CC Image courtesy of Robert S. Donovan on Flickr
This article originally published July 25, 2014 and updated on February 5, 2019
Gaps in my children’s homeschool education don’t concern me.
I hear homeschoolers express fear over the dreaded “gaps” in their child’s education all the time. It’s all over the internet, particularly rampant among newbie homeschoolers. But veteran homeschoolers are living in this fear as well.
I truly believe it’s causing unnecessary stress, because frankly, there will ALWAYS be gaps, no matter what you do or what form of education you choose for your child. There is simply no way to NOT have gaps. Think about it, there is NO WAY to teach your kids everything! There just isn’t! Here’s an article that explains this more eloquently than I’m capable of: “Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Gaps?” And another great article on this topic: “Bridging Your Gap! Facing Your Fear”
I don’t care what curriculum you use or what school you put them in. There is NO WAY they’ll come out without having missed something. Especially nowadays, when new things are being learned every flippin day! But now I can hear the argument…”But Tina, I’m not worried about them learning EVERYTHING. I’m just worried about what they ‘should’ know!” I’ve actually covered that argument at length in my article “Are They Learning What They Should?” that I wrote years ago.
The gist of it is this:
Education is subjective.
Meaning that it is:
“based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.”
What constitutes a “quality” education depends on who you’re talking to or about.
Just like beauty, education is in the eye of the beholder.
Even among education “experts” there are many conflicting opinions on what children “should” learn at what ages.
There isn’t some magic educational formula of subjects that will produce exactly what every child needs to get the best start in life and be fully prepared for their future.
It DOESN’T EXIST. Stop stressing yourself out by thinking it does.
Julie at Homeschooling-Ideas says it very well in her article “Education in a Box?” Education can’t be put into a box!
And Mari Beth at The Inappropriate Homeschooler talks more about there not being a “right” way to educate our children in her article: “Homeschooling, Like Motherhood, is Not a Sprint”
The problem with thinking there’s a “right” way or worrying about a “gap” is that you are then making decisions based on fear. And homeschooling out of fear is not a good thing. In fact, this excellent article talks about it being “The Worst Reason to Homeschool”.
So what’s the solution to all this?
(I’m writing the following to myself as much as you. Because *I* need reminders constantly about what it is I am “supposed” to be doing with MY kids….)
You spend your time WITH your kids, being both physically and emotionally WITH them, learning WITH them, enjoying time WITH them, filling both their lives AND yours with a multitude of enriching activities.
Be present.
It’s something that’s damned hard in this day and age with all the distractions. And it’s especially hard if you, as a homeschool parent, are constantly thinking and stressing over what else they “should” be doing, and what is “supposed” to be done next, how far along you “should” be in curriculum x, and what else is on your long list of assignments for them. If you are present with them, enjoy learning WITH them, then you will notice what sparks their interest and what turns their fire for learning ON. And then, only then, can you choose activities and materials to share with your kids that will create their best learning environment.
STOP and think about what you want for your kids.
What is the end result you are hoping to produce with homeschooling? I think most of us want emotionally healthy children that enjoy life, are successful, and love learning. But we sometimes forget this in our fear of what they might be missing or our constant drive to pour more info into their heads.
I’m NOT saying there’s no place for structured learning and curriculum!
But don’t let your fear or your drive to fill your children’s days with the “best” curriculum and your idea of what they “need” to know before they reach a certain age cause you so much work and stress that you cannot enjoy the ride right along with them.
Because your journey, along side them, is every bit as much a part of their homeschool experience as what the children get out of it. And it actually serves 2 purposes: Being present with them in their homeschool experience forces you to pay close attention to what works and doesn’t work for your kids, and it models that learning is a lifelong thing.
What it all boils down to is– Gaps will happen…accept that, don’t stress over it.
Remember the most important things in homeschooling:
Be present with your kids
and
Teach them to love learning
Because then they’ll fill in their own gaps.
4 Comments
Love this! Exactly what I needed to hear (or read, in this case). Thank you for all the inspiration.
Glad you liked it, Sarah! If you could help me out by sharing this article, that would be wonderful! I want it to help as many folks as possible! 🙂
You have the right thoughts, but I am worried about some things. For example, now children almost do not read books, but I want the children to love books just like me.
The love of books, I think, is kind of hit or miss. I thought if I just read aloud to my kids a lot…and I did… A LOT… and read for myself as an example, that I would raise bookworms like myself. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way. I’m sad to say that neither of my kids enjoys reading much. They will read in spurts, and when they do read, they do enjoy reading. But they are no bookworms like I was growing up. And they hate going to the library. *GASP* I know!! It breaks my heart!
But there are just no guarantees on anything. And I’ve learned after 18 and a half years of parenting that I am just not in control of what my children become. I can nurture them and set an example and set up the environment and try to encourage things. Certainly, if I had not raised them with books in the house or book reading as a valued pastime, there would have been even less of a chance of them enjoying books…but even with my leading by example and also reading them tons of great books throughout their childhood, my children still did not take after me, or their father and enjoy reading the way that we did. They are their own people, and I’m starting to accept that. And I do still hope that as they mature that they might circle back around to books again. I can hope!
I think as parents we want so very much for our kids…and there’s nothing wrong with that… But soon enough we have to let go of what WE want and come to realize that all we can do is set an example. But we cannot make them who they are going to be. They will choose what they will choose and be what they will be because they are not us.
I revel in the similarities that my kids have with me…it gives us a special bond. But I also can appreciate their unique qualities and differences from me. So they aren’t bookworms. I would have liked to share that with them, but it’s just not who they are. Maybe yours will be…maybe they won’t. All you can do is set an example and live your life the way you enjoy it and let them enjoy it with you.