Homeschooling Teens - what do you do to stretch your wings?

Question

What activities do you do away from your family to help develop a sense of independence, purpose, your own outlook on life?

Answer 1

I take riding lessons every week and have a job at my barn. I also babysit kids from my neighborhood. I volunteer at a therapeutic riding center and am an active member of my church. I hope to join 4h soon and keep in touch with my friends from other schools. Of course, I do fun things like roller skating and the movies, too.

Answer 2

i'm interested in music. i play guitar a little bit and i'm learning alot on it. i normally school myself cuz my mom works everyday, so i kinda just read the books and learn by myself. it works though and i think that the music has helped me become a better person and devolop a good outlook on life. its kind of like audio therapy. i find death related rock music very peaceful. may sound odd, but it works for me.

Answer 3

go 2 regular skool

or wait till college!

Answer 4

My son is 14.  He worked at camp all summer and was gone for a total of 6 weeks.  He plays clarinet and saxaphone in the homeschool band.

He's involved in the youth group at church.  Hopes to get a job this year but wants to spend next summer at camp once again.  

He's involved with a group of older teens who make short movies and enter them in film festivals all over the country.

Answer 5

I'm 14 and volunteer at both our local hospital and the local old folk's home (It's like having 25 grandparents, lol). I also help teach the little kids at swimming camp and help out our neighbour with the lambing and shearing of his sheep. I'm also involved in various sports - running, riding and swimming. I'm also going to go to TAFE to do the vet medicine course.

My siblings and I also take part in various home education group activities (my 15 yr old brother went away on an outdoor activity holiday with them last week).

I think you should encourage your son rather than outright pushing him to be more independent though; let him know the opportunities are out there for him when he wants to give them a go but maybe, at the moment, he just doesn't feel ready or feel that he needs to strike out on his own. In some older, more traditional societies, boys of 15 are still sleeping in the same bed as their mum's. Not that I'm suggesting you should go quite that far (!) but the point is: many older, traditional societies do not force their kids to grow up before they're ready...and they have heaps fewer social problems because of it!

Answer 6

My nephew is 15 he leads 2 contemporary Christian bands goes to youth once a week, earns money by helping run his Dad's business, and is allowed to go out with his friends.

Answer 7

I'm twelve and not even a teen yet, but I volunteer at the library, play trumpet for a band, active in boy scouts, moderate an online forum, and read all the time.

My mom (who's avatar I'm using) is pretty good about letting me have freedom to explore the world under my own terms.

Answer 8

My kids are too young to answer, but I know a bunch of homeschooled teens.

Two started their own business (together) making jewellery.

Several have taken part-time jobs (restaurants, coaching, in the trades or even just regular babysitting).

A number are involved in sports.

Some set up their own club-like activities with each other.

Some volunteer.

Answer 9

I was never homeschooled but my boyfriend was. What he did was make lots of friends at home school feild trips, and church, he also got into music which helped express alot of feelings. Joining a sport would also help.

Answer 10

well before this year i was homeschooled for 4 years and....the way i made frinds is thru a huge program (in Florida) not sure about any other states but every day of the week they would have P.E which like 500 different kids went to....nobody went more than twice a week because they had to do some school,so each day there would be 300-500 different kids,i always went on fridays.another way i meade frinds was sports last year i played high school baseball and basketball at a local Christian highschool even if ur homeschooled they let you play on their teams i was only in 8th grade then now im in public school,and just about every homeschooled teen i know has a job at least part time one i know has two part time jobs plays highschool baseball and goes to P.E every friday from 9 am-12 30 pm,so in general i think if your homeschooled and have a job AND play High school sports your pretty full for the day because highschool sports practice everyday so you make frinds from the highschool and stuff at least i did =)

Answer 11

I'm not a teen.  I am putting this information on for those answerers who seem to need it.  "Autodidact" means a self taught person, someone who loves to learn and follows their interests with a passion.  It does not mean, as some seem to think, that a person doesn't want to learn.

Answer 12

Independence comes automatically when a child learns, and increases it's abilities.

The key to developing this independence depends  more on the parents willingness to let go.

Maturity, and finding a purpose however is fostered when children spend a lot of time with loving adults who are willing to listen, mentor, and guide them along in their formative years.

Children learn naturally, all we have to do is be there, and provide the opportunities to do so.

http://www.unschooling.com/

An article, and a book to read, although a bit controversial to most, are:

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2007/0...

Title: The Case Against Adolescence.

Author: Robert Epstein.

It will stretch your thinking as well.

1 Timothy 4: 11 and 12.

Teach these things, and insist that everyone learn them.

Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young.

Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.