Facing Home Schooling Opposition - The Question of Socialization

Countless times I have heard the question, "But what about socialization?" And I want to respond, "And what about Columbine? Were those shooters appropriately 'socialized?'" Schools did not teach them kindness or forgiveness. Actually, really it was the school system and the other children that made them bitter and full of hatred. I know that from personal experience.

Someone else said to me, "But how are you going to keep your kids from being annoying?" I went to school, and I had many classmates who were annoying. School did not make us "cool." Somebody somewhere is going to find us annoying because not every personality jives with every other personality. That is just the way it is, so why worry about this? Who cares about the popularity contest?

Someone else was concerned about our children not having the ability to stand against peer pressure and being able to make the right decisions. However, experts say that it is those children who have strong relationships with their parents that face these problems and overcome them. It is self-confidence instilled by a loving parent that gives a child the ability to turn away from peer pressure. The anti-drug campaigns on TV say, "Talk to your children because parents make a difference."

So school does not magically make a person "socialized." In fact, I really feel like it does the opposite. I cannot remember where I heard the quote, but someone once said that there is a difference between socialization and socializing. Socialization is the process of learning appropriate social behaviors, and socializing is the opportunity to mingle with other people.

Where in life are you going to be stuck in a place where there are 30 other people just like you, same age, same race, and same social class? School is a "false" social arena because you are not often faced with diversity, different ages and different cultures.

In life, there are many opportunities to socialize. Church, family gatherings, the neighborhood children, the local park in the summer, the play area at the mall in the winter, and play dates with friends are some of the ways that we find ways to socialize. The truth is that you really cannot stop children from socializing unless you lock them up. Children are naturally more outgoing than adults. Children do not see race or status. They just enjoy playing even when they do not know their new friend's name.

However, socialization is a careful and determined plan that a parent teaches their children on appropriate, mature behavior. Children need opportunities to face conflict or to make new friends, but even more, they need a chance to look back at those moments with their parents and see things from a new perspective. They need to be taught social graces by their parents, not by another six year old.

My oldest daughter Makani tells me about playing with her friends, "This little girl said that I was not allowed to play with this other little girl." So we talked about it: how it made her feel, how she should handle it, what she should say. Another time, she came home from a play date with a new attitude problem that we needed to discipline, and yet another time, she faced someone telling her that she was trouble. We had to show her that she was not trouble, and she felt renewed in her self-confidence, ready to face another social outing.

My middle daughter Rowena comes back from the park, saying she did not make any friends, and we talk about how to make friends and what to say and do to be friendly. The next time we go to the park, she exults by telling me, "Mommy, I made three friends." I have watched her come out of her shell, willing to initiate conversation.

With both girls, I find that it is much easier to correct the negative input from others when I can invest more into them than others do. Other children can be quite nasty in how they treat others, and children need time to recover from bullies and verbal abusers. I teach them something new about how to act and then give them another opportunity to face the social arena again.

Here are some of the important character traits a child needs to learn to be mature adults someday:

(1) how to recognize and deal with their own emotions

(2) respect for others, including others' space and possessions

(3) self-respect as well as self-confidence

(4) kindness towards others

(5) problem-solving and conflict resolution

(6) autonomy.

Author Info:

Rita Webb is a homeschooling mom for three young children, aged two, four, and six. Rita researches many homeschooling resources and writes reviews on these materials in her blog: http://mrkreview.blogspot.com

Disadvantages of Home Schooling

In the recent news, there have been so many problems in school, such as Columbine, the teaching shortages, overcrowded class room and the no child left behind program, and parents are turning to home school. The media has gone out of its way to point out the disadvantages of public school. But how many people have taken a look at home school disadvantages, some situations may not be appropriate for the child when home schooling.

While the concept of home schooling is great, there are a few situations where home schooling may not be a good thing. Some parents don't have adequate education, they have busy lifestyles, and they have limited financial resources. Although in certain situations home schooling is a good option for parents. But in most of the cases, the home schooling issues can be a disadvantage. There are lots of advantages for the kids when they go to a school. Home schooling may not be able to bring out that perfect level of confidence in the kids. Thus you must pay attention towards selection of the home schooling program. The wrong kind of program can be really disastrous for your kid. Make sure that you select the right one for your child.

One of the major problems are adequate education of the parents, most don't have a degree and are unsure how to do the new math, history is extremely boring and science is not one of their strong suits. In this situation it is not a good idea for the parents to teach their children at home. They will have a hard time making sure their children are able to keep up with the Joneses. In the technical age, children need all the education they can get.

