Fun homeschool activities?

Question

I am seriously considering homeschooling my two young daughters, ages 3 & 2, but I am wondering about some of the fun things public schools have to offer that I can substitute. Such as, plays and dances......concerts or sports events. What if one of them likes to run and wants to be in track, or wants to play an instrument or be a cheerleader? What then? These are just some of the dilemma's I am wondering about. Also, is it possible to get something from the public teachers in case I cannot homeschool and have to send them to public school in the middle of the year, so they will be where the rest of their grade is academically? A 'rough sketch curriculum' so to speak? What they will be teaching their class and when?

Answer 1

You need to find a homeschool group in your area.   Our group puts on musicals, there is a band (my son plays two instruments in the Jr and Sr. band), we have a film school and all sorts of field trips as well as lessons like golfing, fencing, skiing, etc.

Answer 2

Well, so funny I should read your question today! My daughter is in a local homeschool group and was just in a really adorable play last night called "Tale of the Three Trees."

You can find so many things out there to enrich your children's lives culturally and artsy! Research the area you live in - usually check in the nearest city-area - and I'll bet you will find many amazing opportunities being offered to homeschoolers. Many school districts allow homeschooled children to play sports and even come in for specific classes like art and music. You would have to check with your school district.

As for worrying about sending them to school later unprepared, you are probably worrying in the opposite direction! Many homeschooled children are way ahead of publically-schooled children. There are many wonderful curriculums out there that you can purchase to use with your children - and most all of them will be paralell to what the public schools are teaching. But as I said before, many will be even ahead of the public schools. My daughter has learned a few things this year that our local school will not teach for another year or two.

Feel free to email me with any questions - and if you send me your general location I can even research opportunities for you! Hope this helps!

Answer 3

take them to your local community center and sign them up for some ballet classes of something. go on the Internet and try and find places that offer classes for kids there are a lot of them out there.do you have a local swimming pool place they may offer swimming lessons and other activates

Answer 4

I'll answer your last question first. If you really want to keep your kids on the same track as the public schools (you have no idea how much potential there is for your kids to move WAY ahead at an accellerated rate) you can likely find a list of state standards and benchmarks by grade level on the state or district's board of education website, and as long as you meet or exceed those you should have no problem putting your kids in public school later on if you want to. If you go into Junior High or Highschool years, you'll likely be able to find a scope and sequense of classes offered by the schools in the area on their websites.  This could also help you plan your own curriculum if the state you live in requires you to have your kids take anual tests to make sure they're performing at or above grade level, but not all states require this. Check into your state's homeschool laws.

For your first question... Be creative! The thing that bugs and baffles me more than anything else is just how oblivious some people (this may not be you. Don't take offense) are to the fact that School is not hte only place in the entire world where a child can lead an active academic and social life.

If your child wants to learn an instrument, get out the phone book and find a local music shop, music academy, or private tutor that offers lessons in the instrument she is interested in. The first two suggestions usually also offer group classes for things like Recorder, Band, Chorus, and Orchestra. Nearly all music schools have some sort of anual or semianual pageant or concert for groups and soloists, and there are always state wide or county wide competitions, talent shows, etc that anyone can participate in.

If music isn't her thing, maybe look up a local theater group that offers drama club or acting lessons for kids. Try enrolling them in dance lessons... anything from ballet to jazz. Enroll them in ice skating lessons at the local rink, or a martial arts class, or horseback riding lessons. If they like sports, by all means let them play sports! There ARE community sports teams in just about every city I can think of. Soccer was always my favorite. If they're not into team sports, try individual sports. Enroll them in swim lessons, and the local pool or rec center may have a swim team, or when they get older they may want to take a lifeguard class. If you have a local library, the library most likely has programs and activities for kids... anything from a fun hands-on science program or story telling on a saturday afternoon to a childrens book club they can go to again and again. If they like art, call up local art studios (or again, the community or rec center) and see if they have classes or activities for kids. Let them try fencing! I know tons of homeschoolers who attend the fencing academy I go to, and it's great for the young ones to learn coordination as well as honor and respect for others and themselves. The list goes on. A good place to start would be your county's Parks and Recreation website. They'll most likely have a catalog of clubs and activities you can look at. Next logical step is of course the yellow pages. :)

For holiday activities (like the ones they sometimes have in school) again you must broaden your mind a bit. Most churches, parks, community centers, libraries, or public attractions will host some sort of event for holidays. There may be a local easter egg hunt in the spring for kids, a halloween party somewhere in town for the little ones, a tree lighting or "meet Santa" event in the winter, and so on. And you can make these times of year fun as well just as you normally would, only now you get to base school lessons around the exciting events as well with crafts and stories and so on.

