What the Children Think About Homeschooling

I am often asked what are the benefits and disadvantages of homeschooling and all too often the answer is from the parents point of view. Home educating one's children is often a daunting task and it can be all-consuming. It's hard for parents to take an objective perspective about how their children feel about being homeschooled.

This comprehensive questionnaire is an attempt to unravel some of the myths that frequent the Internet that homeschooling children are in any way different from schooled children. Over time I hope to accumulate enough responses to demonstrate that a huge variety of children, with different strengths and limitations, likes, dislikes and styles of learning make up the homeschooled population. will help others understand the advantages and learn about what children think of homeschooling. Reply by emailing your answers to contact@beverleypaine.com.

1. How long have you been homeschooling?
2. Do you like homeschooling?
3. Are there things you do now that you couldn't do at home?
4. What do you like about homeschooling?
5. Are there things you wish you could do as a homeschooling that you can't?
6. How do you spend your time?
7. How do you decide what to do?
8. What do you learn the most from?
9. Some people think that unschooling won't work because if the kids have control of their
own learning they won't do difficult things or things they dislike? Do you agree with this?
Why, or why not?
10. Do you worry sometimes about keeping up with other kids?
11. How do you know when you've learned something?
12. What are your favourite things to do?
13. How do you find out about things you want to do or learn about?
14. Do you worry sometimes about being different from most other kids?
15. What sort of comments do you hear about your homeschooling?
16. Are you planning to go to school at any time? If so, when?
17. Do your friends homeschool?
18. Do you have friends that go to school?
19. How does homeschool compare with school?
20. What do you like most about homeschooling?
21. What do you dislike most about homeschooling?
22. Do you get enough time to do what you want to do?
23. How do you get on with your brother/s and/or sister/s, and your parents?
24. Any other comments?