Homeschooling Your Child After Divorce - Part 2

 Posted on June 19, 2024 in Family Law

Some children do very well being homeschooled. Others need the socialization and structure of traditional schooling. If you and your child’s other parent are getting divorced and intend to continue or begin homeschooling, you should familiarize yourself with both the risks and the benefits. You also need to examine not only your own ability to teach your child at home, but the other parent’s ability to commit to your child’s education and other factors that may influence whether homeschooling after divorce is right for you when you are creating a child custody plan. A knowledgeable Miami, FL divorce and child custody attorney can help you and your spouse decide whether the benefits of homeschooling outweigh the risks in your particular case. 

The Risks of Homeschooling for Divorced Parents 

A few of the potential pitfalls of homeschooling your child after getting divorced include: 

• Lack of consistency - Unless you are using a pre-designed curriculum or a virtual school for your child, it can be difficult for divorced parents to provide a consistent education. This is especially true if one of you has primary custody and the other would be effectively acting as a “substitute teacher” periodically. 

• Difficulty detecting abuse - Teachers and other staff members who have contact with children in traditional schools are trained to detect children who are being abused very quickly. If there is any risk that your child’s other parent or someone in the same household, such as a new dating partner or a suspicious family member, might pose a threat to your child, it may be safer to send your child to school. 

• Reasons to argue - Parents who homeschool may have disagreements about how to educate their child. One may believe that field trips to parks and museums are an important part of learning, while the other might prefer a more rigid classroom structure. You may also have disagreements about how to teach controversial topics, such as reproductive health education. 

• Lack of a social outlet - Children whose parents are getting divorced often turn to their close friends and classmates who also have divorced parents to discuss their feelings or for a sense of stability. Children who are homeschooled might feel more isolated or have trouble forming secure social attachments, especially if they are moving back and forth between their parents’ homes frequently. 

Ultimately, it is a decision you and the other parent will need to make together. 

Contact a Miami-Dade County, FL Divorce and Child Custody Lawyer 

Miami Family Law Group, PLLC is focused on helping families solve problems and protect their children during the divorce process. Our dedicated Miami, FL family law attorneys can help connect you to other resources you may need. Contact us at 305-520-7874 for a complimentary consultation.