I was a childcare teacher for about 2.5 years. Once the pandemic hit, I decided to take my son out of childcare and homeschool him. It wasn’t an easy choice, and there are many ups and downs that resulted from my decision. It is difficult to decide which is better. 

Before deciding which is better childcare or homeschool, the most important thing you should keep in mind is you should base this decision on your personal life. Sometimes, one thing suits your life better and you should base your decision on all the factors of your personal life including your financial situation, relationships, or mental health.

The Pros of Homeschool

• Educational Flexibility: By teaching your own children, you get to choose the curriculum for your child. You can add your religious beliefs to everyday life, and focus more on the talents and interests of your child. Click here if you would like an educational toddler routine.

• One-to-One Tutoring: Giving your attention to one child instead of many helps get the information across easier. You can stop and review whatever your child does not understand.

• No Bullying: Being around peers can lead to unwanted concerns like bullying.

• Less Aggression and Behavioral Issues: Your child will feel much more secure with his/her parents and you may be able to understand your child better than any other teacher.

• Fewer distractions: Childcare includes many people walking in and out of the room, many children crying, laughing, and running around, many toys insight, and many other distracting elements that could make your child easily distracted. 

• Strong Family Bonding: You get to spend a good amount of time with your child creating trust.

• Health: Your child would be exposed to fewer germs which would lead to better health and less frequent illnesses. However, your child may have a weak immune system.

• Finance: You can budget how much money you spend on educating your child.

The Cons of Homeschool

• Social Skills: Being exposed to fewer people and peers tends to diminish social skills. Your child may have fewer friends, but this can be solved. You should add opportunities for your child to socialize with peers and children of different ages in your everyday routine like going to the park daily or signing up for an afternoon activity.

• Capability: Are you capable of teaching your child? Not all parents have a passion for teaching or know the material they are teaching. 

• Mom’s and Dad’s Life: It is hard spending all day with your child. Moms or dads may develop depression and sadness. If you are homeschooling, make sure you have time for yourself. 

The Pros of Childcare

• Socialization: Children in childcare tend to build social skills quickly as they are exposed to many children of the same and different ages. 

• Parents Can Work and Relief: Parents can work while someone else takes care of their children and teaches them. Stay-at-home parents can have a break and do their own things. 

• High-Quality Education: Childcare provides high-quality education; however, your child may not be able to express his own talents as much as she/he would like. 

The Cons of Childcare

• Health: Your child will be exposed to many germs; therefore, he/she will get sick a lot. However, this builds their immune system. 

• Family: You will have less quality time with your children, and may even miss some of your children’s milestones.

• Behavior: Your child may learn undesired behaviors from other children.

• Bullying: Your child may be exposed to bullying and other emotional abuse. 

• Finance: Childcare is very costly.

• Privacy: Children don’t know how to keep secrets, and teachers will know a lot about your private life. 

I hope this helps you decide which is better childcare or homeschool.