Top Ten Reasons to Homeschool a Creative Child

This post is part of the iHomeschool Network’s 10 in 10 link up. Today’s topic is top 10 reasons my child loves homeschool. This was a fun topic because it required that I get some input from my daughter to discover what she would actually say about “loving” homeschool. As we talked and I took notes, it became clear that every reason she gave related in some way to her creative bent.

 

So I decided to take that approach to the list and share the top ten reasons why a creative child will prefer to be homeschooled.

1. Flexible Scheduling

The creative mind is a very interesting thing. It has flashes of inspiration that require immediate follow-through. I used to be suspect of my daughter’s requests for time to work on her latest project. I assumed she was merely trying to avoid school work. But it turns out that her creative urges are almost overpowering. When an idea strikes, she can think of nothing else until she has tried it.

I learned that doing school during those moments was counterproductive. She normally returns from her creative adventures with a renewed focus for academics. So I trust her creative binges and allow her the time she desires.

All homeschoolers love the flexibility of this type of education, but it seems even more critical for the creative child.

2. Applying Creativity to School

The second reason Sprite offered for enjoying homeschool is that she can integrate her creative pursuits into her education. She cited clay models for science or drawings for history as two examples of how she can use her artistic skills to demonstrate her learning.

Although public schools sometimes call for these kinds of projects, they are rare. With homeschool, she has a lot of freedom to choose how to narrate a lesson, whether it be a traditional written explanation or a more unusual format.

3. More Free Time for Creating

Besides having flexible time, there is simply more time overall for getting crafty. No busy work, no “homework,” no tests to cram for. We can focus our attention on school for a few hours a day, and when that is done, we have plenty of leisure for personal hobbies.

Sprite recently made a gorgeous scarf on a nifty knitter loom. She did most of it while listening to an audio book (from the Fablehaven series).  She spent approximately 8 hours on that project and ended up with a beautiful article of clothing that she can wear with pride.

4. Creativity Can be Featured on a Homeschool Transcript

Creatives may not perform as well on traditional tests as the more linear, left-brained thinkers, but in a homeschool environment, we have more freedom to evaluate on other, more favorable aspects of learning. Sprite is wrapping up seventh grade, and I’m thinking forward to high school when this will be very important.

I was quite surprised when Sprite cited this as a reason to homeschool. Obviously she is thinking about high school and college admission, too!

5. Craft Supplies Double as School Supplies

My mercenary child said that she often persuades me to buy craft supplies by claiming they are school supplies. Sneaky. But very true. The lines between school and crafts often get blurred. She has learned that art supplies don’t count, and she uses that to her advantage.

We have enough Sharpie markers to outfit an army of artists, buckets of adhesives, and reams of paper in all patterns, colors, and thicknesses.

6. Trips to the Museum Count as School

Yes, public schools take museum field trips, but not as often as we go. And a trip to the Brooks Museum homeschool program is our school for the day (well, with the addition of some Teaching Textbooks math).

7. It’s Okay to Draw on My Desk

I guess this puts me in the “cool mom” category. But why not? We bought this table just for crafts and homeschool. I find the Sharpie sketches add a lot of interest to an otherwise boring table.

8. Crafting During Read Alouds

Yes, I still read aloud to Sprite (against Miss Mason’s advice). And while I do that, she can keep her hands busy with whatever her latest passion is — sculpey clay figures, knitting, drawing, zentangles, or mod podge creations.

9. No Critics of Your Creativity

I would have never considered this benefit of homeschooling the creative child. But it was an aspect that Sprite was very adamant about. She has obviously seen enough criticism of her work in other arenas to fear that public school would be the same.

With homeschooling, it is only family who sees her work. She can be very selective of who sees her projects outside of the confines of supportive parents.

10. The Ability to Specialize

This last reason is one that hit me after reading Penelope Trunk’s amazing blog post The Argument Against Raising Well-rounded Kids. When you homeschool a creative child, you can allow more time, more flexibility, more resources, and more support for creative pursuits. I’ve already mentioned all that. But each of those benefits work together to allow a child to become a creative specialist.

Why dwell on weaknesses? (To do so is depressing drudgery.) But to emphasize strengths creates a confident child who has a leg up when it comes time to specialize in adult life. We tailor our Charlotte Mason homeschool to highlight Sprite’s unique creativity.

If you have a creative child, please consider homeschool as an option. You will be able to nurture that creative spirit in a way that public school simply cannot afford.

 

This post is linked up at Angie’s Top Ten Tuesday.

If you want to join in, post a top ten post of any topic and link up there.

Tagged as: creative, homeschool