8 Difficult Challenges of Home Education: How to Overcome Them

What are the Challenges of Home Education?

The best things in life aren’t plain-sailing. We all know that. So whilst Home Education has a lot of benefits for families, it also has its challenges. Some of these challenges may be easier to deal with over time, whereas others can be a little trickier. The most important thing to know is that any challenge can be overcome. So, let’s look at 8 challenges of Home Education and how to overcome them successfully.

1. Time and commitment

One of the hardest challenges of Home Education is the amount of time and commitment you need to be prepared to give. Of course it doesn’t have to look like a six hour day but it’s still something that needs to be focused on and implemented throughout the day. This can be overwhelming at first. Many home educators don’t know where to start or feel like it’s a big burden on their shoulders. All of a sudden, it’s an essential priority amongst other things that you may have going on. 

If you work full-time or even part-time, it can be difficult and stressful to fit in the time to educate or maintain a successful schedule (if you have one). 

Tips for time and commitment:

• Don’t put too much on your plate.
• Realise that you don’t need to follow the same schedule as school.
• Work out the time that you do have and decide how you’re going to use that time.
• Alleviate pressure by getting friends and family involved with your child’s Home Education.
• Get a planner to help with time management.
• Remember that Home Education is what you make of it.

2. Cost/expenses

The cost of Home Education can add up over time. Whilst school already has lots of resources, home educators will need to find and buy them. Some costs that can easily eat into your pocket include: essentials and supplies (pens, paper, books, etc.), curricula, tutors, extra food, days out, clubs and activities. 

For many families, their budget will affect what they can and can’t do. This can lead to feelings of guilt that their children might miss out or not gain the same experiences as others. 

Tips for cost/expenses:

• Work out a monthly budget for Home Education.
• Use as many free resources as you can, including free places like libraries, parks and museums.
• Buy second-hand or use discounts.
• Do lots of things at home.

3. Socialising

Socialising can be a difficult and daunting challenge of Home Education, especially when joining new groups and trying to make friends with other home educators. If it’s a large group, there can often be cliques, which makes it harder to fit in. It’s no surprise that many new home educators often feel like they’re on their own. 

Tips for socialising:

• Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there — you’ll often find that other people are in the same boat and have difficulty socialising as well.
• Create your own group or event for other people to join. This may feel less daunting because you’re in control.
• Remember, you don’t have to be a social butterfly — friendly interactions are still enough. 

4. Keeping your children motivated

Home Education is great because it gives children a lot more freedom. That being said, there can be difficulties motivating them to do things when they’re so used to the comfort of their own home. Keeping your children motivated to learn is a task in itself because it’s down to you to come up with the solutions. If your child lacks motivation then it can feel like you’re stuck at a brick wall with no way of getting through. 

Tips for keeping your children motivated: 

• Always make sure your children have the option of doing what they enjoy.
• Communication is key — talk about what’s working and what’s not.
• Let them plan the day and take control of their learning.
• Make learning as fun and interesting as possible.
• Do something different every day.

5. Receiving judgement or criticism

Ever had an irritating comment from someone when they found out you were home educating? Yep, we’ve probably all been there. The challenge is, all this judgement and criticism can be frustrating to deal with and leave us doubting ourselves. We are sometimes left not knowing how to answer and we often start to question whether we’re doing the best for our children. Yeah it’s just someone’s opinion, but it’s not fun to deal with. 

Tips for judgement or criticism:

• Have a great comeback answer. We’ve listed some in our Beginner’s Guide to Home Education. 
• Ignore outsiders’ opinions and trust your instincts.
• Make a list of all the positive things about Home Education for your child.
• Be confident in your decision. 

6. Finding balance

Home Education, work, socialising and fun — sometimes it can feel like a juggling act! And getting the balance is not always easy. Many of us struggle to split our time adequately and feel that we’re lacking in one area more than the rest. The question is, what is the right balance? Does it have to be split up equally all the time? My answer is, no.

Tips on finding balance:

• Balance depends on your lifestyle. Decide when it’s best to split between your priorities. 
• No two days need to be the same. If you do more of one thing on one day, focus on another thing the next day. 
• Get a planner and work out a good schedule for your family.

7. Having self-confidence

Many of us struggle with having the self-confidence to home educate and for some, this may be the reason why they sadly choose not to. It’s easy to doubt our abilities and compare ourselves. We believe we need to be as qualified as teachers or have a whole depth of knowledge, which really isn’t the case. 

Tips on having self-confidence:

• Write down your reasons for Home Education and why. Refer back to them when you’re feeling doubtful.
• Realise how much you can enhance not only your child’s education but their childhood.
• Know that you can provide more than enough for your child with the right help and advice.
• Remember, you are just as ‘qualified’ as any teacher to help your child learn.
• Remember, learning happens together. 

8. Dealing with your Local Education Authority

If you’ve had the pleasure of interacting with your Local Education Authority, you may have experienced how nerve-wracking or  frustrating it can be. That being said, experiences differ from person to person. It may just be that the thought of writing a report and dealing with your LEA in general makes you a bit anxious and stressed. After all, you’ve got to prove to them that you’re giving your child a suitable, full-time education. 

Tips on dealing with your Local Education Authority:

• Make sure to communicate with your LEA if they contact you and do not ignore them.
• Know your rights and state them in an appropriate manner if needed.
• Do not feel pressured into sending examples of your child’s work or accepting visit requests.
• Keep everything in writing.

Remember, Home Education is a journey and it will be filled with ups and downs — that doesn’t mean that you’re not doing it right or that it’s not meant for you. It takes time to adjust and learn. Just know that, with guidance and perseverance, any challenge can be overcome. 

We hope these tips will help you to overcome the challenges of Home Education, but if you have any other questions or need a bit more advice, please contact us. We’re always happy to hear from you!