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One of the advantages of homeschooling children is that they can learn in a variety of ways. They can learn by watching videos, reading books, going on field trips, and by interacting in everyday family life. Does that last one sound a little odd? It’s true, though. Homeschooled children learn by witnessing the regular household decisions that are made by their parents.
Take, for example, the experience of buying a new car. There are many things to take into consideration, and the experience can be very valuable for students. However, most students don’t even think about buying a car until they are out of school. If the family was planning to buy a new car, the homeschooled child watches the process and learns from it. Most adults don’t just stop at the first car dealership they see and buy the first car that the salesperson recommends. They spend time researching costs, advantages, disadvantages, and other specifics. They read reviews and check out the manufacturer. They investigate to find out how much repairs on specific car models are likely to cost, and they find out what kinds of issues that specific car model might have. Then, when they think they have a car that they would like to buy, they check out car insurance prices for the make and model that they have chosen.
Homeschooled children can see this whole process in action, ask their parents questions and they will learn more than someone who has never thought or watched the car buying process in action. The parents could even make a project out of it and create a scenario or game where the child has to put together a report, present it to the family, and discuss why they made certain choices. Doing these things allow children to develop computer skills, analytic skills, writing skills, and decision making skills.