Home educating

Firstly how absolutely absurd to say she's too young to learn sounds likethat. Surelythats like saying she's to young to count with or sing nursery rhymes too??!!

I know people don't understand all sorts of aspects of HE, not just the teaching them yourself and socialisation, but some of my friends don't understand why I wouldn't want to send my kids to schoolfor a break from then I can't wait to be so fully involved in teaching my girls to learn new things. I love the fact that Kacie learns something new every day at this age and love it even more that it's me and DH who are mainly resposible for teaching her what she knows.

I've no idea on how I'll structure a day or anything. I'll cross that bridge when they're older and I know what DH and I are doing work-wise I also suspect how our days work is something that will change and evolve as the kids get older

As far as I am concerned we all HE our kids to a degree, after all education starts at home.

wss. when you read to them and learn them colours. a childs main teacher is their parents. unfortunate for some children, but not for others

Morag, out of genuine interest, how do you get around the university entry requirements if you don't have the exam results they want?

You contact course tutors directly and ask for an interview and take your portfolio along.

As far as I am concerned we all HE our kids to a degree, after all education starts at home.

wss. when you read to them and learn them colours. a childs main teacher is their parents. unfortunate for some children, but not for others

The biggest influence on how well a child does is how involved the parents are. School is only part of a school educated child's education. This is why HE really isn't the scary thing that some people believe it is. Many parent are doing a lot of the work already anyway. The other thing is that once a chid teaches themselves to read, the world is their oyster and they can learn anything. The don't need structured, formal teaching at at all. They learn all sorts of stuff by just living and being interested in the world around them. It's just a progression of what happens at home before children go to school.

Morag, out of genuine interest, how do you get around the university entry requirements if you don't have the exam results they want?

You contact course tutors directly and ask for an interview and take your portfolio along.

That's interesting to know, thanks It's actually something I might consider for Ross at some point

Part of me would love to HE & part of me sees Kai loving Play School due to being with mammy 24/7!! We're also lacking so many place s to go & visit that i'm sure helps when HE if you can do trips to museams, libraries, parks etc for more 'hands on' learning....

I'm very much a 'let them learn as they wish' sort of person & where alot of my friends kids know the whole alphabet etc, Kai has just decided he wanted to learn it & has basically taught himself by copying letters & asking what they are!!

Am glad he won't be starting school til Sept as i do feel it's long enough/ too long (in til 18 over here)....

I think in my situation it is so much about lack of confidence in my OWN abilities that stops me considering it more.... That said if Kai hates school, i'll def reconsider!!

part of me wants to HE lewis when I see how pants the school are at dealing with ADHD

Part of me would love to HE & part of me sees Kai loving Play School due to being with mammy 24/7!! We're also lacking so many place s to go & visit that i'm sure helps when HE if you can do trips to museams, libraries, parks etc for more 'hands on' learning....

I'm very much a 'let them learn as they wish' sort of person & where alot of my friends kids know the whole alphabet etc, Kai has just decided he wanted to learn it & has basically taught himself by copying letters & asking what they are!!

Am glad he won't be starting school til Sept as i do feel it's long enough/ too long (in til 18 over here)....

I think in my situation it is so much about lack of confidence in my OWN abilities that stops me considering it more.... That said if Kai hates school, i'll def reconsider!!

HE kids tend to be very busy socially. They do stuff with HE groups, go to clubs with school and HE children of all ages and adults. They have hobbies and interests in and outside of the home. They spend time with grandparents and relatives who teach them stuff and do stuff with them. It's also nice to spend time alone too, to just think.

You shouldn't worry about your own abilities. That's irrelevant. HE kids from poor backgrounds with parents who are not well educated still do better in life than school educated children. They are happier, more sociable, love their jobs and are typically better off.

You just need to be interested and facilitate his learning, not actually teach him. I can't do languages or chemistry to save myself, they were my worst subjects at school yet DD1 excels at these. I can't dance or do drama either, but DD2 and DD3 regularly perform in professional panto, ballet and dance productions. (Tonight they are performing in Aladdin at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow.) I don't know the first thing about nature or engineering but DS1 amazes everyone with his knowledge.

Are you confident that you are a good parent? That's all you need.

part of me wants to HE lewis when I see how pants the school are at dealing with ADHD

A large percentage of ASD/ADHD/dyslexic/special needs kids are home educated. You could always give it a go, you can't really get it wrong. Even if it's short term, he will benefit massively from the experience. He certainly won't lose out on anything.

Have you watched this:

http://www.raisingsmallsouls.com/animal ... school.swf