Your family is simple – mom, dad, child. Homeschooling an only child has to be simple, right? You can get through all of the daily assignments without having to worry about teaching the other siblings, or bouncing a baby in your lap. This isn’t quite the case. Instead, homeschoolers of an only child face their own unique challenges.

Homeschoolers report that it is sometimes more difficult to homeschool one child versus two or more children. Many parents report that it is easy to place too much pressure on a single child, as the child is the sole focus of the parent’s day. Clashes may also arise between a parent and a single homeschooler as they are together for a large part of the day. Both parents and single homeschooled children report that they sometimes feel smothered by each other. Some children also feel lonely.

This group is for parents who are currently (or are considering) homeschooling their only child.

A homeschool mom and her only son share their homeschooling adventure.

This homeschooling journey is shared by a mom who is homeschooling her only child.

Large families make up one of homeschooling’s stereotypes–a line of eight or more children, all following obediently behind Mom and Dad. Those of us who have been homeschooling long know both the truths and the realities of this picture. The truth is that plenty of families, large or small, find a way to make homeschooling work beautifully for them. But what about families who only have one child? Is homeschooling really an option for these parents and children? To find out, let’s take a brief look at the advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling an only child.

Homeschooling offers special challenges (as well as blessings) to those who have only one student. Find help and camaraderie in "HOOville." HOO = Homeschooling Only One.

Are you homeschooling an only child? Or perhaps your other children are grown (or infants) and there's just one whom you homeschool? Or are your other children in public or private school and there's just one at home during the day? Is there such a large age gap between your children that each child feels like an only? Then this group is for you. All homeschoolers are welcome: new, old, school-at-homers, and unschoolers.

This is a secular group for parents homeschooling only children or homeschooling only one of their children. This is a safe space to share the joys and wonders and trials and tribulations of homeschooling only one child. This group welcomes all homeschoolers of single children regardless of method of schooling used, race, religion or lifestyle.

Families with only one child have almost the exact same concerns regarding their child’s “only child status”: Are they getting enough time with other children their own age? Are we doing enough to prepare this child to interact with their peers? Are we “spoiling” this child? Will this child be prepared for life on their own or will they expect everything to go their own way?

This is a safe place for Christian families to share their hopes, joys, concerns and prayer requests as they homeschool an only child

This lovely blog chronicles the journey of a grandmother homeschooling a single granddaughter.

What’s the minimum number of children required to homeschool successfully? If you’ve ever wondered whether you can homeschool an only child, this podcast is for you! HSLDA President Mike Smith discusses socialization for the only child and how you can home educate well.

When most people think of homeschooling, they automatically think of a large family. A family with at least five or six kids and a mom in a denim jumpsuit that has everything organized like a well oiled machine. While that stereotype still exists in some families, homeschoolers come in all shapes and sizes including a large number of families who now homeschool an only child.

This blog chronicles the joys of raising and homeschooling an only son.

Diane Knect is homeschooling an only child. Share her experiences with raising her daughter Grace in a homeschooling small family.

There’s nothing to lift the spirits like having someone come alongside to say, “Keep it up! You can do this!” If homeschooling seems a little daunting today, listen in as Mary Healy and Shannon Healy, a mother and daughter that have completed the home education journey, join host Mike Smith, on Home School Heartbeat.

When you embark on a new adventure, it’s important to know what’s ahead. If you’re thinking about homeschooling an only child, listen to this podcast. In it, a mother and daughter join host Mike Smith to share their experience with home education for one.