Homeschoolers please.?

Question

First- I am not anti puplic school. I live in the worst school district in my state. We are homeschooling for right now and are not sure if we should sell our house and move to a better district or not. My Son is doing very well and likes home schooling I am just worried that he is not getting out enough. What do you think?

please do not bash home schooling I believe that public school is not for everybody any more than home schooling.........

Answer 1

I'm 15 almost 16 and I have home schooled since I started school.  I like home schooling because I learn more than my friends do that are in the school system. But its up to your son, how hard does he work at it? If he doesn't take the time to figure something out then it is a waste and he isn't learning anything. BUT YOU have to help him and encourage him to do so and if he is doing good then I wouldn't worry!.

Answer 2

Are there homeschool support groups in your area?  (I belong to a homeschool support group where the teens get together for activities, movies, skating, etc. as often as they want.)  Are there homeschool coops where he can take a class that interests him and be with other homeschoolers?  If he's a teen, can he take a class at a two-year college?  Is he involved with sports, music, hobbies that allow him to meet other people?  If not, and if it is logistically possible, he could start a Homeschooler's Club.  (I'm assuming he is a teenager.)

If he is a teenager, he can take on some of the responsibility for his social needs.  He can look into what is offered and join the Y, park district programs, community programs, volunteer, etc.--all with your approval, of course.

It's also possible that your son does not have high social needs; some people do and others don't.  However, we all need some type of social outlet.

The above are suggestions that might work.

Answer 3

Getting out enough or not getting out enough is a choice.

If you and your son like homeschooling and he is learning - then make the choice to get involved with things in the (homeschool) community.  It really is as simple as that.

You might find the question / answer I link to of interest.

You will get some great ideas for "outside" things to consider doing.

***UPDATE:

If you cannot find a homeschool group in your area - start one! Put a public announcement in the local paper (usually free) that a new homeschool group is forming and will be meeting at "wherever."

All of the homeschool groups that are in existence are so because someone decided to take the initiative to make it happen.

Answer 4

Have you tried to find other youth groups in your area? They don't have to be exclusively  for homeschoolers.

How about:

Cub Scouts (go to http://www.scouting.org to locate your local council)

4-H Clubs - http://www.4husa.org/

Boys and Girls Club of America - http://www.bgca.org/

Check also for classes at your local library, bowling alleys, roller rinks, church groups, etc. Another resource would be local colleges; community colleges often have courses geared for younger children (enrichment courses).

Answer 5

If you are willing to email me privately about where you live, I'd be willing to help you out in searching for some groups.

As for getting out, do you live in a community where there are activities? Boy scouts, swimming lessons, fencing lessons, karate, tae kwon do, gymnastics, diving, community-based other lessons (cooking, art, group music lessons and more) and undoubtedly more. Also, some people don't have the need to get out as much as others. Make sure the time you do get out he is well prepped and gently guided and make it really count. :)

Answer 6

i used to be homeschooled. i liked it but i used to wish that i could go out more and see more ppl. u need to let him go out w/ his friends, let him have fun, and let him b a kid. im not saying that ur not, its just that he only has one childhood. you should move out, let your kid make new/more friends, thats my opinion. however, if u can, move.

Answer 7

In this market you want to try to sell a house? I wouldn't. I appreciate the length you are willing to go to for your son. But, unless your area is highly sought after, and by what you say about the public school I can assume it is not, you will not get a decent price for the house if you manage to sell it at all. It sound like you are doing a great job with your son. If social issues are all that are bringing you down, them creativity is your solution. See if he can get into Boy Scouts, Campfire Boys and Girls, 4H, Demolays (sp?), a team sport, a martial arts group with a strong sense of community, etc. The possibilities are endless. Look at local skate rinks and bowling alleys. Sometimes homeschoolers meet there once a month. Some groups have library days. If they don't maybe you should put an ad in the paper inviting them. If there is not a HS group and you want a HS group, you may have to form a HS group. You are a mom, so you know how this works: you just don't give up until you find the situation that best fits your child's needs. You did it before when you chose homeschool and now you are doing it again. Don't worry. You've got this completely in hand and you are doing a great job!

Answer 8

Where do you live? Unless you're like Hannah, who lives in rural Australia, I can't believe that there are no homeschooling groups in your area.

We homeschool our kids, and if you're going to move to find another public school, you *could* choose to move to an area that has a better homeschool group, esp if he likes homeschooling.

Please don't buy into the myth that kids need to have all their time busy to be true socialites. But if you do want more activities, look into your neighborhood. Look at people around who can teach your son new activities or hobbies. Look at shopping in new stores. Visit new non-profits and spend some time volunteering. Good luck.

Answer 9

Well what you need to do is sit down with him and take a sort of "social inventory". Think about the places he goes, how regularly he gets out with you, how regularly he gets out and gets to be somewhere without you, if he gets along and has friends within his neighborhood or at any of the places or events he goes to, etc. If you feel like he could be getting more, well it's your responsibility as a parent, or yours as a parent-child team to find ways to get him active and involved in his community and get him enjoying a social life. We were worried that guitar lessons and fencing with the occasional trip to the movies with friends wasn't enough for me, so we got onto the county's Parks and Recreation Department website and started looking up contact numbers, athletic teams, clubs, classes, and community social events that I could attend to start meeting a more eclectic group of people. It's not hard. Once you're out there, things should just happen naturally. An organized club or team or class or something that meets regularly... maybe more than one of them is a very good way to meet people and make friends. From there, any recreational place in the area...the movies, the mall, the pool, the park, the library, houses, etc...that's how you get out WITH your friends, and very possibly make even newer friends while you're there. Volunteering is another good way to make friends with coworkers, and when in doubt there are usually homeschool associations or support groups where you can get a good start and a push in the right direction. Remember, socialization doesn't always have happen with someone who was born the same year you were. If your son feels more at home with an older croud, or has a good mix of older, younger, same-age, and adult friends, there is nothing wrong with that. If anything it will give him better social skills than he would get if his only "peers" were born the same year he was. Good luck!

Answer 10

How much activity is your son involved in.  My 7 yo plays basketball (1 game, 1 practice per week), plays with cousins 1 day a week, and has church on Sunday.  Those are his only regular activities, but we sometimes have people over or go visit family friends.  He is very content and very social.  We get compliments all the time about his social skills.

See if you can get your son involved in a sport, art class or other activity that relates to his interest.  You should be able to find some through your local park.  Here is some information on starting a homeschool support group:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Here is some additional information on homeschooling activities:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

If your son is enjoying homeschooling and not complaining about lack of outside activity, then I wouldn't worry about it.    I think it's great that he isn't peer dependent.  He must be a confident, independent little guy.