For Homeschoolers?

Question

This ones for parents that homeschool only. What other activities do you have your children involved in? Particularly if you have daughters. What do you find they enjoy the most?

Answer 1

I've got a 5th grade boy, here are some things he's done over the past few years:

Royal Rangers (they have Missionettes too)

AWANA

Scouts (this has been wonderful)

Baseball (this is his passion)

Gymnastics

Homeschool group field trips - always a lot of fun

Community theatre (another thumbs-up activity, they can start this as soon as they can read - theatres often have roles for younger kids)

Co-opping with friends - either joining a co op or just for a unit study

I know there's other things we've done...but I haven't had coffee yet and I can't think of them, lol.  These are our major activities.  He's really enjoyed a lot of them.

Hope that helps!

Answer 2

When my girls were younger they were involved in dance and story time at the library as well as our church.  Now they are 9 & 11 and are involved in a lot more

- film school

- musicals

- homeschool band

- golf lessons

- fencing

- varying field trips with other hs'ers

- many play dates with friends

- swim lessons

- gym class

- dance lessons

- other water programs at local pool

Answer 3

For very young kids, playgrounds are about the only option.

Answer 4

Have you ever heard of Keepers of the Faith?  Our local hs coops have had KOF clubs off and on for a few years.  She loves it.  We also do things with the homeschool coop, 4H, youth group, etc.  When she was younger she was in swimming lessons, ballet, soccer lessons, lots of kids church activities, homeschool coop activities and 4H.

Answer 5

Well I'm homeschooled and I'm a girl... or a young woman, as some would insist. I wasn't homeschooled when I was very young, but I do know what activities I was interested in or wanted desperately to try.

Soccer can be a fun team sport for young girls.

There's also Fencing as an individual sport. There are a lot of little girls in the fencing academy I attend. It's good for high energy children who like a challenge that's both physical and mental. Some others are:

Martial arts

Dance

Community art classes

Swimming

Horseback riding (*****One of my favorites)

Boys and Girls club

Lessons in an instrument

Voice lessons

Group music lessons for homeschoolers (check your local music store or music school)

Classes at a museum or science center

4-H if you're into animals.

Classes at a local aquarium

Weekly activities for children at your local library

Ice skating

Balet

Girl Scouts of America

Anything offered through a homeschool group or co-op

Any mother-daughter or father-daughter type activities. If your city has a Parks and Recreation website they should have things like this listed. Look around and ask around. You're sure to find something useful. And don't be afraid to let your child lead the way. Follow her interests. Don't fall into the s*x stereotype trap. If you want her in dance class, but she wants to do rock climbing or baseball, let her explore her interests.

ADDED** If you want to start in activities right away while she's still a baby, look into Gymboree! They have wonderful play groups and art and music classes that parents can participate in with their little ones!

Answer 6

My mom homeschooles me and I am her daughter.  She put me in gymnastics as an extra activity.  For little girls, you could try some of these:

Dance/Ballet

Instruments

Boy and Girl Clubs

Church

Answer 7

AWANA, 4-H, Church activites, looking into Student Ambassador program, sports, homeschool group activites, dance, equitation/vaulting lessons (horses), babysitting, etc.

The great thing about homeschooling is you can taylor it to your child's interest!

But dont' start to early -- let her be little and enjoy her while you can!  Start forming your philosophy now.... check out:

   http://www.amblesideonline.org

http://www.homeschooloasis.com

http://www.elijahco.com

http://www.timberdoodle.com

Answer 8

I agree with Jazzy, parents often overdue the socialization aspect with their toddlers. This is a time when young ones are working on so many skills, and it's so very important for those to be modeled by those you trust to set good examples (ie you and daddy, grandparents, close friends of yours) Pick something like dance or tae kwon do through the parks and rec dept. Join a MOPS club.

Not to say all socialization is bad, but I think our current society has an unhealthy focus on it. The argument against homeschooling is that kids HAVE to spend eight hours a day with people their age or they are abnormal. Kids MUST be involved with four or five activities to be fulfilled and grow as people. Fifty years ago that would have been considered abnormal! Families spent time together. Kids played games with their parents or helped with chores. They played outside with neighbor kids, throw together games like baseball with a stick or kick the can. Schools were for learning, and not for sharing the latest ring tones or fashions. Once a child hit high school, then it's possible that they would join A formal sports team, or a club of some sort (science or drama or some such) Kids who wanted to benefit the community would volunteer INSTEAD of adding another activity. The focus was on QUALITY of interaction rather than QUANTITY.

Anyway, my younger children don't have activities of their own, per se. They tag along with their older siblings (and are....GASP! Accepted by siblings and their friends because they haven't been socialized to believe it's abnormal) We are in a multigenerational unschooling club, with science class, craft class, dance, park days, etc. My six yo joined scouts this year. But all the littles are busy because there are so many of their siblings that they join in on a lot more.

