Homeschooling Diaries: “Do Not Be Afraid to Make Mistakes”

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The disruption that COVID-19 has caused in the traditional school system has left many parents wondering whether there is a way to take more control over their children’s education. An increasing number in Beijing are now turning to homeschooling, yet questions abound: how does it work? Where do you start? Is it legal? In this series, we dive in, talking to Beijing parents who have already started the journey about the big questions, and busting some myths along the way. Let’s get stuck in!

We spoke to Eric Li, father of two kids aged 8 and 11 respectively, and his half-year adventure of homeschooling.

“I wanted them to have greater flexibility”

The main reason why we decided to start homeschooling was the COVID-19 pandemic. I wanted to see my children improve in sports and to have greater flexibility which in turn would create more possibilities for them.

“We also use local PE and music resources.”

We use a combination of homeschooling resources to achieve success. We use UK online school Curriculum called Interhigh, which is a great resource as it allows for children who were in mainstream education to seamlessly transition into homeschooling. Also, it allows parents who might not be as competent in teaching certain subjects to receive online support in those areas. It is also a great resource for kids preparing for GCSE, O-levels, and A-levels.

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We are also fans of the Khan Academy. This is particularly important as it not only allows for tailor-made lessons for each child according to their academic level, but it also allows my kids to interact with other children in a virtual classroom, not unlike a real mainstream classroom.

In addition to that, we also use local PE and music resources.

I don’t have a set timeframe in mind when I might stop homeschooling my children. However, we shall continue to use a more flexible approach in terms of travel and sports to encourage learning in our kids.

“I don’t have a set timeframe in mind when I might stop homeschooling my children.”

Homeschooling has many advantages. One of the main ones is being able to try something new and exploring the educational experience with the help of technology. It is also a great way to dramatically reduce the cost of international education. Whereas a mainstream international school might require a massive investment in terms of money, time, and other resources, homeschooling proves similar benefits and experiences for your kids without leaving you in the red financially. As far as my family goes, the money saved on international education costs we put towards traveling to different countries, which in my opinion, is a far more tangible experience to an international school.

“It is also a great way to dramatically reduce the cost of international education.”

Despite these advantages, homeschooling still has some major drawbacks. For starters, parents might need to spend far more time on being ‘teachers’ than parents. Parents must invest a lot of time in researching course material and learning the best way to teach these subjects to their children than just being regular parents. Parents also need to take certain risks in terms of the choices they make for their kids’ education. There is no real way of knowing which system is the best. There is a wide range of options and each has its advantages and disadvantages. You just have to take a leap of faith, wait, and see which one works best for your children. There is also the important matter of work. At least one parent will have to stay at home full time to be available to teach and monitor the children. It is virtually impossible to be a full-time working parent when you venture into homeschooling.

“PE is important to us.”

In general, most of the resources you find online will have some benefit to be had in your homeschooling experience. If you are an absolute novice, then Khan Academy is a good place to start. We also use KidsA-Z and Moby Max. As for more artistic pursuits, we use Molly Bear, which provides local online art courses. If you are looking for a more offline approach, then Houshayu is a wonderful resource to have. Since PE is important to us, we take the initiative to have our lessons at the local biking and Pilates clubs.

If I had any advice for parents looking to start on this homeschooling journey, it would be not to be afraid to make mistakes. Kids have a remarkable ability to adapt to new possibilities. Also, the world is changing rapidly. Things like education are not the same as they were even five years ago. Do not let the newness scare you. These changes might create even greater possibilities for your kids.

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Photos: Courtesy of Eric Li

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