There are various reasons why more and more parents are making the decision to take their children out of public schools and teach them at home. Here are just a few:

• disillusionment with the overcrowded, underfunded public school system

• religious or philosophical beliefs

• the ability to better meet the special needs of a child with learning or physical disabilities

If you are thinking about homeschooling your child, here are some benefits to consider:

Parents can provide a more positive learning environment than traditional schools. Parents are the first teachers of their children and their most important role models. When children are homeschooled, they have closer family relationships.

• The school day can be organized according to what the child’s special needs are. For example, if a child is a good reader but struggles with math, extra quality time can be dedicated to math.

• The child can avoid the negative peer pressure – even bullying — that goes along with attending school, which can be very distracting and cause a lot of heartache.

• Since there are no fixed hours of learning per subject, children can learn at their own pace, and the curriculum can be tailored to fit their interests and career goals.

• Parents have the ability incorporate their religious beliefs into their child’s curriculum in whatever way they see fit.