Something that is often overlooked as a benefit of homeschooling is the opportunity for learning with your kids. I wouldn’t say I was someone who loved school as a child. Well, I loved talking to my friends and being around people! But I wouldn’t say I loved the learning aspect of school.
History was by far my least favourite subject in high school. Imagine my surprise when I realized how much I LOVE learning about History now as an adult! I think it stemmed from my love for historical fiction novels. A few years ago (well maybe 5 now), I picked up a popular book at the library and ended up being so engrossed in it that I finished it in one day.
The Book That Started It
That book was The Tattooist of Auschwitz. That 24 hours spent in that book kickstarted a fascination with all books historical fiction. Low and behold, reading these fictional books made me interested to know about those points in history and how things had happened. As I started teaching history to my own girls, I found the stories more and more interesting.
I have loved working through The Mystery of History with them and seeing how Biblical history and World history are woven together. It has been such a neat way to see move evidence of the truth of the Bible. Discovering together with the girls that popular Biblical characters we knew about were found in World history was such a neat segue into apologetics.
Given my less than stellar attention to history in high school, so much of what we are learning now is new and exciting to me as well. As the girls as questions and I don’t know the answer, we get to look it up and learn it together. So many people think teachers need to have all the answers but I disagree. No one in life will have all the answers. What IS valuable and important is knowing how to find the answers you need. Learning together with the kids allows me to model that it is ok to not know something as well as how to go about finding it out.
Added Benefits Of Learning With Your Kids
One unexpected place I have seen this benefit is in my own study of the Bible. Since my mid 20’s I have been interested in studying the Bible. At that time, my new-found surrender to Christ ignited a love of studying Scripture in me. I became enthralled with going deeper in my study of the Bible and my understanding.
Eventually I became a mother. And those little girls I was mothering began to grow up and ask questions. What started as little kid questions like “Where does God go to the bathroom?” quickly deepened to questions I couldn’t just answer off the cuff.
Their inquisitiveness and hunger for knowledge of Christ drove me deeper into the Bible myself. I wanted to make sure I was as equipped as possible to answer their questions and disciple them well. Over the years, I have learned the same thing pertains to the Bible as it did to history. It’s ok to say “I don’t know but let’s find out” and look for the answer together.
What’s beautiful about that is being able to model for my kids how to look to the Bible when I am looking for answers. Guiding them toward the ultimate book of truth to find the answers they are looking for. I get to show them that we are never done studying His Word and we always have more to learn. Learning the Bible with your kids is an honour and privilege.
Show Them It’s Ok To Struggle
I’ve attempted to learn some new things in adulthood, some I’ve been able to figure out and others I have had a harder time with. I have been learning canning over the last 13 years or so. I’ve had batches I had to throw out because I forgot the acid, I’ve had jars not seal and I’ve even had jars explode in the canner. Most of the things I make, I need to consult my recipe book and instructions every year. I’ve also been learning to crochet, play ukulele, and play piano. I’d love to learn to cross stitch, or stitch anything really.
Learning the instruments has been the hardest thing for me. I am not naturally musical. I don’t have a background in music or a base knowledge. So I have struggled and made mistakes time and time again. The learning has been very slow and I may never be a good musician. I don’t *love* to do things I am not good at, but there’s beauty in this too. In showing my daughters that no one is expected to learn something new right away. It’s ok if you can’t do something the first 10 or 100 times you try. That’s why you’re learning!
One of my surprise favourite things about homeschooling has been getting to learn alongside them. What a fun bonding experience it is to work hard and learn something together!
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