homeschooling?

Question

does anyone homeschool? my daughter is 3 1/2 and i don't know if i want her in the school system yet. i am thinking about starting her off slowly in a preschool program from home, and maybe even continuing homeschooling her beyond that. we are in georgia, and the school system here is not very good. what's your experience? i'm interested in scheduling, working around your other children, discipline, etc. thanks!

Answer 1

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Answer 2

I'm torn about the same decision and I'm enjoying reading the responses and getting other people's feedback. I definitely don't want my daughter in the public school system, but I'm not sure I want to homeschool either. Around here there are a lot of homeschool programs where all the homeschool children get together for "field days" at libraries, roller rinks, parks, ect. But when I stop and think about that, it worries me that I'll always be my daughter's "shadow". I'll always "be there", especially in her younger years. And I feel like I'd be manipulating who she meets and who she can become friends with. Whereas in school, she'll be able to meet different people all the time.

Another problem I have with homeschooling is something that was said to me by my daughter's physical therapist (my daughter has Cerebral Palsy). She brought up a good point when saying, "I'm a Mother, a nurse and a therapist to my son (her son has special needs too), so the last thing I want to be is his teacher too!" And I must say, she has a point. She thinks children need to learn from other people besides their parents, and I'm leaning towards agreeing with her.

I know this might sound selfish, but I don't think I'm ready to 'give up my life' for the next 18 years or so either. I planned on returning to the work force once my child (or children if I have another) entered school. I can't really see myself being home for that long without ever having a career, or a break.

Of course, I see many, many good points on homeschooling too. I truly believe that kids get more hands-on experience when learning through homeschooling. I think they are more free to explore in an independent, naturally curious way. I believe we as humans were meant to learn this way. That's why I've been checking into Montessori schooling. I love the approach they take, much like homeschooling, where they allow a child to learn based on natural curiosity and desire. Public and even other private schools don't allow for that. In those settings, kids are just "numbers" that need to meet the same goals, at the same time, the same way, at the same pace. We aren't robots!

Well, those are my thoughts. I can't wait to hear more replies as I'm still on the fence about homeschooling.

Answer 3

Before considering home school please actually go into the schools and see what is going on or consider private school. Sure you can teach them to read and write at home but you can not properly socialize them at home. They need to be with their peers and going through all the normal kid stuff right along with their peers. There comes a point when as parents we need to relinquish some control of their lives and let them enter the world. She is only 3 so when she is 4 put her in a preschool program a few days a week at a chursh or something and let her start breaking away a little ..... it will be good for her and believe it or not you too. Have you ever wondered what happens when kids who have been home schooled their whole lives suddenly turn 18 and enter the work force or college. How do they adjust then? It is way easier at 5 than at 20 to learn to get along with and be social with peers.

Answer 4

Yes, I would follow your interests and go for homeschooling! There are lots of resources on the internet and once you find some people (perhaps in local churches, etc) that are also homeschooling you can have classes together when they get older and you can't quite teach some of the subjects (quanto physics, calculus or french 3, to name a few??). Maybe you could even get more resources by checking with MOPS (Mothers Of PreSchoolers) in your area. At MOPS, they always talk about different kinds of schooling and homeschooling is one of them!

Good luck and I wish you well.... the first time you hear your child read, because you taught them will be a fantastic moment in you life....

Answer 5

I think that public schools are great. They allow the kids to learn in a fun atmosphere with other kids their age by trained teachers. I would never homeschool because I dont have the discipline and know how. Especially with you having other children, it seems like it would be really hard to manage. We dont have the best school system where I live either but I feel that they can do a better job of it than I can. I like my time during the day when shes in school also. Youve got to cut the apron strings sometime. She will be fine in school.

Answer 6

Relaxed homeschooler here for 11 years. It works very well for our family. The kids are learning at their pace and we can concentrate on a subject they are interested in rather than get a couple paragraphs from a textbook then move on. (How many 10 year olds would spend 3 weeks learning about the Great Depression ..... books, research on the computer, a short skit about jumping the trains, videos about that era).

