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How To Homeschool Without Making Your Child An Outcast
By Michael Nelson, Sat Dec 10th
If you are currently homeschooling or considering homeschooling your child, you probably know all the benefits homeschooling can provide. You’ll have more control over the curriculum, be ableto customize teaching to your child’s personal learning style,and avoid the pressures and dangers of public schools. However,are you aware of the major mental and social damage you cancause if you don’t make the right choices? Children need friends. Usually, they meet their friends inschool. Take a child out of school, and where will they meetpotential play partners? What will the other kids think of yourhomeschooled child? Like it or not, children in public schoolsoften think that homeschooled children are not in public schoolbecause of mental disorders, behavioral problems, or “freaky”parents.
Your child might be made fun of or picked on because heisn’t considered normal. These challenges must be overcome ifyou want your child to have a positive social life and be ableto function amongst their peers when they get to college. By deciding to homeschool, it becomes the parent’s responsibility to find friendships for the child. This task isjust as important as the actual schoolwork. The following tips will get you started towards placing your child on the track ofa positive social life.
Know your neighborhood: Start with where you live. How many children close to your child’s age live nearby? Do you know theparents? If not, you need to. Seek out parents nearby. Let them know you have a child that you’d like to set up a play date for.Since you’re the one initiating these meetings, you’re also the one who needs to do the organizing. Have a party. Hire a clown.Invite all the local kids over. Invite other kids and their parents to a ballgame, fishing, bowling, or any other activitythat children enjoy. Or even offer to baby-sit. Sports are important: Next to school, sports teams provide thebest environment for your child to form deep bonds with otherkids. They spend a lot of time at practice and root for eachother in games. Also, you’ll be meeting other parents while watching all the games. If your child has physical problems orwould embarrass himself on a playing field, get them involved in activities like Boy/Girl Scouts or any other local organization for children. Let Pop Culture into the Home: Some homeschooling parents maintain strict control over what their child is allowed to listen to on the radio, watch on television, and what they do onthe internet. While it is important to keep them away fromdangerous situations, it is also important to let them be exposed to the same influences as other children. Remember that your child is already facing an uphill battle to not be considered “weird.” Imagine how much worse it would be for them if they didn’t know any of the hot bands, cool TV shows, or what clothes other kids wear? Without being exposed to mainstream culture, they will have little to talk about with other children and will have a hard time relating to others. About the author:For a complete collection of articles, visit www.homeschoolingsecrets.info
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