It's Back to School for most children in the US. Because everybody is talking about going back to school and all the shopping and preparation that go with it, some homeschool children may say that they want to go to school. My son told me that he's now big enough that I can safely send him to school. (No way dearie, you're NOT going to school).This may be a good time for you (parent and child) to discuss the whole issue of homeschooling again.
Why do our children want to go to school ?
Friends, friends, friends. Yes children love their friends and in school they have LOTS. Do they really ? You can still have lots of friends without going to school.
I love riding in the school bus. Oh yes, that big yellow bus is indeed a big attraction especially for the younger ones. Take a ride in a public bus, preferably a yellow one, and that usually settles the issue.
Why do homeschooling parents want children to go to school ?
It doesn't seem to be working. You've tried it and it seems like your children are not learning anything. Well you can always go back to school and see if kids like it. Homeschooling and school are not the only options. There's tutoring, co-op program, online or distance learning. Find what work best for you.
It seems a lot easier. Homeschooling is hard work. You are responsible for your children education (but aren't all parents ?). Just remind yourself why you want to homeschool in the first place.
Why do you homeschool ?
Every child learns differently, with his/her own style, at his/her own pace.
Just yesterday our support group had a 'class' on robotics. There were only 4 other kids (7 actually, but the other 3 are still very young). It took my son almost 2 hours to get into the whole idea. He loves building things but in a 'class' situation, he tends to watch first and participates only after he feels comfortable (and this take sometimes).
I don't know how it would be like if he were in a school. Would the teacher let him take his 2 hour to 'watch and observe' everyone else before he participates ? Or would they change the subject every 10 minutes so it's not boring for the other kids ? (but then my son won't get the chance of participating).
Negative influence
Last week we were playing in the park. There were a few daycare centers and preschool in the area so the park is always full of children. There was another parent with her child playing with us. The child was 3 years old and the mother was talking about sending him to preschool in fall but wasn't sure if he's ready. She says he is a very shy child and she notices that the boys from school seem to be very aggressive.
I think back to the days when my son went to preschool (although only for 4 months). He did seem very aggressive then. He had to 'defend' himself. Everybody in school thought he was cute (being a new kid and the youngest) so everybody wanted to cuddle him and play with him.
Well I think we were a little lucky that everybody thought he was cute. I cannot imagine what I would do if he had to defend himself because he was being bullied.
This article from the New York Times says up to one quarter of students refuse to go to school at some point. To me that's a lot ! Is it the children's fault if they don't want to go to school ? Or is there something about school ? Bullying is just one problem, the article points out many other problems.
Read my why homeschool page and it may remind you why you want to do this in the first place.
As for me, every single day I'm thankful that I don't really need to send my kids to school yet. And happy to know that there is the alternative to education, Homeschooling. You have full knowledge on what your children are learning, how they're learning it, and you can also change and adjust curriculum and methods to fit your children, instead of the other way around. You have full knowledge on their social life, their friends. This may sound like a very restrictive parent but especially for young children, I truly believe that it is essential. Children really are not ready for the world when they're only 5, or even 10.
And how about socialization. People always make it an issue with homeschool children and socialization. Homeschool children DO socialize. The different is that homeschool children have their own personality to add color to society, while children in school struggle to fit in their little society of school. Read the myth and fact page for more on socialization issue.