At 3.5 you don't need a "program". Read, read, read ..... your local library should be your best friend. Playing and helping around the house is plenty of "schooling" for a little one. Play with blocks, color, play house, let her help you cook (my kids learned to count to twenty by stirring Kool-aid -- each kid got 20 stirs then it was the other's turn!! -- counting, sharing). Point out letters, numbers, sing silly songs ......

Homeschooling at that age is more of a lifestyle than bookwork.

And don't let the "socialization" remarks deter you. My kids will play with a 2 year old at the park, hang with their friends, sit on the porch of an elderly neighbor and chat .... they get real world personal involvement.

It can be done. If you want to continue into her elementary age school years, check out your local law.

Answer 7

I didn't bother to read your responses, because all I ever read are the uneducated responses from people who bring up the #1 myth about homeschooling, and that's the lack of socialization. So, contact me. My son is four and we just started pre-school at home two days ago, and I'm including my 1 1/2 yr old and a 2 yr old boy I babysit, and my 4 yr old and the 2 yr old have special needs. So, I can give you some advice, I would love to! I love to see parents who are truly interesting in parenting themselves, instead of turning them over to someone else to do it. I will be homeschooling my kids until graduation, and have some experience already. Catch you later!

Answer 8

Please don't listen to others about all the negative advice on Homeschooling. I think it's wonderful for the child. She can interact with you all day long, and doesn't have to be under the influence of the world, and pick up the bad habits of what you have taught her not to do, or to do. If your worried about socializing, join a play group, or make play dates with kids her own age, or get involved in your local church. The only socializing she needs is with you anyway. I encourage you to homeschool- though my children go to a Christian School- under the beliefs of what we believe, but that can get expensive. Look into ABEKA BOOK curriculum for homeschooling. They encourage it, and it's top class curiculum. THey have all the teacher's guide's necessary to do it. They start with 2 year old material, and also have the k-3, and k-4. Good luck!!!

Answer 9

I was homeschooled for high school and I LOVED it. I want to homeschool my little girl. I only did it three years and was able to graduate a year early. I just wasn't learning enough from public school. I was bored out of my mind. Here's the program we used, I plan on using it with my daughter too. It's one of the few out there that isn't based on religion. http//:www.clonlara.org It's a real school so you don't have as many legal worries. Your child will actually be enrolled in a real school with a real campus and a real teacher. You just don't have to GO to the school ;)

Answer 10

Thank you for stepping out of the government ruined school system. You must be a remarkable woman & a mother.

My husband and I are going to be home schooling our daughter as well.

Just to point out a coupple of FACTERS;

First, the school system at any given time can & will teach your child about Sex education, without perental permition!
Secound - what about all the drugs, moulestation, verbel and mentel abuse.

You as I and many many others are wonderful mom's.( We have to) protect our children, and give them the chance to stay inocent for as long as we can!

Also, I wanted to add.. Homeschooling is huge & a true commitment, but there are mentors out there.. Even in your area, my advice is to plug away at your serch engine typing in, homeschooling + your state.

Through all of this hard work, just remember, you' are giving your child a true futer. - 's The drugs, alcohole ect etc..

God Bless & Good Luck

Answer 11

we've been unschooling for 13.5 years. just read to your daughter, point out letter shapes and sounds, tack up words labelling everything in your house, take her to the zoo, museums, concerts, plays, playgrounds. you don't need a preschool 'program.' really, that's kinda silly. kids drink in everything around them. give her an enriched life, and she'll learn mor ethan you can imagine.

discipline? how to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk - a great book. show respect, never hit, try not to yell, be clear on your expectations, have logical consuquences. require chores.

unschooling there is no curriculm and no schedule. it's really the way to go for the whole homeschooling experience, but especially with a young one you can see that it really works, without 'risking' her being behind.