Homeschooling

Hi, pehpot ~ What a coincidence! We also have two children, ages 3 and 5, that we are homeschooling as well. One resource that my wife finds invaluable is "The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home" by Susan Wise Bauer and Jessie Wise. We run into some of the same arguments, but they are groundless. What is "less real" about the world of homeschooling than the world of public schooling? With social development, there are good social skills that a traditional schooling offers, but I would dare to say that there are some bad social skills that can be picked up in that setting as well. Is it possible to jeopardize your children's learning abilities? It is possible. It is equally possible to jeopardize their learning abilities by sending them to a school. My five year old reads at the level of a third grader. What would that do to his "learning abilities" to put him in a classroom of children who are still trying to learn their alphabet... when he could read (very well) the content of this entire post? And what would it do to his learning abilities to stick him in a third grade classroom - where he is completely developmentally out of line with the rest of the children? And none of this even mentions - regarding his learning abilities - the one-on-one attention that we are able to give our children, where the traditional classroom teacher's attenion is divided at a 1:20 and sometimes 1:30 ratio. If you are able to homeschool your children, enjoy the opportunity. Find the available resources, so that you can teach your children well and equip them for the years ahead with the best tools that you can give them. Best wishes!

I am not home schooled by my parents but I experience being over protected. Iam not allowed to play with our neighbors. I'm just ordered to stay home watch tv and read comic books. That's why I can say that I haven't enjoyed my childhood days because of that. now I am very dependent and very inferior. I am afraid to face the world by my own. I am in fear of living alone. I can even cross the road by myself (I am 22 now). Do you want your children to be like me? Or do you want them not to enjoy their childhood days? They may look like enjoying but imagine when their friends are sharing stories of passed days. Do you think their friends will be interested hearing stories that they are just at home all their lives? Please take into consideration on what would they feel tomorrow. I'm speakin by heart and by experience.

Why are you homeschooling? Do you homeschool just to keep your children isolated? Most parents don't, most parents involve their children in their normal daily lives. This involves things that range from paying bills, going to the store, going to the library, doctor's offices, nature walks, tons of field trips and other activities. Unless you are putting your children in a plastic bubble when you leave the house they are socializing with others. Children in school are the only group who are confined to only interacting with others their exact same age. If you go to the grocery store are you only permitted to talk to others your age? As adults we interact with people from a huge array of backgrounds, ages, genders, religions and ethnic backgrounds. This is what socialization is all about, interacting successfully with everyone. My children are 4 and 5 and they go everywhere with me. I am homeschooling them as well and while my youngest is a bit shy at times, my oldest is one of the most outgoing children you would ever meet in your life. Ignore those that say you are overprotecting your child. Successfully homeschooled children do wonderfully in the real world and are much better able to actually interact with people than their peers who are confined to a classroom for 7 hours a day.

I am a teacher and didn't use to agree with homeschooling, but having worked in schools for a number of years I have changed my mind. I think that as long as your children are happy and they are learning then there is no problem. If I had children I would seriously consider homeschooling them. They are your children and you know what is best for them, not these other people who say you are jeopardizing their learning and social development. You are doing the right thing for your children and I think that is great.

I have been told that I am over protective and that my kids belong in school. Many great people have been homeschooled. I think you will do just fine. Good luck.

Hi: I just started on MyLot today and had started a discussion on home schooling. I just want to tell you that you are doing a wonderful thing for your children. I am a grandmother who just started in January homeschooling my 13 yr. old grandson and my 4 yr. old granddaughter. My daughter was a stay at home mom and she had home schooled my grandson for 3 years and made that choice because of the very poor schools that he had been in. The violence while he was in 4th grade finally helped her make up her mind to go ahead and do it. I am doing it now because she has gone back to work full time. Your two boys have each other to interact with and when they get a little older you can get them into something where there are with other children that they can play and communicate with. More and more families are home schooling and you may be able to find some parents who you can get support from. One thing you could do is check the internet for all the support links because there are many and you will feel better about what you are doing. Good luck!

there is no wrong in home schooling, as soon as u give your kids quality education

Well it is you choice that matters not other people's. You know what is best for your children more than any one do. If the kids are enjoying the homeschooling then I find nothing wrong. Once they reach the age that they desire socializing then you can always transfer them. For the meantime that they seem to be enjoying I think there is nothing wrong at all. So just go on with your decision. You have all the right.

Of course not! You just have to use the right tools and knowledge, always use dictionary with them will be a great help!

You know what? You only get one chance with each child. If your kids are passing the yearly tests and up to speed, who cares? The only time they really need to go to public school is in high school. Highschool offers a wealth of educational certification and college credit you DO NOT want them to do without. The people in highschool are much more accepting and mature than middle schoolers and elementary students, also. If they meet your kid they will probably say "Oh you were homeschooled? Kewl I wish I was!" and thats that. Just keep the kids on a schedule so they arent totally shell shocked when the time comes that they must go to highschool.

Good for you, I wish I could find something like that where I live, the state education system here really sucks, I send our nearly seven year to a private school and the level is a little better. Your children are still very young, and as they get older, you may find that you have a small problem, and I'm sure you have already taken this in to account, the problem being able to play, and interact, not only with other children, but society as a whole. I think the best advice that should be taken on board, is maybe run the two theories of education along side each other, because as I'm sure you already know, being socially expectable is more important then any thing else, what good is a degree, if you cant mix with any one...