As for dances, check the youth center or community center, Boys and Girls club, or YMCA for events like this, and when in doubt (or even when you're completely sure of yourself)...

....wait for it....

....now

JOIN A HOMESCHOOL GROUP!!!!!!!

Most places have at least a homeschool support group if not a co-op (a group that takes classes together in small groups tthat are usually taught by volunteers or homeschooling parents) and these groups usually offer monthly field trips (though you can make any day a field trip if you want to exercise that wonderful freedom), park/pic-nic days where the kids (and parents) can just socialize and have fun, holiday parties, dances, prom and graduation for older kids, clubs like yearbook or newspaper or just about anything anyone thinks of and feels motivated enough to start, parents night, curriculum fairs, volunteer projects for the kids to get involved in, and so much more. Finding a good support group is always a good idea.

Just be creative. School isn't the only place where life happens, and it certainly isn't necessarily the best place for it to happen. Not for everyone at least. Good luck!

Answer 5

there is usually a 'homeschool group' or something like that in a city/county.  i know where i live there is a whole group of homeschoolers that get together once a week or so for those kids of activities.  it is run by a lady who overall orchestrates 'classes' for the kids and they have things that range from art to karate to dance, etc.  so the kids are homeschooled and one day a week they come to this one location and take certain classes.  it's optional too.

check it out in your area.  you might just have something like that.

homeschoolers usually have whole communities of their own - you just have to keep looking until you find it.

good luck.  

and i'm glad you're looking at homeschooling.

Answer 6

I am a homeschool mom who majored in Secondary Education, but instead of teaching in a public institution, I chose to homeschool. I think that the general public is very uninformed about homeschooling today, and still relies on the old stereotype of the "shy unsocialized hermetic homeschooler" who never leaves their home and has no friends. It is so inaccurate. My kids are very social and anything but shy! We live in a suburb of Kansas City, and there are hundreds, maybe thousands of other Hschoolers in our small area. Nationwide, there are millions of us. We are active members of several local groups for homeschool famlies, and we take part in at least one social activity every day, outside of our home. Activities are set up and organized by moms through yahoo email loops. Our local homeschool groups offers the following activities to name a small few; Girl and Boy Scout troops, 4H, campfire, bowling, gymnastics, swimming, horseback riding, art, choir, and gym classes, holiday parties, book clubs, a 2 hour long recess time every week, plus park days, field trips, picnics and academic fairs. These are just a few of the many things we do while everyone else is in school). When we are not doing our lessons, we are always on the go, and it is ironic that we call ourselves homeschoolers since we spend so much time away from home! Homeschoolers have the advantage of one on one personalized attention educationally, and we also dont have to waste a lot of time on discipline, paperwork, and busywork. We can get our lessons done in a couple hours each morning, and then get on with enjoying our hobbies and friends. We also have the advantage of making closer more meaningful friendships because our kids have the time for more playdates and outings, instead of sitting, bored and institutionalized behind a desk all day. I find it ridiculous that public schools are thought of as a great place to socialize! How can kids socialize when they have to sit silently and listen for 8 hours a day?? Homeschoolers have the time to learn at their own pace, to spend time with friends, and just be kids, without the pressures and negative influences of public school. Homeschool kids are not hermits and they are not freaky nerds. They are just really lucky kids who get to enjoy life and learning every day. No child is left behind in a homeschool, and socialization is the best reason to homeschool. Public school creates a harsh artificial society where children are raised by their peers. Homeschoolers live and learn in the real world. For more info, read the book; "The Well adjusted Child; The Social Benefits of Homeschooling", by Rachel Gathercole,

or Dumbing Us Down; The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling, by John Taylor Gatto

Answer 7

Think of your life as an adult. Do you need an institution to create your opportunities to be healthy and active? To enjoy relationships with friends and families? You don't need an institution to create these things for your children, either.

Look online for your state's learning standards to track your children's progress vis-a-vis the public schools in your area. (Google, e.g., "Illinois State Learning Standards")