I frequently go to YouTube and check out video's about homeschools and K12. I like seeing the kids open their boxes and get excited. I like watching the videos about kids who love homeschooling. And then I get to the comments. I feel so bad for the kids who are commenting with "I hate K12. I never see my friends." I want to say to them that it is NOT K12's fault that they don't see their friends. I don't know their situation or what kinds of friends they had but it should be a priority of the parents to offer opportunities for them to see their friends. It just makes me sad that there are homeschoolers that don't offer that to their children.
We are part of a homeschool group that meets at least once a week at the park. Some days, like today, I really don't feel like going out for several hours in the hot sun. I would rather stay in my nice air conditioned house in my nice comfy clothes. But then I think of my kids and how they need to have play dates, and here we are, on our way to the weekly park day. They are so excited and love these days. Parents need to think of what's best for their kids they run around and get tons of exercise on these days.
I would hesitate to assume that parents who don't attend things like a weekly park day are neglecting to do what is best for their kids. I would also guess that the "I never see my friends." comment likely means that the child wants to spend all school day with friends and not that they actually never see their friends. Kids exaggerate.
Exactly. My kids get bummed because they don't have steady friends here. The kids in our neighborhood are hooligan heathens who's parent don't give a whip about them enough to watch them. You wont believe the things I hear and see outta those kids. We attended a homeschool co-op for a few weeks, but they acted VERY hoity toity around us, and we could never break the "inner circle" if you will. Plus, they lost Patryk and found no reason to come and tell me during the school day that he had been lost for an hour (he had been trying to look for me, and was a few rooms away and downstairs, when he came from an upstairs room.)
I have a couple friends with high schoolers. They do a lot of activities, spend time with specific peer groups and invite friends for time together at their homes... Both mom's recently were lamenting that their kids felt lonely and missed their friends. But do you remember high school? We all felt lonely! No one really felt accepted or connected. All of high school is about getting there, but who really does? I think it's totally developmentally normal to feel a little lonely or left out in high school. We need to be sure to help our kids develop a few good friendships. They don't need 400 peers to be judging them, they just need a few close friends. (The thing is, they won't see that until they are in University!!)
I think the nicest thing about my 3 littles is they are build in buddies. Rylee and Reagan are each in scouts and they all have a few friends that have come along thanks to hubby and my friends kids, but really they don't complain too much. When Garrett was home still, we made sure that every other weekend he got with a friend and he was in scouts as well.
Yesssssss ... these are my children but in saying that, they are very happy being home schooled. I am not really an active participant in our areas homeschool clique because I am in a small town, and well, I'm a little scarey looking at times haha.... so, those kids will survive. IMO, homeschooling is not the easiest option to select.
