I'm really looking into and researching homeschooling for my kids, my oldest is only 4, and one of the questions I have for you all is: what do/did you do or say about all the media displays of traditional school around this time of year? Or any time of year, really. There are so many books and signs and advertisements and even kids magazine articles that are all about how wonderful school is, but I have yet so see a single display of homeschooling anything that I can point out to my daughter. We've definitely talked about homeschooling and she knows I'm looking into it, but when I ask her directly she says she wants to GO to school. Any tips? Or even recommendations for a kids book we could get about homeschooling so it doesn't just seem like something I'm making up to her?
I know there are some children's book about homeschooling, but I can't think of any of the top of my head. On another note, though, find out what EXACTLY she wants to experience at school and attempt to recreate it. Most younglings look forward to things like packing a lunch, recess, and riding the bus. If you pack a lunch and take it to the park for a few weeks every afternoon and ride the city bus a few times, that usually settles the "I wanna go to school" bits.
First, get a book from the library that shows how people "go to school" all over the world. The PS system in the US is actually a new system in the grand scheme of things, and it's very different from what many others experience. Homeschooling and private schooling are just other options available. All have pros and cons. We have the "mommy school bus" (suburban) that goes to a lot more cooler places than school. We get to do all sorts of cool things while PS kids are stuck in their desks. We don't have to do homework. We get to learn whatever we want, and in whatever style we want (wanna learn subtraction by eating M&M's on the porch swing? Why not?) We get to design our own work space around our own needs. We get to buy the COOL school supplies (and don't have to stick to someone else's list or put all the supplies into a classroom pool for other kids to use). We can ride a bus at a variety of places, and color doesn't matter. Doesn't have to be a yellow one! We don't have to play on the same boring playground every day. We can go to any park we want. We can take a day off if we're having a bad day. We can do extra work if we're having a great day. We can go on vacations when the crowds are gone, so we don't have to waste all of our time standing in lines. I could go on and on. My older asked about school a little bit at first (not much), but my younger never has.
I used to get Family Fun magazine when my kids were little. In addition to being a wonderful resource for family and kid activities and crafts, it always had pictures of homeschooling kids and their creations.
Thanks for the suggestions! I think because she's never experienced any of it it's idealized a little in her head, but she also pretends she has homework and that her pretend teacher is MAKING her do it. It cracks me up. We're not doing anything formal at all yet, but she's smart as a little whip and loves to learn. I don't want anyone to squelch that- me or the PS system.
My oldest announced to me the other day that he wanted to go to public school. I asked why and his answer was "I want to have recess." Mind you he schools about 2-3hrs a day cumulative and spends the rest of the day running around playing with his brothers and sister like a little lunatic. I cracked up. I explained the school day in a public school situation and in the end he *decided* (yeah, not even an option :lol that he wanted to home school after all. I get the appeal of the bus but the truth is I wouldn't have let my children ride the bus even if they were in public school. I generally avoid most things/books etc that talk about traditional school. I think it also helps that we have friends who homeschool as well as friends who public school so they know I'm not making it up or that they aren't the only ones doing it. lol
I'm not sure what media your child is seeing. I don't recall any. My son first noticed a difference when the "older kids" disappeared from the play ground during the day. He knew we were starting school, and I did a bit of a fanfare the first day of 1st. I think he thought K was more day care (he knew some children went to day care.) When I explained how long he'd be in a classroom, sitting, and away from us, he has NEVER wanted to go. I think he feels a little sorry for the kids p and so do I!)
Well my oldest did got to 2 years of PS and HATED IT! So he's very anti-public school and very pro homeschool. So that helps. But, I say play up the positive of homeschool. You could also look for local homeschool co-ops so she could 'go' to school but still be homeschooled. (We did this for our first 6 months, my kids didn't really care on way or the other if they 'went' to school or not though...) My kids alos love to play school and pretend to be in a 'real classroom' but if you mention them going to public school they burst into tears! Here is a list of books featuring homeschooled characters you might like http://voices.yahoo.com/childrens-books-featuring-homeschooled-characters-592769.html
My kids (4 and 7) don't really pay much attention to "school in the media." I'm not really sure what that is...maybe the back to school ads everywhere? In that case, homeschoolers to back to school shopping too, which you can involve you dd in. As far as missing out on things like the bus....really your dd is NOT missing anything! Not anything good anyways! My son did public K, and he rode the bus, and he still sometimes tells me the things he "learned" on the bus. Truly awful. After experiencing PS, my son didn't hate it, but he does tell me that he is glad he doesn't have to go back. There is no more getting up at 5:30 to make sure he can make the bus, there is no more being hit up for fundraisers every month, there is no more kids teaching him bad habits, he is able to get his work done in 2-3 hours, and he can wear pajamas all day if he wants! I remember being worried about how he would react to homeschooling, thinking he would miss his friends, and the social setting, but you just have to try and make some time for those things in other ways. I think someone suggested joining a co-op, or a homeschool group. Church is one of our big ways to get in that social interaction. It also exposes him to learning to raise his hand, walk in a line, etc. For my youngest, it's not even an issue. She wants to do what her big brother does, and so PS is no where near her thinking.
Thanks for all the responses. I guess I wasn't very clear about what Imeant. I just mean in most stories that we read or shows or movies or anything, traditional school is always featured because it's the norm. And especially around this time of year it's all about making school seem wonderful for kids. Focus on the families kids clubhouse magazine this month was all about going back to school and making friends, etc. I definitely understand the benefits of homeschooling and as the decision to formally begin loooms closer I will focus on these things. I love the idea of reading a book about how kids around the world learn and go to school and Iwill also check out the list of home schooling books. I think the fact that we are not surrounded by a lot of HS families makes a difference. I have several friends considering it, but their kids are all younger than mine, so it's not something we come across day to day.
Gee, Sweet, so your friends are looking to you for leadership! What an opportunity! You can teach your child, and co-op with friends you have already. And you have us here for support other times. Looks like it's a situation made for success!
