Sometimes, school can feel like a meaningless task that we just have to get done before moving on to the things we really enjoy. But despite this feeling, nearly every culture throughout history has prioritized some form of schooling for children and teenagers.

Why should we make education a priority in our busy lives? How can we help make school less of a chore for ourselves and our kids and more of a step on the path to reach their dreams?

We want our kids to be prepared for any career or hobby that they are passionate about. That preparation includes many skills that are developed in their education:

  • Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division are essential for everything from construction to retail, music, finance, entrepreneurship and so much more. For example, tracking your money and spending habits and budgeting your income requires knowledge of math
  • An understanding of biology is useful if we are around plants, animals, or other humans. Knowing how muscles, bones, and organs work together helps us make decisions about physical work and home habits such as sitting, walking, or even eating. We experience physics anytime we exercise, move something, or drive. And chemistry can be important for cooking, cleaning, and art.
  • History can teach us to avoid mistakes. If we know the results of previous attempts, we can decide if it would be wise to repeat an action. The saying “history repeats itself” isn’t often too far off, but it doesn’t have to be a cycle if we learn from our predecessors’ mistakes.
  • Debate and philosophy are excellent ways to prepare for disagreements and discussions that could come up at any time. Respectful disagreement can make all the difference in both professional and personal relationships.
  • Communication is a key component of any interaction. So learning how to read, write, and speak in a clear and effective way will be useful every day.
These are just a few examples out of hundreds. I’m sure you could provide many more from your own life!
The concept of stewardship can also inform our thoughts on learning. Most of us would agree that being wise stewards of our possessions, money, and time is a worthy goal. But have you ever thought about your mind as a resource? Developing our brains through education can be a way to steward our cognitive resources well. We can think about it like a mental workout; the more we stretch and test our brains (especially during childhood development), the more “strength” we will have in the future when we need it. A well-trained brain can also open doors to steward our other resources even more effectively. We can better use those resources if we have developed our own critical thinking skills and understand how the world works.
Now, the importance of cultivating your mind and your child’s mind might be overwhelming. It definitely made me anxious when I was growing up! But education or learning doesn’t have to be sitting in a classroom, listening to lectures and working through papers, problems, and experiments. A great benefit of homeschooling is that each family can choose how to teach their children. The curiosity of babies and toddlers really shows their desire to learn, and one of the roles of teachers and parents is to cultivate and direct that curiosity. That is what schooling can look like for you!
For some kids, sitting in a classroom, listening to lessons, and taking notes can be an effective way to learn. If your child enjoys and learns from the lectures, great! Let them listen and learn that way. But for many kids, that system alone may stifle their love of learning. In that case, perhaps we should consider a more practical approach for our children. Get our hands dirty together, go on field trips, and let them help us with daily tasks. We can also mix and match any number of methods to make an entirely customized and unique learning environment.
Homeschooling gives us the freedom to choose the best method of learning for our family. Especially if we are intentional about education, almost any place we visit can be a classroom. We can learn math by reading and comparing the labels at the grocery store. We can study plants and animals by going to a zoo or botanical garden. Reading or listening to biographies and watching documentaries are great ways to learn history. And language arts education begins at birth just by being around people that talk, read, and write.
Learning doesn’t just stop when your child graduates high school or college. It is a lifelong activity with long-lasting effects. If we can instill a love of learning in them when they are kids, that experience will prepare them for the rest of their lives. Even when changes come, they will have the skills and desire needed to learn new things and achieve their goals!

MEET OUR AUTHOR

JOSEPH WUNROW

Joseph Wunrow is a Communications and Engagement Manager at HomeLife Academy. He was homeschooled through HLA throughout grade and high school and is thrilled to be serving other homeschooling families now.