When should homeschooling begin?

Question

I have decided to homeschool my son when the time comes - he is only 16mos old. What I can't decided is at what age. This is not a religious issue - I just do not believe the government can educate my child adequately, and I believe that children are put into a world too mature for them out of economy. I think it may be good for him to attend public school for the first few grades, maybe kindergarten-2nd, and get the basics down and establish some social skills and friendships, and then remove him to be homeschooled before the lacking aspects of public school become an issue. I may also consider letting my child choose to attend some highschool, should he choose to. I'm wondering as to whether anyone else has tried this method and what their experience was like, did it have the benefits I'm hoping for, and how did the children respond?

Answer 1

You could always have him go to school and give him extra schooling on things that the school he attends misses... or lacks. Being an active parent and educator doesn't mean you have to homeschool a child, but you could be involved with homework and further education! That way your child will be learning about a wider range of things and be well rounded!

Answer 2

I know several families who had their kids do a couple of years in school, like you had planned, and then pulled them out. They ALL wished they had simply homeschooled from the beginning!!! Even those whose children only went for K. Actually, that seems to be the worst--because then they expect school time to all be about fun, fun, fun. Part of the problem, too, is the transition from the school atmosphere and structure to the home. They spent K/1 transitioning to get used to school (the structure, being around that many people for so long, etc.), then they're pulled out after they've made the transition and have to do a new transition (being around fewer people, the general structure, having mom as the teacher...).

The "lacking aspects" of public school are there even in the early grades. The basics are taught at a set rate and not necessarily according to how your son learns. My own nephew was bullied horribly in K and adopted some choice expressions (not swearing, just rude) and attitudes which my SIL was able to clearly see was something present in the classroom.  Social skills are properly developed by socialized models, not by throwing kids into a class of 20-some kids the same age.

I have met a few moms this past year whose children are roughly your son's age, moms who hang out at homeschool park days, attending support group meetings and more. You can do the same. I would really recommend that you start connecting with others now. He does not need school to establish frienships--there are undoubtedly homeschooled kids he can establish friendships with. Not to mention that friendships developed in elementary school often fall apart once a child is pulled out; even just switching classes can cause that to happen.

As for high school, a lot of people I know give that option to their kids. Some go for it, most don't. :)

Answer 3

I think homeschooling from birth is ideal :D

Not sure what you mean by social skills in K-2 grades, isn't your son already learning social skills and forming friendships?  

My children have always had the freedom to choose public school, and always chosen to continue unschooling.  It's been a marvelous experience for the past 16 years.

Answer 4

probably you should start at an early age so that the kid can get used to home schooling sessions show him that you are an adult and you are in charge if not this idea will go completely down hill trust me!just a few suggestions its probably better for him to go to school to develop social skills but if your actually going through with this then you shouldnt just send him to highschool its like taking a monkey into the zoo then sending him out without teaching it to survive and letting him have friends then pulling him out its not only creul it will show him that you dont trust him!i completely disagree with you and i ask you sincerely not to permanently ruin that boys life please!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

I recommend starting from the beginning.  It will be so much easier to know what he knows and what he doesn't if you are teaching him from Preschool on.  Besides, the school system will not teach him any more that you will be able to.

My son went to public preschool because he needed speech therapy.  It wasn't bad, but it was harder to take up teaching him later than it had been with my other children.

Answer 6

If your local schools are unsafe, overcrowded, etc., I can understand your desire to educate your child at home.  Try to make plans though for the future, so your child can attend some kind of school in high school.  Those grades are very difficult to teach, really important for acceptance into a decent college, and offer lots of social experiences you can not duplicate in a home school setting. (save money for private school or relocating to a neighborhood with better public schools, learn about lottery systems to get into magnet and charter schools, investigate scholarships, etc.)

While homeschooling, try to network with other homeschooling parents so your child still has opportunities to interact with kids his or her own age.

Answer 7

dont homeschoool him! thats torture. if he decides to go to hight school, he will lack social skills. And will be very behind in the work and might be nervous to ask for help!

Answer 8

Homeschooling is a life style that you probably already live - it begins at birth.  Everything your son discovers and learns is homeschooling - it just continues through the mandatory schooling years.

Many parents homeschool starting in preschool and just continue; their children live a lifestyle of learning.  Mine did attend school until he was 6.5, but we had an incredible private school that he absolutely adored.  The teachers were incredible, the teachers worked together to build a curriculum that challenged the students, and each of the students was treated as a valued individual.  Once we moved to another state and found there was not a similar school available, we started homeschooling and haven't looked back.

It's not necessary for a child to attend school for the first few grade in order to establish social skills and friendships; there are community-based programs and homeschool groups that set up lessons, playdays, field trips, and regular social time for the kids.  Homeschool students don't miss out on any of that - if anything, they benefit because they get to choose the social situations that are best for their kids.

My son responded really well, he started homeschooling after preschool, jr. k, and kindergarten.  Honestly, had I not had access to that private school, I would have homeschooled him from the start.

Hope that helps!

Answer 9

There is nothing that says you cannot supplement his public schooling with the home environment.

As a parent, you are already "home schooling" your child. You get to be his first teacher. Learning colors, identity, numbers, names of things and basic language skills.

Consider the history of why schools were made mandatory in this country.

<nothing to do wtih educating children at first>

Your task as a parent will likely be to teach manners, respect, and educational specifics like study habits, love of reading and learning things. School will be a social learning ground, and help cover more of the general education.

If you find you do not like the level he is learning at, then I would urge supplemental teaching at home.  If you both decide at some point that the home learning is far outpacing the public education, then by all means make your choice.

Good luck

k

Answer 10

Now is a good time to start homeschooling!!! You can teach him to recognize colors. My toddler and I play the crayon game. I will get down to color with her and ask her for a color crayon. If she hands me the right color - I cheer. If she hands me the wrong one - I ask again. I will correct her - "No honey - that is not red - that is purple!" Third time I get the right color and show her.

You can play on pbskids.org and playhousedisney.com. Numbers, letters, shapes. All that comes first. But you just keep at it.

Social skills and friendship can be learned in toddler and preschool aged playgroups. Many homeschool groups have younger children. For example - I have two daughters - 9 and 2. So my 2 year old gets to attend theater class with my 9  year old. So while my 9 year old is with her peers - my toddler is with the other younger siblings playing in another room. Many activities such as park days are open to all ages.

My 9 year old has never seen the inside of a school. She has very good social skills, is well behaved, has neighbor friends (who are public school students) and homeschool friends.

Do a search on yahoogroups to find a local homeschool group. See what kind of events they have and if they have younger children. If you cannot find anything in your area - consider starting a group. Future Homeschoolers of BLAH county. Offer weekly play dates at a local park. One mom can bring the bubbles, one mom can bring the juice boxes, another mom can bring a healthy snack. Your kids will grow together and be natural friends.

If you have any questions about homeschooling a toddler/preschooler - there are tons of resources out there - even curriculum specifically for them!

Here are a few sites you can check out: http://www.universalpreschool.com/

http://www.first-school.ws/

http://www.letteroftheweek.com/index.htm...

As you can see - a lot of homeschoolers start at birth.