Tips to Help Homeschooled Children Prepare for the Real World
by Homeschooling is a system whereby a parent teaches their child from the home. There are many variations of how this is done, as well as many reasons why parents select this form of educating their children. In this guide we see some tips so those children who are home schooled can easily adjust to living in a world where most kids went to school.
Have two roles. Children in the public school system learn that there are things they can get away with at home, in front of mom and dad, but that these things are not tolerated by their peers or teachers. As a parent you must have one role as a teacher and expect different behavior during those formal times. This prepares a child for the workplace where their employer and co-workers will have different expectations of them.
Have a room especially for the purposes of learning. It is best not to use the kitchen, but rather to have a special room, and the children know that once they enter that room, it is “School” time. This also establishes a boundary between what is accepted at home, and what is accepted out in the real world.
Field Trips are different than Holidays. While many cases we can learn while on holiday, tone it down rather than keeping every opportunity as a learning one. It is important they have a break too. Just like when we enter the work world we get holidays, your children should have holidays too.
Ask yourself are you a “good” Teacher? In the work world, we wouldn’t want to be stuck at a job we hated. We also recognize not everything is going to be fun and games. There are parts we will like, and parts we will dislike. However if we find ourselves being too overbearing as an educator, we need to realize this is not a pleasant learning experience for our children. Not ever parent is cut out to be a Teacher.
Have an open mind, and encourage the same from your children. This goes back to an earlier point about not sheltering them from other ideas. Education on some things, even if it is not what you believe, is important. Let them decide what they want to believe in, or not. If you only teach them your side, they will have a difficult time conversing with others on a variety of subjects. Do not be afraid of letting your child grow up into somebody who can think for themselves.
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Homeschooling is becoming more and more popular for a variety of reasons, and while some children will have successful experiences, others will struggle when they enter a world where they are the minority. By following tips in this guide, hopefully your homeschooled child will have no problems.
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Post CommentDarla Cooke
On March 26, 2009 at 7:26 am
This is a great article! My sister home schools her two children, but she does it mainly because her husband doesn’t want them being influenced by kids in the public schools. The only friends they have are cousins and other kids from their Church.
Glynis Smy
On March 26, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Sensible guidelines! My friend turned her garage into a ‘classroom’, she and 2 other mothers share the working week and the 5 children interact.
Ruby Hawk
On March 28, 2009 at 9:41 pm
You have a good plan, I have known some kids who were home schooled and they didn’t seem to do as well in public as other children. Maybe the parent didn’t understand home schooling.