Homeschooling – most of us nowadays have heard about this not-so-new way of providing children with the learning opportunities they need to grow and develop intellectually, but also personally and spiritually. But most people’s knowledge of what homeschooling actually is – or is not – is still highly influenced by misconceptions and misunderstandings of what it actually is. Read on to learn more, and discover some of the many benefits of Islamic homeschooling, as well as how to get started!

What is homeschooling?

Homeschooling is a word that has been around since forever. The dictionary describes it as educating (one’s child) at home instead of sending them to a school. The teaching solely depends on parents and the outcomes are their responsibility.

Lots of families around the world – and among them many Muslim ones in the U.S. – adopted the idea of homeschooling for various reasons, the most dominant one being how they want their kids to learn specific things but can’t afford a private school.

Muslim families may struggle in non-Islamic countries to find convenient nearby Islamic institutions that are credible and trustworthy to enroll their children in. That’s why these families turn to homeschooling as a good alternative option.

What Homeschooling is NOT

There are so many misconceptions about homeschooling that stop lots of parents from trying it, even if it’ll bring them and their children great benefits. Now, homeschooling is very different from what it was in the 80s, but unfortunately, the misconceptions about it seem to stay.

1. Homeschooling Is Not An Isolation

Many parents think that they’ll be isolating their children from society once they start homeschooling since they’ll stop going to school. Nowadays you can homeschool your children AND let them interact with people and have friendships. If you are opposed to your child creating virtual friendships, they can still go to the park every day and make friendships with the neighbors’ children. You can also have your child connect with others while visiting museums or other educational places, and build your network of other homeschooling families.

2. Homeschooling Is Not Always At Home

You don’t have to stay at home 24/7 to be homeschooling. Homeschooling can be done in parks, field trips, mosques, historical monuments, and basically any other place other than home.

3. You Won’t Create An Actual Classroom For The Children

Another common misconception pops up when you mention homeschooling: “so you create a classroom in the house?” No, you do not. You don’t have to imitate real school for your children to learn something. As a matter of fact, if you think you can create a classroom with 7 or 8 hours of scheduled classes and a break, chances are that it will not work at all.

Instead, weave the learning into the daily routine and limit the time required to “sit and learn” and you’ll find great results.

4. No, It’s Not Done By Luck

If you think parents follow learning schedules by luck, you can’t be more wrong. Homeschooling is about definite objectives that need to be achieved within a timeframe. Schedules may not be tight just like it is in real schools, but parents don’t let their children learn in a messy careless way in homeschools.

Read on to learn about Islamic homeschooling!

Islamic Homeschooling

So, what’s Islamic homeschooling like? Islamic homeschooling focuses on the learning of the Quran, Sunnah, Islamic history, Arabic, and the teachings of Islam that your children need in their life.

7 Benefits Of Islamic Homeschooling

Some people decide to homeschool their children from the very beginning, others suffer from negative experiences in schools so they shift. So, what are the benefits of homeschooling your children?

1. You Get To Be The Source

One of the reasons why people choose homeschooling for their children is that they don’t trust the source of knowledge other people have, especially in Islamic matters. With homeschooling, you get to be the source of knowledge that you gained from the Quran and Sunnah and you teach your children the right teachings you were taught.

You may also choose the materials you want to use, including online. Online homeschooling has shown to be incredibly participatory and beneficial to children.

Not too confident about your own Islamic knowledge? You can sign up your kids in online Islamic classes with credible teachers who have the appropriate background and experience. This will help guarantee that your children’s Islamic learning goals are fulfilled and fulfilling.

2. Personalized Learning

You know your children more than anyone else, and you’ll be able to customize their learning experience and implement the things they like whenever they like. You also know their learning pace, so they won’t feel pressured to learn something in a short time.

3. Learning And Living, Living And Learning

Homeschooling families agree that the right method of homeschooling doesn’t involve imitating an actual classroom with specific schedules. Instead, the line between the daily routine and the learning period is blurred: children learn through living, and live through learning.

For example, you teach them how to pray Dhuhr when you’re about to pray Dhuhr, you teach them how Prophet Muhammad (Peace And Blessings Be Upon Him) asked us to help our families and listen to our parents when you’re doing house chores with them, you teach them how to recite Quran correctly while reading together after Asr, and so on.

Blurring the line between living and learning will allow you to teach them more effectively. You’ll pay more attention to what they can learn in every part of their daily routine and they’ll get immersed in what you teach them as a part of their practical life, not just a lesson at school they have to take.

4. You Make Your Own Schedule

The previous point doesn’t imply that homeschooling is haphazard. You have to make a schedule in order to assess what you’ve accomplished at the end of the week. However, you get to choose that schedule and pick what you want to fill it with. This flexibility is a great advantage both for you and your child.

5. More Time And Opportunities For Interests

With flexible schedules, your children get to have more time to practice the hobbies they love, acquire new ones, fulfill their interests, and create opportunities for curiosity. You make more time to learn and read the Quran, do sports, and learn new things they’re fond of.

6. No Peer Pressure

While some children don’t have this problem, peer pressure, whether academic or social, is a reality of traditional school environments. Homeschooling is a great option for children who struggle with peer pressure, especially if they went to a school where they were the only Muslim kid around. This might not be every kid’s experience in non-Muslim countries, but it is for some children, and they might struggle with it for a really long time.

You’ll raise them in an environment free of stress, anxiety, and pressure caused by other people while teaching them, at a very calm, reassuring but also empowering pace, how to handle this kind of issues in the world.

7. You Create A Great Bond With Your Children

Since homeschooling doesn’t only mean teaching at home, you get to enjoy numerous activities outside with your children. You can take them to the park daily and let them have their fun while teaching them about how Islam taught us how to communicate with people outside, or you can take them to the mosque to learn Quran, pray, or interact with other children there.

How Do You Start Islamic Homeschooling?

1. Discuss The Idea With Your Spouse

This step shouldn’t be overlooked. When you both agree on homeschooling, you share the responsibility of teaching your children at home and the logistics that come with it. You can divide the things you need to teach your children and each one of you take care of one or two learning areas, for instance. The whole homeschooling experience and success can be compromised if the two spouses are not on the same page.

2. Talk To Your Children About It

Use the logical way in convincing your children about the idea of homeschooling. Tell them how it’s better for them then get them excited about all the activities you’ll be doing together. Make sure to be realistic and stick to what you said after they agree, or it’ll backfire.

3. Set Your Goals

You can’t start if you don’t define where you want to go. Set simple, measurable, attainable, realistic, time-bound goals in order to follow them. Pick what you want to teach them, how you’re going to do it, when, for how long, and with what frequency, and also make sure to have some flexibility and be open to change so that you can readjust as you go along.

After setting your goals, set a flexible schedule that includes activities and outdoor experiences for your children. Don’t try to overdo it at first, start small, flexible, fun, and goal-oriented.

4. Buy The Necessary Materials

Focus on the “necessary” here. Control the urge to buy everything you see or think looks interesting. Pick only the important books, magazines and materials that will help you in the journey according to the goals you set earlier.

5. Consider Online Islamic Courses

This could be a great help! You get to choose the course you want your kids to join, the instructor, and the schedule. Online courses are a great way for you to get some assistance with the areas you have no experience in and will ensure your children learn it the right way.

Homeschooling is not an easy journey and can sometimes be frustrating for you and your children, but the benefits and knowledge can be really rewarding for your child’s personal, intellectual and spiritual growth, but also for your own! Reflect on your goals and remind yourself why you started following them from the beginning. Also make it a point to find and connect with other homeschooling families for support, and carry on.