Should I home school and for how long?

Question

Growing up I never liked going to school. I could never make friends, people were into drugs, it was a really bad area. I don't want my children to go through the same thing. I also don't want to risk them getting into drugs or bad things. My daughter is only 8 months old, my son is going to be 3. So, should I home school them and for how long? What if they get older and want to go to public school, then do you let them?

Answer 1

I was homeschooled from kindergarten through high school. I believe it helped shape who I am and offered me opportunities to learn things I never would have learned otherwise. It taught me to be a more creative person and to think for myself. I have a one year old and a three year old and I intend to homeschool both of them when they are old enough. One of the best things about homeschool is that it can be customized to a child's needs. Instead of an education that is geared to "hitting in the middle", homeschool can be tailored to the child's level of ability in each subject. Another benefit to homeschool is that the time spent on school can be used to maximum advantage since so little time is wasted. Instead of thirty children opening their books, some of them deliberately dawdling, you have only one child opening his or her book. Instead of explaining something in such a way that thirty children of various backgrounds can hopefully understand it, you are only explaining to one child---your own. My mom taught me for only thirty minutes a day when I was in kindergarten, gradually increasing to three hours in high school. I had so much time to devote to living in the "real world"---exploring nature, learning life skills, playing the piano at church, writing penpals, volunteering as a counselor at a camp for the disabled, etc. Socialization is not the problem many people make it out to be. Most larger towns have homeschool groups which offer regular activities. Your child can spend plenty of time with other children of the same age, as well as learning to get along well with a variety of people including younger siblings and older people. There are many other times and ways to socialize---at church, having friends over, joining local clubs, writing or emailing people in other states and countries, doing volunteer work, etc---than just at school where the focus should be on getting an education anyway. I would recommend homeschooling through high school but how long you continue should be up to you and your child. Perhaps the best thing would be to get started homschooling when your children are old enough and then go from there. If you do decide homeschool is right for you, I wish you lots of luck and the many simple joys homeschool brings. :)

Answer 2

first, do you know what the schools are like in your area?

here is my 2c worth (I homeschooled my kids :P)

you need to ask yourself several questions.
1) are you prepared to homeschool? it's a huge commitment
2) just because you didn't like school and didn't make friends easily does not mean that your children won't.
3) Try taking them to a playgroup and see how (your son especially) makes out with the other kids.
4) If you are committed to homeschooling, get involved with your local home education group now. They will have ttons of resources and years of experience to draw on.

In my opinion, if anyone is an over protective parent, the choice to homeschool can be a knee jerk reaction to the reasons you are stating. The most sucessful homeschoolers I have known are those who are relaxed with their children in the sense that they are disciplined, and yet NOT always hovering over little Johnny and Jenny helping them along with everything they are doing and correcting them constantly.
They will be involved with several activities as well and will allow their children to make mistakes and not gushing over every little accomplishment. They do not feel the need to explain away their choice to homeschool either.

Check out the schools in your area - if they are sad, and if it's an option, perhaps move to a place where the schools have better reputations.

Now for the second part of your question: again in my opinion, you home school them until either you or them are no longer comfortable with the situation. In our case, I homeschooled until my son was going into grade 4. At that point, I was very busy and no longer comfortable that I was doing a good job with him. My husband and I scouted out a good school and enrolled him there. I continued to homeschool my daughters (grade 2 and SK) at home for a year, but the next year we decided to put them all in school. They stayed in an independent Christian school until grade 9, at which time they switched to public highschool.
My kids are now aged 18, 15 and 13. All are well adjusted, fairly calm, smart, bright and energetic young people. We have always been disciplined with them and they know their boundries. They are respected and respectful to others - for this we are extremely proud of them.
Everyone's home schooling experience is different. Some good, some bad. I think that you need to explore your reasons for wanting to home school. If you decide that's the route to go, start your research now.
God bless!

