must be found outside the home. For better or worse, traditional school is where many children make their friends, an option obviously closed to homeschoolers.
Families with only one child have almost the exact same concerns regarding their child’s “only child status”: Are they getting enough time with other children their own age? Are we doing enough to prepare this child to interact with their peers? Are we “spoiling” this child? Will this child be prepared for life on their own or will they expect everything to go their own way?
This list is dedicated to families homeschooling only-children. These families have unique socialization issues and must often be super-creative in their solutions. Join this list if you are homeschooling a wonderful Only.
This homeschooling journey is shared by a mom who is homeschooling her only child.
Marcy shares her life with her son Ben, an adopted only child, who she is homeschooling.
Homeschooling offers special challenges (as well as blessings) to those who have only one student. Find help and camaraderie in "HOOville." HOO = Homeschooling Only One.
Your family is simple – mom, dad, child. Homeschooling an only child has to be simple, right? You can get through all of the daily assignments without having to worry about teaching the other siblings, or bouncing a baby in your lap. This isn’t quite the case. Instead, homeschoolers of an only child face their own unique challenges.
When you’re homeschooling only one child, the house can be a little confining some days. The secret of home education, though, is that it can happen anywhere! So where are you going to take your homeschool today? Mike Smith offers a few suggestions in this podcast.