Answer 9

I'm cutting in.  I'm not a homeschooler.  I don't agree with it.  Home schooled kids are lacking in most areas.  I have met some home-schooled kids who came to the public education system.  They just seem lost.  They don't have a clue.

What parent is an expert in all fields?

The children need to socialize with others, and do intensive study and practice, and be disciplined to do so.

Parents, I think, are doing themselfs and their own children a dis-service to homeschool.  Think about it!  Josh!  But, on the otherhand, there are a few successful home-schooled people.

OK, so much for the activities, what about the core studies?  The academics?

Answer 10

Well, my dd (now 10) did Preschool Ballet when she was 3, did gymnastics for a couple of years, has taken lots of swimming lessons, did figure skating for a year, is now in skating and ski lessons, will be doing soccer and perhaps gymnastics later this year... I've suggested to her Girl Guides, but it doesn't seem to interest her at all. We've also had lots of playdates and been to or held parties as additional social activities, and general homeschooling activities, like park days, bowling days and more.

Answer 11

my kids like the activities that the ymca provide

Answer 12

When my son was 18 months, he started classes at the zoo.  He continued them until age 7 when we moved from that area.  He LOVED them.  In Kdg, he transitioned into the classes for HS'ers.

He's done HS PE, HS Art, & HS Swimming at the YMCA.

He currently does:

* cub scouting

* HS co-op

* bible club (not at the church we attend - different kids)

* church activities

* indoor & outdoor track & cross country through our parks & rec dept.

* classes at the children's museum, science center, & zoo

* volunteer office work for a missionary family

* Math Olympiad

* Contig Tournaments

* Academic League

* Chess club

* HS bowling & HS ice skating weekly

...and soon he'll be a teacher's helper at the children's museum (he's almost 10).

My son loves his sports, math, and HS co-op the best.

Answer 13

We are fortunate to have an amazing rec center that has TONS of activities for kiddos 18 months and up. Our aquatic park also has a tots swimming lesson program. The library has reading times, and our church has Jr. Children's Church and a Pre-K scout type program for both boys and girls.

Combine all those opportunities with our homeschool group weekly park dates, field trips, teaching co-op program and us getting out for nature walks, local sporting events, and our own mini field trips, and you can see how easy it is for homeschoolers to ger OVER socialized. heehee.

Can't do it all, but we sure did have fun trying! :)

Answer 14

My 3 yo dd is in ballet and she loves it.  Next year we may try homeschool ice skating.

But you could put your dd in any activity she enjoys - art class, ballet, swimming, sports, park days or even just weekly story time at the library.  You can also do thing as a family - crafts, baking, field trips, bike rides, nature walks, etc.

They don't need TOO much interaction at that age.  I think most parents overdo it.

Answer 15

Not a girl but a 9th grade boy...

Not an exhaustive list of activities but what he enjoys most:

Youth Group

Student Newspaper

Coop classes

Multimedia stuff (animation, digital photography, sounds/music)

Answer 16

Younger ages; I have two grandchildren as well would include:

- play groups

- library story hour

- summer library programs

- home school PE, swimming, and gymnastics

- home school park/picnic day's

- children's museum, art museum (art classes)

- awana

As the children grew so did their activities.

- 4H

- toast masters

- Civil Air Patrol

- sports home school associations, or in the

  community.

- clubs

- church youth groups

- volunteer work

- part-time job

- summer camps

- classes at local museums, or community

  college

We have found that the enjoyed those activities that were hands on, and had a purpose when they got older.

The play activities have always been a hit no matter what their ages were, well at least until they reached about age 16 or so then they just came along to interact with other teens, or the adults.

Answer 17

I'm a girl and a former homeschooler (in college now)... let me try to think of what I did when I was younger.

My family belonged to a homeschool group and I played with the kids there.

I loved trips to the park!

I was involved in "children's church" and youth groups at my church.

I was in gymnastics from pre-school to age 9.

I also took ballet classes at a local studio.

And I took ice skating lessons one year, in about second grade.

When I was about pre-school aged, I took a class offered by the local park district that involved arts and crafts, storytime, etc... I think it must have been for parents who didn't want to send their kids to full-time pre-school.  Now, the homeschool group we used to be part of offers classes like this.

I did library activities (storytime, crafts, etc.) and as soon as I got my library card at age 6, I learned to use the library computers.

When I was a little older, I participated in an "American Girls Club" at the library (www.americangirl.com).

I played softball in first grade.  My brother played tee-ball starting in kindergarten.

I also loved helping my mom bake.

I played with the kids in the neighborhood.

I'm sure there were some other things, but that's at least part of the list... I was a happy, active little kid!

Answer 18

i was homeschooled, i enjoyed church youth group, community classes, volunteer work....

taking community college clasess...11th grade

Answer 19

I just did take my daughter out of public school and start homeschooling her.  We will be going to the library every week and maybe ymca.