Another problem is parents who have many children, busyness is a big concern, and a home school parent must be able to make time during his or her busy day to make sure the child gets the adequate education. Education is key to their survival; parents must have the time to give them a structured education.

The biggest of these problems is the limited financial resources of some parents, low income families rarely have the extra money to pay for books, curriculums and teaching supplies. There are some great resources to lower the prices of those items but they are still expensive items. People who want to home school should be able to afford a quality education for their children.

There are many problems with home schooling programs. The problems are numerous. You can only come up with the solution by either not opting for the home schooling program or by finding the right one for your kids. This is your responsibility.

Author Info:

Robert Grazian is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about disadvantages of home schooling visit Home Schooling Children for current articles and discussions.

Vital Information on Home Schooling

Effective Strategies For Home Schooling That You Can Use Starting Today

The concept of home schooling is widely accepted these days, there are many factors involved in deciding to home school, one of these could be, if you feel your child is not showing any improvement in the school system and needs your attention, but there are many more. So what information on home schooling do you need.

There are not many guides which you can follow to make home schooling easier and so you will know how to start a home school and proceed further with your objectives here is some information on home schooling.

Before you get approval from the local and the state authorities, first decide whether you are qualified to teach your child. Home schooling will not be limited to the basics but would include all the essential subjects that would be covered in a traditional school, only the set up differs. You would also need to meet the requirements of the local school officials to make your home schooling legally recognized.

Also, do not impose your decision on your child, just because you think you can teach better. If your child's records show that they are more comfortable in the school environment, you might need to reconsider. This is because changing the way they are taught might affect their potential and mindset thus hampering their progress. If you have finally made up your mind, several other points have to be taken care of. You would have to prepare a list of the subjects to be taught depending on whether the child needs an elementary level education or a high school level. The fundamentals to be covered in higher grade levels will include complex topics.

Another important piece of information on home schooling to be kept in mind is what are your state laws related to home schooling, these might occasionally vary in different areas. Get in touch with the local government officials to find out how it works and what needs to be done. Your child's education is only recognized when it is approved by governing bodies.

In the United States and Canada, the trend of home schooling has been increased tremendously as a matter of choice. This provides an opportunity for the contact between home schooling parents through the Internet for networking and support and to obtain more information on home schooling. Here, they can share tips and express their opinions regarding various aspects of home schooling. Such interchange of thoughts will be beneficial for you and your child. Another advantage is that it will support you toward your goal.

It is understood that when a child is home schooled, they can enjoy a certain level of freedom. This is not possible in an educational institution. Still, it is recommended that you get your child engaged in a schedule and projects which will be an aid to the learning process. You will thus understand where and how further improvement can be made.

There are various ways of teaching a child. However, the same learning mode might not be applicable to everyone. So, you would need to try various methods and decide which one yields the best results. If your child is not learning or improving, all your efforts will be in vain. Now, here you would be required to apply your knowledge and gain an insight as to what basic tools are needed for home schooling. The concept is similar to a class in a regular school which would have a proper set up. While teaching at home, there should be sufficient area where the classes can be taken.

The last but not the least piece of information on home schooling I would like to touch on is the financial aspect which should be within your limits. When you have made a list of all the essentials, estimate the overall cost and whether or not it suits your pocket. There are certain ways to lower the cost; however, it will require some tactics and research. Browse the net and check if you can avail yourself of any rebates or discounts on books or other items needed. Another way is to shop in bulk when you know that the materials will be utilized in the future.

Author Info:

For a mass of helpful information on Home Schooling visit http://www.homeprogramschooling.com/

You may copy this article on your web site provided you include the resource box with active links and this notice.

How to Expertly Home-School Your Children

If you have decided that homeschooling is the way to educate your child, you will need to prepare yourself for the ecstasy and the anxiety for the amazing journey ahead -- sure, as all new adventures are, some may be a little bit bumpy, but the rewards will more than make up for it. Producing a well-adjusted and well-rounded personality in today's complex society(ies), requires special handling of their educational environment.

it is important to learn more about your state laws on home schooling. Some states need an affidavit filed with the State's education department. There are 3 categories for homeschooling laws in most states. These are: private school laws, home education laws and equivalency laws. There is no way around it - you will need to first, find your state laws. You may also need to maintain a portfolio that records the childs educational progress but that is so with any educational process. It is smart to look into the legal requirements before you start homeschooling your child. Some States also stipulate a minimum educational qualification for the parent or teacher - wouldn't you want that to be the case? Imagine someone educating their children who are not really capable of doing so? That would be taking a step backwards and defeat the purpose.

