Should I homeschool and when?

Question

I am very interested in home schooling my daughter who is three. I dont really care for public school where I live. Any moms or dads who do homeschool please give me some feed back. Also i was thinking about letting her attend public just for the frst few years and then pulling her out. Is that a bad Idea or is it ok? Thanks for the help!!

Answer 1

No one can tell you if you should homeschool. I personally think that any parent can homeschool, if they are willing to.

We did public school for five years (my oldest two for five years, #3 for two, #4 for one, although the little ones practically grew up in the schools because of their age and my involvement in the day-to-day part of the school). It has greatly affected my children, as in diminished their ability to think outside the box. I see a huge difference between my children who were in public school, and the ones that never went, how their interests are fulfilled, etc.

I think the younger years are the worst for public school. They are only teaching very easily acquired basics, in fact, most of the subjects are intuitively acquired by children by the age of eight. In addition, most of what children learn in the early years is very formative, and it's all about sitting down, shutting up and filling in someone else's blanks. There's a huge push in PS right now about making learning fun, authentic, and intuitive, but you have that ability built in to your homelife.

If anything, I'd keep them home until they've developed the true sense of who they are, a true love of learning and the independence that is inborn of every human, then if you honestly think your child isn't smart enough to learn the higher academics without your help, then send them to high school.

To be honest, our kids have so many friends it's ridiculous, and they've learned true socialization, what works in the real world, not some artificial construct of 30 age peers in the classroom (or 100 in your school, or 1000, whatever) learning socialization from survival of the fittest, most popular, etc. My homeschooling acquaintance has so many homeschooler children in her neighborhood wanting to play all day (because every homeschooler has their own schedule) that she had to put up a stopsign on her door asking people not to knock when they were working. On the opposite side is a green GO sign for when the kids aren't working.

Answer 2

It'd be best for you to find a local homeschooling support group. Our local groups welcome everybody, including those with 3yo's (and younger!) who are just thinking of homeschooling. It gives the interested parents time to ask their questions, learn more about how it works where they live, things like that.

I will say that almost every parent I know who pulled their child out of public school wished they had never put their child in school in the first place. Why? Various reasons: attitudes that are picked up (this includes just wanting what other material things other kids have), lack of a proper educational environment, less bonding with the child, bullying, unfair teachers... Plus, it is harder to start homeschooling after public school than it is to simply keep doing what you're doing at home but upping what you do. By putting the child in school first, you're changing the routine then pulling the child out to create a whole new routine. It can take a full year or two to find a good rhythm or the right style. This is actually true for those who start in K/1 as well, except that the academic load is not as high so there's less negative of an impact.

I homeschool my kids. They've never been to school. It was a smooth transition and has been great. We get out a lot, my kids have friends, they get to work at their own pace, spend more time on things they love, spend more time with me, they have a great relationship, they're not around bullies all the time (although, yes, they do meet some), they spend a ton of time outside instead of just 15-minute breaks... Although I used to teach and didn't think twice about the 15-minute recesses, it now seems so heartless to me. lol. 15 minutes is barely enough time to really do anything.

Answer 3

There should be a homeschoolers association near you, and they would be happy to answer your questions. Our association offers languages and other classes for members (only things the parent can't teach, such as Spanish if they only speak English).

I have 7 children. All of them start out in public school. My 8-yr-olds were pulled out after only a month or so into third grade. Both are thriving, doing well, and progressing very quickly through the material.

My 12-yr-old was pulled out at the end of 6th grade. She was failing school again. When home-taught, she was able to understand everything, and then figure most of her work out on her own. Public school had too many distractions for her.

My 11-yr-old has handicaps I'm not qualified to deal with when teaching her, so she will remain in school.

My 7 yr-old has been begging to be homeschooled, but I don't think she is ready yet. As the youngest girl, she's been babied a lot, and is too immature and defiant to handle the work I require JUST YET. I think by the time she hits 3rd grade, she'll be pulled too.

My 5 yr-old will start Kindergarten this coming school yr. Depending on how he handles that, we will decide whether to homeschool him and at what point.

My littlest one is only going to be 2, but he will be treated the same way.

So here's my advice. It is NOT a bad idea to start your daughter in public school, then homeschool at a later time. It will give her a chance to see what goes on there, compared with what goes on at home. My kids are young, but they are ALL very happy to be out of the public school.

