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?

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

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

"Only" children lack even the fellowship of siblings; therefore, especially if they have a very social personality, friendships must be found outside the home. For better or worse, traditional school is where many children make their friends, an option obviously closed to homeschoolers.

Marcy shares her life with her son Ben, an adopted only child, who she is homeschooling.

Jenni Ryan shares resources and life experiences about raising a single child and homeschooling.

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.

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

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

We all know that homeschooling has its advantages. But is homeschooling an only detrimental to your child’s development? I shared many challenges of homeschooling an only child as well as socialization ideas for homeschooling onlies. However, the advantages of homeschooling just one far outweigh the obstacles you have to overcome.

Homeschooling is challenging for multiple reasons. But overall, an only child family is the perfect scenario for homeschooling. If you look back in history, one-on-one tutoring was the preferred method of education. so while there are minor disadvantages, the advantages far outweigh them.

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.

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.

The Parents Review was a magazine that was sent to parents and teachers of Charlotte Mason's schools and correspondence-type homeschools between about 1890 and 1920. This article, by Clement Parsons, was written in 1901. It does contain some interesting ideas about raising an only child, although many concepts will be dismissed as out-of-touch with contemporary thought on the issue. Thus, it should be read in the context of its time.

This article is meant to encourage those who are homeschooling an only child as they go forward in their homeschool journey.

When you’re homeschooling only one child, the house can be a little confining some days. The secret of home education, though, is that it can happen anywhere! So where are you going to take your homeschool today? Mike Smith offers a few suggestions in this podcast.