Opportunities for Elders to Help With Homeschooling

With over 3.72 million students in the US engaging in homeschooling during 2020-2021, this can seem like a preferable situation for many parents. Their children get a quality education and explore topics that interest them the most. However, when both parents work full-time jobs, this can be a difficult situation to manage. The simple answer is to see if grandparents would be interested in taking on the homeschooling themselves. If they are unavailable or live far away, there are mentoring and tutoring programs that pair seniors with children.

Why Grandparents Make Excellent Teachers

Many older people are looking for ways to live full lives in retirement. So the opportunity to share their life experiences, knowledge, and skills with a young person can give them a sense of purpose. Previous work experiences, such as in medical fields, business, or technology, to name a few, allow them to give greater insight into the subject matter that the student is working on.

Distance is No Obstacle

With many people living far from other family members, it may seem difficult to have a young person team with a grandparent for homeschooling. Technology today allows for video conferencing, such as Zoom, and document sharing to make it easier to connect on a daily basis.

While the interaction is beneficial for seniors, students also reap the rewards of a closer relationship with a grandparent or older mentor. It helps students develop a more empathic viewpoint of life and their community. It can also reduce any negative perspectives on aging and the ability of seniors to continue to contribute.

The biggest benefit is that it closes the generational gap by broadening each person’s understanding and perspective of the world. Seniors can share real life experiences when teaching difficult concepts that help students better understand the material. It also deepens family ties and strengthens relationships.

Mentoring Programs

Many community nonprofits have organized tutoring and mentoring programs that pair students with a senior. This can be for homeschooling or other educational purposes such as outings to a zoo or local museum. This allows students to experience real-world examples of the things that they have been studying.

Socialization

Socialization with other people is an important part of a young person’s development, and homeschooling parents are alert to opportunities to offer sufficient social time. Many homeschool associations have started forming excursions that allow children to develop friendships with their peers and their grandparents. These may include getting involved in sports, taking painting or music classes, or a variety of other entertaining and educational opportunities.

Learning from Seniors

Seniors involved in homeschooling offer a unique opportunity. They tend to be patient and take the time needed to help students work through complex problems. It becomes a win-win situation for everyone.

STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) disciplines are a matter of urgent concern in America today, particularly for girls who have been underrepresented in these fields. A grandparent who has worked in these fields can impart a significant understanding that goes far beyond the lesson in a book. While advancements in these areas continue to grow, having insight from a retired professional is invaluable to a student’s development.

Whether through assistance from grandparents or mentors, homeschooling can provide students with a broad and solid education. Developing deeper bonds with the seniors in their lives also gives them a more balanced view of the world around them.