You know your child better than anyone else. Make a decision based on the facts of your own case, and don't let anyone tell you you're wrong. It's your right to homeschool if you want, and you can let her try school out first. No harm there. If she starts coming home hating school, not wanting to go ever, complaining about all kinds of things, it might be time to pull her out. And don't let the school district bully you into anything.

Answer 4

There is a user on here whose ID is bakesomebread. He is homeschooled. I asked him what his opinion of it was and this is what he said:

" Message: you can get a college degree being home schooled, and you can be very social too. infact all the homeschooled kids I know are VERY social. I know of a guy who homeschooled through college, got a degree, and is now working as a teacher at a very good college.

I am in 11th grade an was home schooled all my life. this year i am doing a program at the community college called dual enrolment, I am in college level classes (higher than the AP classes at the highschool), when I got last semester's grade report I was in the top 10% of the school grades. that ment I did better than 90% of the school. homeschooling is the best. you get into college early, you are better prepared for the real world because you are not stuck in a class room, you are out living and learning. homeschooling is not about staying at home, it is about a better, real life education. "

I have never met nor heard of someone who was homeschooled who wasnt intelligent, articulate, and respectful. Schools today are very scary in terms of how they teach, what they teach, and the other children attending.

Bottom line, do your research, talk to parents and children who are in that situation and choose what is right for you and your daughter. I commend you for considering such an undertaking.

Also go to: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=A9FJui7RkNdFflsAvwvsy6IX?qid=20070213204420AA0F4QR&show=7#profile-info-e1b9a9a69f5a36ef1a483810865406b4aa

Answer 5

I am a homeschooling parent. My kids have experienced public school ( for about 5 yrs) and have experienced homeschool. The both prefer homeschooling! Our situation is a bit unique because we have moved a few times and that has changed our opinion of public school vs. homeschool. I began homeschooling my first child in preschool and K, I did not like the public school in our area. Then we moved to a small rural town and I knew many of the teachers and I felt very comfortable with the public school, so my kids went to public school. Then we moved again, my kids tried the public school here for a couple of years and hated it, and I was not at all impressed with it either!! So now we are homeschooling again. My oldest is in 7th grade, the middle one is in 5th grade and my baby is in preschool. For us, it is the best thing we could do for our children. I will not send my baby off to public K. Since I do preschool with him he is actually above where most kindergartener's are at anyway, he knows all his letter sounds and is beginning to read and write.

As for the social aspect of it....this is always the hot topic with homeschooling. Here is our experience: my children have more friends and more opportunities to socialize now that we are homeschooling. Seriously!! My kids get their schoolwork done by 2:00 and they are involved in many activities like football, volleyball, swimming, gymnastics and dance. We have an average of 3 to 4 field trips a month. They have friends that homeschool and friends that do not homeschool. I have been amazed at how my kids have matured socially since I have taken them out of public school. I have some relatives who were skeptics about the whole homeschool thing and now that they have seen the results, they back me 100 %!! Do not let anyone tell you that your children need to go to school to socialize! This is a complete fallacy, research homeschool groups in your area and get involved in one. They are a super support system for you and they will provide more that enough opportunities for socialization with other students.

Good luck with your endeavors! Homeschooling is a challenge, but the rewards are priceless!

Answer 6

First if you are going to homeschool I would suggest starting right away as opposed to pulling her out later. The transition from one to the other may be hard on her. We homeschool our daughter who will be 5 and starting Kindergarten this Fall. We tried the whole preschool thing but were very unsatisfied and we felt as if God was calling us to homeschool (we always seemed to come back to homeschooling). When we pulled her out of preschool at first it was hard on her but she loves being homeschooled and doesn't want to go to public school. Homeschool is not for everyone. It is a lot of work and commitment on your part. Best of luck on your decision.

Answer 7

Pulling the child out is going to be hard once they start. How would you have felt if your parents pulled you away from all your friends? It's just gonna make more problems. You have to commit one way or the other. Plus, why let a teacher teach the easier things? Perhaps you should keep her around the first few years and then once high school and the subjects get harder, let a professional take care of that

Answer 8

I was home schooled and I have to say that I would have preferred to have stayed in school. The education can be just as good but a lot of employers prefer for you to have gone to some type of public school.

Answer 9

Freespeech: that's nonsense. I'm a liberal homeschooler, and I know many others.
why do you jump to unsupported conclusions about the political leanings of those who post here against home school?

Answer 10

Why do liberals hate Home-schooling — is it a threat to unions, social engineers, and the government monopoly on public education ?