What scares you the most about embarking on homeschooling?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One big concern is lack of socialization and loneliness. Where do kids find a circle of friends?

OP here. There are many homeschool co-ops which are basically one day a week of "instruction" by other co-op parents. They tend to be non academic classes, but this is not always true.

A one day a week co-op provides a friends group that is regular. From there, one can find people to join to do other things like field trips for homeschoolers, etc.

And do they often hang out with these friends? Or do they just see them at these planned events?

Dp. There is so much going on in the homeschooling world that kids tend to run into each other at various groups, classes, co ops and homeschool days. Homeschoolers are a big, diverse group, but it's a small world. My kids have friends from the various groups and they're close friends with several kids. Most homeschooling kids are so busy that the best time to hang out is after class, etc, which they do regularly.

So they have regular social lives? I guess that’s one thing that gives me pause. I’d want my kids to have normal friend groups where kids hang out at each other’s homes or go hang at the mall/movies etc. I wouldn’t want their socialization to be centered on these planned homeschooling activities. I know some kids are interested in that, but mine are so I am just answering honestly.

They meet people and form friendships at these activities. Many homeschoolers are busy. My kids have neighborhood friends as well as homeschool friends, who live all over the DMV. It's easier to hang out before or after an activity with friends from NoVa than it would be to try to find free time and commute to hang. There are kids in the neighborhood who my kids hang with during their free time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:1) Social isolation for kids. Lack of independence (being so reliant and “tied” to mom). School provides everyone a nice break, and that goes out the window with home schooling. 2) worried about hurting their chances for college.

Homeschooled kids are consistently better prepared to be independent, social and motivated.

[Anonymous]

- How you get an actual degree.
- College admissions.

[Anonymous]

I am not a trained teacher, so the curricular choices were overwhelming. I can read but I don’t know the best way to teach reading.

Similarly, when we considered HS, it was going to be temporary, so reintegration back to public school was a worry - both social and curriculum (esp math since I don’t know how to do the new math).

[Anonymous]

Kids not being well adapted socially

Kids not learning how to deal with difficult people

Kids grades not meaning as much. Gr.9 DD has 98 & 99% course marks, and maintained after a move to a new city and school. Having these marks being homeschooled seems it wouldn't carry the same degree of credibility or weight.

[Anonymous]

I have a 5 year old, and he can sniff out any time I try to do something involving education and gives me a hard time. I actually have a homeschool curriculum that is so fun and doesn't feel like school necessarily, but he still gives me a hard time doing 5 minutes worth of it a day. His teacher in pre-k says he's very attentive and happy to learn at school, so I think it's a better fit for him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m afraid that I won’t maintain the schedule and will have too many days that I say “we will do it tomorrow.”

This is exactly why I don't homeschool, although I've been totally disappointed by the elementary curriculum in our highly-rated FCPS pyramid. Textbooks and workbooks, no matter their flaws, at least have a table of contents, some thought put into the order in which topics are introduced, and professional editing. The wads of xeroxed printouts from Teachers Pay Teachers make it impossible for my kids to see their own progress.

And I wish FCPS hadn't done away with grammar, cursive, and spelling. (They supposedly teach spelling, but not in any consistent or effective way.)

But I'm not good at disciplining myself, and I have kids who will happily read for hours on end. It would be way too easy for me to postpone lessons in favor of letting them read books of their choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One big concern is lack of socialization and loneliness. Where do kids find a circle of friends?

It's a problem only if you are new to the area and kids don't have any friends. In which case the only way is to enroll them into some local sports or extracurriculars. If they already attended school and have local friends, then what prevents them from hanging out with the same group of friends? While in-school socialization is out of the picture, there is still plenty of socialization that happens after school.

[Anonymous]

My kids will fear their parents don't think they can handle regular school.

[Anonymous]

I only did it for one year ( 3rd grade) because of Covid. My biggest concern was that my kid would fall behind and not know what she needed for 4th grade. My fears were unfounded and she is doing great in 4th but it was my biggest concern at the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One comment I receive frequently is, "I'd like to homeschool, but I don't think I could do it." Reasons include working full time, lack of confidence in their abilities, fear the child won't listen to them, "socialization" and spending so much time with their kids.

They’re making polite conversation.

[Anonymous]

The major worry should be creating an undersocialized weirdo. Most normal people can smell a homeschooler from a mile away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The major worry should be creating an undersocialized weirdo. Most normal people can smell a homeschooler from a mile away.

Most normal people think they can smell a homeschooler, but have no clue.

[Anonymous]

My kid absolutely will not do anything academic for me. She needs positive peer pressure of other kids working at tasks nearby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid absolutely will not do anything academic for me. She needs positive peer pressure of other kids working at tasks nearby.

My kid is the complete opposite. Can’t focus in a room with others. He needs silence and zero distractions.