At what age do children HAVE to be registered for school?

Question

I am planning on homeschooling our daughter, and while this is years away I find myself the brunt of a bunch of people saying that I should have her in daycare and planning on a preschool in only a matter of a year or so. When I tell them no, they seem to act like I'm breaking some law by not putting her in them. As far as I know, there is no mandatory preschool, right?

Answer 1

Preschool is entirely optional, and really there are lots of parents now who will just do preschool at home, even if they aren't planning on homeschooling through kindergarten as well. However there are still some parents who are convinced that if your child doesn't go to preschool there's NO WAY they'll be ready for kindergarten. This of course is ridiculous. I remember for me preschool was playtime, not learn time. My parents were the ones teaching me to read, write my name, write the alphabet, count, do simple addition, etc. They tried to teach this stuff in preschool, but as I was already getting it at home all I really did was play there. So it's entirely up to you. Most states don't require you to send your child to school or homeschool until kindergarten or even first grade.  

Answer 2

Hi,

No, preschool is not mandatory~YET! Some states have thought about it, and if parents are not careful that is where we are headed.

Children should not be institutionalized at such an early age. Most children do much better at home where they belong. Our children are not animals to be boarded out.

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Children are a gift from God, not a curse, and he made you and your husband very capable of making the right choices for your child(ren).

You also do not need a curriculum for preschool or kindergarten (or even the higher grades!). Allow your kids to continue to play, use their imaginations, go on walks and to the park with you, and to ask questions. Children are like sponges who soak up information and learn all the time. They can't help it. It is innate in their makeup. Just try to stop a child from learning! It is impossible unless they are severely neglected, which is very rare.

Why "should" you have your child in daycare? The next time some busy body tells you this ask them bluntly why. When they stammer and begin to tell you how they will be "socialized", let them know that your children are better served at home with you, in a loving and warm atmosphere, and that you do not want them "socialized" by picking up other kids' bad habits! What really throws people off is to tell them you are not raising socialists! If they continue, tell  them it is none of their concern and that you will not discuss this issue with them as it is none of their business what choices you make for your family.

What makes these people think that a stranger making $8.00 an hour  is a better parent for your children? Why in the world would you have children just to board them out all day to someone else who cannot love them as well as you do? It is crazy. Our country (USA) so devalues its children!

Since you are planning on home schooling, have you researched the options and decided on how you wish to homeschool? Now would be the time to get some ideas, talk to other parents, find a local home school group, familiarize yourself with your state law, and educate yourself as well as you can on this subject so that when you do begin to home educate you will be ready. You do not have to join a home school group, but it is nice to have veteran moms who can help you navigate through the requirements needed for your state, and to answer any questions you may have. Attending a "Getting Started" home school seminar can help you connect with others, too.

Your local library is a great place to try to find a local home school group. Check out your state home school group. There should be one easily found on the internet.

Remember, there are many ways to home educate and you do not have to follow the public school system or someone else's idea of what constitutes "education". Delve into this topic now so you wil be ready for the onslaught of concern and well meaning busy bodies who will inundate you about your schooling (or lack of!) choices next! It will happen when you least expect it. I have learned to not argue with anyone, to stay firm in my decisions, and to not allow others to bully or intimidate me. I am not rude unless others are rude, and then I try to keep myself in check so that I am not drawn down to their level.

I have added two small film clips from youtube that may interest you to watch. Neither are very long, but they are powerful in their message. I have also included a website for Home Education Magazine (HEM) which is one of my favorite magazines. Also Life Learning Magazine.

I also included two sites that have John Taylor Gatto's writings.

Here is a list of a few of my favorite authors you might enjoy reading:

Dumbing Us Down, by John Taylor Gatto

A Different Kind of Teacher, by John Taylor Gatto

Homeschooling For Excellence, by David and Micki Colfax

The Unschooling Handbook, by Mary Griffith

How Children Learn, by John Holt

How Children Fail, by John Holt

Anything by Raymond and Dorothy Moore (1980's)

All of these can be found at your local library or on their inter-library loan system.

I am a veteran home school mom of 16 years. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!

God's blessings,

Lori

Answer 3

School prior to Kindergarten is not compulsory, and even Kindergarten is not compulsory in most states.  You can find out the compulsory attendance ages at http://www.HSLDA.org

We also made the choice to homeschool early, and got a lot of unsolicited feedback from it.  Noone suggested daycare/preschool to us, thankfully.  We did join a local playgroup and some Mommy & Me activities.  If you would like to find a local playgroup, try http://groups.yahoo.com and type in "MyCity Moms" and one will probably pop up located near you.

I hope this helps, and wish you the best!

Answer 4

No mandatory preschool. You are on track!! Here's an article you might enjoy...http://www.purehomeschooling.com/2008/08...

Sonlight has a wonderful preschool program if you want to do something more formal with your daughter.

http://www.purehomeschooling.com/2008/01...

Best of Luck!

Jana

http://www.purehomeschooling.com/

Answer 5

There is no mandatory preschool, only a scary societal shift toward letting other people raise our kids.  Apparently, our job is just to scoot them on out in the delivery room, wean them, and then let others take over.  Yeah...

There's nothing wrong with preschool, and there are kids that get a lot out of it.  However, there's also nothing that says that your kids are going to be scarred for life if they don't go.  You're who she needs; there is no law that says that she has to go elsewhere.

Things like preschool and daycare are very beneficial for people who aren't able to be home with their kids (for whatever reason); I wasn't able when my son was that age, and yes, had him in a daycare.  He liked it just fine, but if I had it to do over again, I would have rather had him home with me.  Kind of sad that I got to know him better in our first 6 months of homeschooling than I did in the previous 6 years...

You're doing fine.  When your child is old enough (generally 6-7), just follow whatever your state laws are for homeschooling.  Get her involved in whatever she enjoys, and enjoy getting to see her grow up and being her mom.  :)

Answer 6

in my state, indiana, they have to be enrolled in first grade by age 7. kindergarten isn't required and neither is preschool. not sure how old she is but I wouldn't be in any hurry to put her in school. I made that mistake with my twins because I thought at age 5 they had to be enrolled for kindergarten. They are in 1st this year and I'm having trouble with public school and considering homeschool now.