Answer 3

If you have the desire and the willingness to homeschool them, I say do it. It's not too early now to start reading about homeschooling, getting to know people in your local homeschooling support group, looking at resources, that kind of thing.

How long you homeschool depends on you. Some kids homeschool all school years at home. Other parents send their kids to high school because they don't feel they can handle high school curriculum. Others have other situations.

A word of caution: if you think they might go to public school at some point, make sure your kids are studying at least at the same level as the public school kids--language arts and math mainly. It would not be fun for them to go to school and be behind.

I know if my kids asked to go to school for high school, I'd say yes. Earlier than that, I'm not sure. Junior highs around here leave a lot to be desired. And I definitely want my kids home for elementary.

I also don't think you have to look at education as "public school is the first option, other things come after." I think homeschooling is very valid as a first consideration for your child's education. So it doesn't matter what the schools are like where you are or whether they would be a good fit for your kids or not; you can look at homeschooling first and see if it'd be a good fit for your family.

Don't listen to those who say your kids won't make any friends, won't go to birthday parties, and all that. It's utter nonsense. My 9yo daughter has been going to birthday parties for years and has a few close friends she sees regularly, plus casual friends she sees fairly often. We are out with other families at least once a week, plus there are her extracurricular activities. My son is a shyer kid (he's 6) but he still ends up making friends at various homeschooling activities and has a couple of friends who he considers 'best friends'.

Answer 4

In my oppinion, you should ignore the jerks who think your children will be social misfits if they don't go to school. I think homeschooling is a great option.

That said, to make sure your children do not become social misfits - I think the idea of going to pre-k and kindergarten is a good one. You may find that you like the school so much you want to keep the kids in it.

If you decide that they are better off being homeschooled, just make sure to join the local homeschool groups. Make sure your kids are interacting with other kids most days of the week (everyday if possible). That goes for you too. Make sure you are socializing with our peers most days of the week to set a good example for your children.

And most important, don't let your childhood issues make the decision for your children. Make this decision based on the school district you live in and the homeschool support in your area.

Answer 5

I was home-schooled until I was in the 8th grade. I wished that i had benn abe to go sooner, but that was mostly because my mom never really taught us anything past 5th grade level. Then, when I was in school, I had to do a lot of catch-up work. I think as long as you are keeping up with the learning, I think it is fine to continue. My personal opinion is that you should let them go to high schoolif they want to. Several of my friends and cousins were homeschooled through thier Sr. year, and they are smart, but not very sociable or outgoing. But that is up to you, and it's also a long way off. By all means, if you have the freedom and flexibility it takes, go for homeschooling. I do encourage socializig with other ppl, but don't listen to the fuzz about social rejection. They will be fine!

Answer 6

I would suggest finding a nice private school in your area if you can afford it. If you do decide to home school make sure your kids interact a lot with other kids their age so they learn social skills. I understand your fears but when it gets closer to school time for your kids go visit the schools in your district to get a feel for them.

Answer 7

Okay...listen. Let your kids go to school for pre-K and kindergarten. It's a good experience and they'll love it. Begin homeschooling in 1st grade and keep going until they graduate. They won't be deprived of friends or sports or social life, in fact, they'll be better. Homeschooling was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Answer 8

DO NOT HOME SCHOOL THEM! if you love your children let them go to the public schools it teachs them more than education, reponsibility and what kind of choices and if you raise them right they wont do drug or what ever... the children will never know what being a kid is all about dont worry about friends everyone makes friends i bet you did too. Home schooling is more like prison.

Answer 9

yeah but keeping your children out of the public would only be a little abnormal for them. They won't have any friends. They won't get invited to any birthday parties etc.

Drugs and things are pretty bad these days but if the kids are rased with good manors and know and are informed about such drugs and smoking. They should be wise enough to say no.

Answer 10

home school them for a while, at least until they r in second or third grade and then send them to public school and let them decided which one they want to attend.