Ut oh it happened.

[goobergrl6]

Eric told me today that he would like to go to school next year. I asked him why and he said he could meet new people and make things. I told him we could do that here. I asked him what made him want to go to school and he said he will be doing a lot of things over the summer without me and would like to try school too without me. I told him we will think about it more and talk with daddy and see how he feels in a couple weeks. We always said we would go with what they want so we will see. I want to go cry now but I can't because I told him it would always be up to him and he could tell me anything (he had a hard time telling me this morning). I don't know if he will change his mind over the simmer at all and I plan on giving it till like mid to end of July before I register him so he has time to really think about it. Of course I worry about him being so ahead in most subjects and them being able to cater to that. UGH....anxiety.

Lisa

[Lisa1970]

How old is he? My daughter went through this and we let her try. She hated it! She regretted it. It was not at all on the inside what it appeared to be on the outside. I made her finish the year. She will be back home next year. She never ever wants to go back, ever. My younger children were in public school during some of this time and they never want to go back either. 

Ultimately, it is your decision. At this point, I have no intention of allowing my children to try public school again. But, my children have all pretty well tried it and know how awful it is. We no longer expose our children to things that might lead to them wanting to do public school. I am stuff like TV shows where they act like public school is the end all be all, great place where everyone loves one another and gets along and treats each other well. Barney always was harping on how great school was. Even at the preschool level, there are shows we just do not do. We try to even keep extra curriculars to home school stuff. 

[AnnR33]

Mine asked to go to school so they could do recess! LOL

I agree that it is ultimately your decision. But if you want to let him try it, you can always change your mind later. That's the great thing, you have options. He might go for a few weeks and want to come home-fine. Bring him home and don't worry about what the school thinks.

Maybe joining a group with regular weekly meet ups might be enough for him too.

Good luck!

[goobergrl6]

He is 7 so he would be in 2nd. We are working on the WHY he wants to go now and trying to add that in at home. He said he wants to do projects.....coming from my kid who hates art I was shocked. So a trip to Michael's is after lunch. Right now he is painting a bird house. Also he wants to make new friends. This stumps me. He has a best friend he does stuff with, neighbors he plays with almost every day and we do a homeschool park/get together usually 2x a week with different kids. So he is not a shut in. LOL Yeah I have no fear that this has to be permanent if he tries it out it just makes me a bit sad. Luckily summer is coming so he has a few months to really think about it.

[Stephenie]

Do you think something like playing a sport, joining a club etc would pacify his desire? You know a group of new kids, mom's not there, but he still gets the benefits of homeschooling, which you could point out to him. IE getting to go to the bathroom whenever he wants, being able to go to things like park day in the middle of a "school day" etc.

[briansmama]

My ds is 7 1/2 and we have gone through this as well. He pretty much said the same reasons as your ds- more access to friends, etc. I rally think they are just curious, and I also think that developmentally, 7 is a year of a child becoming more self-aware and not wanting to be "different" from his friends. 

You mentioned neighborhood friends- could this be the reason why he's asking? I know that my ds plays a lot with our neighbors and those kids all go to the same school. It's hard to be the only one not doing what the other kids are all doing, especially when these other kids only know school, so they really don't "get" why he doesn't go.

I found that by talking up homeschooling's advantages (and for my ds, there are many) more often without putting down traditional schooling really helped. For example, my ds really wouldnt fit into a traditional 2nd grade this fall. He ahead in many areas, yet right on target when it comes to things like writing, for example. He would hate the crowdedness, which he readily admits, as well as constantly rotating content (we use a creative curriculum that focuses on one block or area of study for a month or almost 2 instead of switching focus numerous times a day). There is no way our local crowded school could offer him an individualized program or course of study.

I would look at where it's coming from and really explore the main issue. For us, it was a curiosity combined with not wanting to be so different. e address these themes all the time and the desire to go to school is pretty much gone. Also, we know other homeschoolers who went through this and all say by age 9 or 10 their kids were hearing how lucky they are to be homeschooled from the neighbor kids, who are no longer so enthusiastic about ps by that point.

[lmonter]

My 5yo was the one pushing for preschool this year.  Sigh. 
If you're looking for a more finite alternate, what about finding local day camps this summer that are available for him to try out?  That could be a way to make new friends and do crafts...  ;)

[Mittsy]

Both of mine are asking to go. And, we said no to both of them. The only reasons they wanted to go was because their neighborhood friends are going, and they want to ride the school bus.

[Lillian J]

I think it's only natural, and probably healthy, for a child to be curious about how it would be to be more on his own out in the world. Mine was burned out from kindergarten in one school and 1st grade in another, so he was happy to be home, but I really, really, really worked at keeping up an active social life for him, and that got us through. Sounds like your son has a pretty active social life, but maybe he's just craving a lot more in the way of group play and activities. Best of luck to you in coming to a happy resolution.

 Lillian

[MathMomma]

Have you thought about participating in after-school activities at the school?  Or attending part-time?  My son attended public school for K-1, and was reluctant to try homeschooling.  He had the same reason:  "he wants to meet new kids."  He has plenty of friends, but he likes the idea of meeting new kids at school.  We told him that he could still do clubs after school and that if he didn't like homeschooling, we'd put him back in school.  He loves homeschooling!  The after-school clubs filled his need of meeting new friends.  Eventually, he decided that he really didn't want to do that anymore, but he knows that it's an option.  We also have friends who homeschool and attend the local public school only for special events--holiday parties, PE, library, music, art, etc.