Anyone had any experience with doing this?

My wife met another mum yesterday who has been home schooling her son since he was 1.5. He is now 3.5 and can add and subtract double digit numbers and read and write (neatly too) basic sentences. She teaches him 2hrs day, the "3 Rs" plus Science and Geography.

Thinking of doing the same.

i think good parenting requires both,

you send them to school to learn and you learn them when they are at home also.

my kids get counting/reading/writing/drawing/puzzle lessons at home etc.

it's not formal learning as such however it's fun and done in the form of games etc.

even reading to the kids every night is teaching.

i think the real issue is that some parents expect their kids to learn everything at school. you gotta be pro-active i think and treat every situation as a learning opportunity.

Team sports, music, carnivals, friends, play dates, co-operative work with peers.
I would consider all the options carefully!!! If its academic reasons then perhaps source a tutor?
You can always tell the children that are home schooled.......
sorry, am a teacher and a mum and would not do it...... however i do supplement their learning with fun activities at home.
Goodluck

Approach with caution.

There are definately pros n cons as per any 'non-mainstream' education such as Montessori etc.

You will also have to deal with less social interaction and a definate "Oh... your child homeschools (thinking - must be some kind of uber gumby)?" attitude form other parents/friends.

The majority of homeschool kids have to be - due to special needs etc - but there are certainly happy, balanced 'normal' kids who homeschool. Bloody big job for parents though..

Good luck.

i pointed my wife towards this thread. i think she is still shaking her head. she's worked in early childhood all of her career.

she agrees with barbie. and also says you can pick the home educated kids and suggested that your wife's friends children stand a very high chance of falling behind once they are in year 5 -7.

she said read any text book on early childhood and it will promote play as the best source of learning. dramatic play, role play etc.

her tips for extra learning other than puzzles, counting games etc at home is music, craft and reading.

you need to promote a balanced and well rounded nurturing environment to promote well balanced socially aware children.

Thanks people.

A pretty clear picture is emerging. Guess we'll just stick with the puzzles, books, Lego, arts & crafts etc. Excellent.

Oh, he is doing Tae Kwondo and gym, which seem to be really good for his co-ordination (or lack thereof) and listening, following orders, concentration, respect for elders etc. Plus they're just fun.

windykid said...

theres more to learn than what you learn at school

Yet nothing quite beats it for learning social interaction from a young age.

speelings fine mate,

just throw the occasional bit of punctuation in now and then.

Ok. Can I throw this one into the mix?

Private vs Public.

I've been to both (Sydney Grammar & Coombabah State High) and I'd be curious to see other people's opinions.

evlPanda said...

Ok. Can I throw this one into the mix?

Private vs Public.

I've been to both (Sydney Grammar & Coombabah State High) and I'd be curious to see other people's opinions.

Crikey!! here we go..

I would say the average standard of edumacashun is higher at privvies.

I went to both too. 2 private schools and one state school in 2 diff states. I must say that I went to very much the lower end of privvies (also the lower end of pubbos) and in the 2 of the 3 cases the standard of edumacashun was pathetic. The cr@ppy privvy school (St Leo's - Melb) doesn't even exist anymore so I guess that worked itself out in the end.

I must say I am ideologically opposed to private schools (and too broke to even think about my kids goin to one) but I believe Privvy kids get a better network amongst the movers n shakers. That is a mixed blessing as they can be a total doofus and still smarm their way to a decent career via school connections/name dropping.

On the other tack, if you have got the gumption and drive then going to a Pubbo school is not going to stop you - just that you won't neccessarilly get a free pass/head start in the "Oh, didn't you play polo with James McNobshiner? - Well You will make a cracking CEO old boy!" stakes. Having to get off your own butt and not expecting to be spoon fed is a good thing too I reckon.

I think there is more variety of people (good n bad) and opinions at a pubbo school, compared to privvy, which can be a bit insular.

Lucky for me I live near a pretty durn good pubbo school, so with any luck will not have to explore the privvy sector and can still hope for a very good education for my lads.

Tough question though for most folks in the realistic wages sector such as moi.