Next, I would suggest that you look for support groups. Online there are many, and offline too. If you live in a friendly neighborhood, well-meaning friends may try to dissuade you but that stands to reason - anytime you try to do something even slightly out of the Status Quo, people want you to fit right back into it again - but that really is the core of Home Schooling - isn't it. If they do not try to dissuade you, they may put a lot of uneasy questions in your mind which may be their concerns more than yours. A support group that consists of like-minded people will insulate you from the criticism, and keep your eye on the ball - this can help relieve the peer-pressures and questions of regular school-goers. Many groups organize fun events like visits to the zoo, theatres, camping trips, museum tours even a friendly romp to the ice cream shops etc. And if your children hit it off with other homeschoolers, they will be able to build lasting relationships that do not fade when their friends change schools because there is something very special about this kind of learning. Support is important in any new endeavor - so groups of people helping each other develop a new way to do things really can be a key source of inspiration and provide an important avenue for socialization.

Next, another important thing to do is to select a curriculum - I suggest taking time with this - it's the foundation that you will build your educational empire state building on :).

Depending upon the method of homeschooling, you may choose various tools that aid you in this discovery and creative process. The internet is also a rich resource for homeschooling. Do some research and look into the material that is available.

Some Important Things to Remember:

Set certain ground rules. Homeschooling requires a lot of self-discipline and hard work. Here is a comprehensive list of the things you will need:

A) Discipline

B) Hard work and effort

C) Eagerness to learn

D) Time and patience

E) Enthusiasm

F) Flexibility

It would be a good idea to consider why you want to opt for homeschooling to begin with. Your motives and your reasons are important pillars on which the whole edifice of your child's lessons depends. Also, consult with your children and ask them how they feel about homeschooling. Let them answer honestly - don't sway them in either direction - it's important to know - because if they have any apprehensions about it, you may be able to legitimately alleviate them before and during the homeschooling process.

Select a curriculum or create an individual curriculum that best suits
your child's needs and style of learning. Record keeping is an important part of homeschooling.

Look into the various methods of record keeping that exist - like computer programs, and other sources you may know about. Set up a schedule so that your child does not have to learn 6-7 hours a day. Allow your child to dictate the time since homeschooling is not set in stone like Public Schools are forced to be. Flexibility and having fun are the cornerstones and great benefits of homeschooling. Do not pressure them, or put too many skills into a single term or year. Remember one major purpose for homeschooling is to help a child work at their pace, find their needs and meet them, and allow real growth to occur - which cannot be forced or rushed. Prepare a skill list or any other kind of list that you feel will help you focus on what needs to be introduced and developed and be ready to modify it as your child shows growth in any direction - another great benefit of homeschooling. Make the child learn the skills that he is ready for, not what you want them to be ready for; if you are going to take that later approach, you might as well keep them in public school they are great at dismissing a childs real needs, because they have to focus on the lowest-common denominator, and, they have to meet quotas set by their administrations and so forth - all counter productive to learning.

Gentle parenting and great listening is the secret to successful homeschooling. Children make great advances in learning and show more enthusiasm.

They also turn out to be surprisingly well balanced and well informed when they are taught at home.

Homeschooling has many elements you really need to know before you get involved with it. It's important to read and learn as much as you can before and during this process - really it's your job.

But where do you look, and searching online or even in a library for information can be confusing.

We have prepared a high-quality e-book and also an MP3 audio of the e-book so you can sit with your children and listen to it together. It is titled "Parents Guide to Homeschooling" that covers many important topics, as well as offers a solid resource guide so you have a strong foundation to research from.

You can read about it here, and also peruse the first two chapters as well as the Table of Contents. We hope this helps you whether you are considering homeschooling or are already involved in it, to make it the best learning experience for your children.

The world changes when better choices are made. Better choices are the direct result of personal awareness, and that can only come from quality education.

You can read more at the link below. Best of luck to you and your children!

Author Info:

Please Visit:
http://www.how-to-homeschool.net/
and
http://homeschooling-resources.info

TO LEARNING:

John Monteleone
PublicationShop.com
info@how-to-homeschool.net