I am thinking of homeschooling my daughters in Iowa. Where do I start looking for info?

Question

I am concerned about the social aspect of homeschooling. I want to make sure they still have little friends. I don't know how to connect with other homeschoolers, either.

I wouldn't be asking the question if I had just scraped through high school.

Answer 1

If you want to connect with other home school families I have found the library is a great place to start. Talk to the librarians. Most of the time they will know of the home school families. They may have a contact name and/or number. If you are concerned about social skills get them involved in activities and church.
If you are looking for curriculum do a search and start researching what would be best for you children. Also try EBay to help with the budget.

Answer 2

I'm a gradute of 10+ years of homeschooling, and my family was always involved in homeschool support groups as a way of meeting up with other homeschoolers. It provided both friends for my brother and I and support for my parents, who've been on the board of a support group for many years now helping others. You should be able to find support groups in your area by simply looking up the county you live in and something like "homeschool groups" in Google. The people in a support group will be able to share their first-hand, personal experiences and help you get started homeschooling.

On a side note, all the homeschoolers I know have excellent social skills, because they're exposed to people of all ages from many different backgrounds as opposed to spending all their time with people their age. Homeschooling really is a great experience all around. Good luck! :)

Answer 3

Homeschooling can be quite rewarding. Being there for your children's first time reading, first aha moment, great discoveries. Find your state or local homeschoolers association (search the web). Go to a home school convention-great contacts, lots of curriculum venders. I do not know if IOWA has this but virtual academy has great curriculum and mentor teachers to help you and your child. Join other homeschoolers via a web based email list. Have several out of the house activities: Ballet, art class at a museum, etc... that helps build relationships outside of the family. happy learning!

Answer 4

My mother home schooled all six of her children at one time (including me). she had a bachelor degree in phys. ed, but she was able to do some research. If you're worried about your daughters social lives, just make sure that they are participating in sports and Church activities and try to find other homeschoolers in the area. Friends will come. When you do find other homeschoolers in the area you can ask them what they do. Just start with your daughter's interests, the things they are good at. And then take a look at the things they are not so good at. Internet is a wonderful thing. Just run some searches and you're bound to find something! Good luck with your daughters!

Answer 5

For any Legal issues, go to Home School Legal Defense Assoc. At their website (below) you can find out what is required in your state to teach your child at home. You may be able to find a link there to a home school association in your area. The associations vary greatly, some being no more than a playgroup of other homeschooled kids, others offering co-op classes taught by some of the members and sports teams. If you become a member of one of the larger associations, there will be lots of opportunities for socializing. So do a search online for "home school" "your city" and "your state" if you don't find a link to an association by exploring the webite for HSLDA.

Personally, I wouldn't worry too much about socializing. I live in a very small town with only 1 other family homeschooling, so there is no association group here. But I feel my kids get lots of social activities by participating in church activities with other kids in town, taking martial arts lessons, and taking swimming lessons in the summer. They frequently have friends over to play with the kids' pets, in our tree house, and on our tire swing. If you just make a small effort to find some after-school activities to include your child in, the rest will take care of itself. I have found that home schooled children are better able to relate to a larger age range of people than public school taught children, meaning that their social "peers" are not only other children their same age. So if your child is 8 yrs old, don't just limit her to other 8 year old kids. Have her read to pre-schoolers at the library, and play with 10-12 year olds if you can. Good Luck!

Answer 6

I just graduated actually from homeschooling, and I have a great social life I have a job, and lots of friends. Your child can still participate in the zoned school activities like cheerleading , art club, year book staff. It was a great experince, I learned more being at home than I ever did in school.I also took the oppertunity to skip a grade.

Answer 7

I really don't reccomend homeschooling unless you've had the proper education. I know it sounds like an easy job, but it isn't. My sister homeschooled four of her kids, but she barely graduated high school and now two of the four have decided to get their GED's. The youngest didn't learn to read until she was eight. It's just a mess. I know public schools can be a pain and it seems like the teachers aren't doing anything, but they're doing more than you think.

Answer 8

You've already received some great answers (and some not so great ones). The important thing is to get them involved in things OUTSIDE of schooling. This can take MANY forms, from gymnastics and dance classes to chess club, from art classes to church groups, from swimming lessons in the summer to play groups in a homeschool co-op, from the YMCA to music lessons.

If there is a homeschool group in your area, join up and get involved. Making friends will take care of itself as your kids spend time with other kids, both homeschooled and otherwise.

Answer 9

I would begin by contacting your state's Department of Education. Homeschooling must meet state curriculum guidelines and the Dept of Ed would be able to tell you for what curriculum standards to begin searching for resources.

As for the social aspect, find a social organizaton in which they have an interest (Campfire Boys and Girls, Boy Scouts, gymnastics, etc.) or contact your local Boys and Girls Club.

Answer 10

I do think home schoolers do get some social contact but it doesn't equate to that of children who go to a public school and must learn to tolerate all kinds of people from all kinds of backgrounds. That experience is invaluable. If your children don't have any specific special learning needs then I don't at all recommend home schooling.