There are countless reasons why parents turn to homeschooling to educate their children. Some families live in rural areas where the commute to school is simply too far, while other opt out of public education because of religious beliefs. Still more parents simply want to allow their child extra attention in the hopes that it will make them a more well rounded individual later in life. Whatever your reasons for considering a home-schooled education for your child, read through these pros and cons before making your final decision.The Pros of Homeschooling Your Child: The obvious advantage is that you can promote your beliefs on religion and education at home. If these are areas that are very important to you, homeschooling with be a logical choice. The other big advantage to homeschooling a child is the personalized attention that he or she will receive. In a large classroom many students can get lost in the mix. Although teachers work hard to focus on each child, with a classroom of 30 or more students it is often impossible to do. Another advantage is that gifted or challenged children will be able to progress at a pace that is most appropriate for them and their learning abilities.The Cons of Homeschooling Your Child: The biggest disadvantage when it comes to homeschooling your child is the time and commitment it takes. One parent needs to devote hours each day to creating curriculum and helping the student with his or her work. In addition, children who attend school at home miss out on a vital element of social education. To counteract that, children should be sure to attend after school activities for religious, sporting or musical events that encourage interaction with new children of all social classes and races.The Final Verdict: While homeschooling is a great way to focus specialized attention on your child, special care should be taken to include plenty of diverse curriculum, subject matter and after school activities to ensure that they grow up to be well rounded and social creatures capable to making friendships outside of the home.