Thank you all for the comments but this is my first post. The interactions here have always turned things on for me so I wanted to share a family you might want to know about. The Hardings have done a great job of getting all six of their eldest children in to college by age 12. The oldest just graduated medical school by age 22! Google Hardings college by 12 to learn more about this amazing family. They are my new heroes and what I will now aim for.
They are amazing, but they are also the exception. My oldest just finished up her first year of college...at 18. I can't imagine most 12 or 13 yo's being mature enough to handle college, even if they had the intelligence and drive to do it.
Wow, that's really amazing. I was reading somewhere that they accelerated their teaching. Something like 2 grade levels per year.
Ok, I'm going to be the stick in the mud here... but I think it's sad. I would much rather let my young children focus on being young children. There is plenty of time to be an adult and do adult things. At 12 kids should still be being kids.
I would have no desire to push my kids to be in college by age 12. I agree with Sommer that I, personally, think that is sad. I guess I don't understand what the reasoning behind that is. I didn't read the article...but does that mean that the oldest has been in college for 10 years?
One of their kids just got her MD. So yes, she has been in school that long. I still think there is more than enough time to be an adult once you become an adult.
While this family is admirable, what's left for their children, and who do they socially connect with? I'm with ya'll! (I'm from the south.) I'd much rather keep my girls little, having fun, building their relationship with me, each other, God, and stepping out into this great big world one tiptoe at a time.
While I at first was going to agree with a lot of you about this being sad, I watched a video with two of the kids (one was 16 and the other 11 or 12 yrs. old). They both seemed very well adjusted and normal. The younger one, a boy, said he had lots of friends his age. As homeschoolers I think we have to be careful about rushing to judgement about accelerated learning or unschooling or anything in between. I really think the key is if a child is loved and appreciated, they will do fine with an appropriate way of learning that fits them.
I have to say that I agree. I saw them all on Fox and Friends and they seem like a very happy family. I wish them all well. As for my kids...... We'll get there eventually!!!
I know I sound judgie... and maybe I kind of am. I'm more of a "free range" parent, we live in the country and I would much rather see my kids out exploring whatever is living under this log or that rock than have their nose in a book for extended periods of time. I'm the mom that encourages her kids to take time to smell the roses. I wasn't reminded often enough that some day I would have to be an adult... in fact I wasn't given the option to be a kid past about the age of 12 when it was just my mother, sister and I and my mother had to take a 2nd shift job to support us. My sister is 8 years younger than me... I pretty much raised her until I moved out at 17. I know what it's like to be an adult and realize you never got to be a kid. I never went to a high school dance, I never went to a football game with friends, I never went to a party at a friends house. I took care of my sister, helped keep the house clean, cooked meals, and did my school work. My summers were spent babysitting every kid I could so I could afford to buy clothes and supplies for school. As I was growing up I never felt I was missing anything, I was proud to be so grown up. Now I feel like I have been an adult for 24 years instead of 18.
I saw the video, and also felt they seem well adusted when they were using tin foil and fake armor to play midieval times. My question is: how do they afford it? I guess being 12 and getting into college might automatically grant you a full scholarship?
Yes. I saw the video, too, and I agree with you, cabsmom40. There's so much variety in homeschooling. Every family is so different, even if they teach the same curriculum. I think it's a great thing, and I think we can gather inspiration from many different stories. I was curious about how they afford it, too.
