Archive for August, 2008
If you are currently homeschooling or considering this for your child, you probably know all the benefits it can provide. All children learn at different speeds so this way it is possible to have them learn at a pace that suits them and of course there will be more control over what subjects they do learn. Still, there are things you need to be aware of that can be harmful to your child if you decide to do this.
Children need friends, usually, they meet their friends in school so take a child out of school and where will they meet potential play partners? Many children who are homeschooled are often the brunt of jokes about their parents being strange or are taunted because they may have a disorder that prevents them from attending school. Be prepared for your child to be humored or teased as the child is considered to be abnormal. You ought to take these problems seriously and solve them if your child attends college just like any other child.
By deciding to homeschool, it becomes the parent’s responsibility to find friendships for the child and this task is just as important as the actual school work. The following tips will get you started towards placing your child on the track of a positive social life. Know your neighborhood and start with where you live: How many children close to your child’s age live nearby? Do you know the parents? If not, you need to. Talk to the parents who live close by and tell them about your interest in setting up a play date so they can get to know each other. Since you are the initiator, it is your responsibility to set the ball rolling, so fix up a party and call a clown to liven things up. Invite all the local kids over, their parents and organize a ballgame, fishing, bowling, or any other activity that children enjoy - even offer to baby-sit.
It is critical to organize sporting activities as, other than school, these are best chances which children get to make true friends. They spend a lot of time at practice and root for each other in games and you’ll be meeting other parents while watching all the games. In case your child has some physical handicap, which would prevent him for participating in these types of sports activities make him join groups like girls/boys scout or other similar kid organizations.
Do not be so protective that homeschooling prevents your children from enjoying and learning about life outside their home. While it is good to protect your kid from the so-called evils of modern society, remember the child also needs exposure to things which other kids are exposed to. Remember that your child is already facing an uphill battle to not be considered “weird” so imagine how much worse it would be for them if they didn’t know any of the hot bands, cool TV shows, or what type of clothes other kids wear? Unless they are exposed to life as it is, they would have a tough time interacting with others and would soon be treated as an alien.
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