This is just a minor vent. This is actually our first exp with negative hs remarks from a child. Homeschooling is popular around here, so it's usually not an issue.
My oldest would be going into 2nd grade this upcoming year, if we did school. Our homeschooling essentially looks like unschooling. My oldest child takes a lot of extra "after school" classes, because he really enjoys them. During the year, he immerses himself in art. Now that it's summer, he's taking some science day camps. When he takes his art classes, I sort of prep him to answer common questions. If someone asks him where he goes to school, he could just tell them that he's homeschooled. And if they ask what grade he's in, he would have no earthly idea what that is. So, this year, I've prepped him to answer "first grade".
So, I was really surprised when he asked me what a kindergartener was yesterday. He said that a girl in camp (ages 4-7) asked, "Why do you color like that??" My highly meticulous, detail-oriented little artist did what all kids do from time to time, which is that he quickly colored with no regard for the lines. He didn't understand what she meant. Then, she asked, "Are you a kindergartener?" He didn't know what that meant so she asked him how old he was and he answered "7".
It's kind of funny because it's like this stereotype of homeschooled children; he didn't know what a kindergartener was or what grade he was in.
We had a little talk and I explained that he was going to be in "second grade" even though we don't do grades.
Then, my son said that he and the little girl talked about college, which is a favorite subject of his. He's always saying how he's just skipping school and going to college. He can't wait to go to college, etc etc. I should also add that he's extremely innocent and sort of sees the best in everyone. I was happy that this conversation changed to a positive one. I asked what she said about college. Then, he said that the girl said, "When you grow up and want to go to college, you'll wish that you had gone to school."
So we had a big college talk about how lots and lots of homeschooled children attend college and how he doesn't need to attend school first to get there.
He then told her, "My parents don't want me to go to school." That sounded really funny because it sounds like we're locking him in the closet or something. Truthfully, he's this happy-go-lucky daydreamer who prefers to play and make stuff for most of the day. I really think he would get eaten alive in school. He knows that the big benefit of homeschooling for him is that he's in charge of his own day. He's very headstrong and he doesn't like to be directed so he's aware that homeschooling allows him to do what he wants. But the way he made it sound, my husband and I just don't want him to go to school.
Then, the girl asked "why" and he said, "I don't know." Then, he told her, "I think they would miss me too much if I went to school." Then, as far as I know, the conversation ended.
It was kind of a funny account and also slightly disturbing. I know kids just say these things and they often parrot what their parents say. I was annoyed on his behalf that she picked out his coloring and asked if he was in K, because of it (he's very tall; there's no way he could be mistaken by a kindergartener by anyone, trust me). And then the college remark annoyed me. My husband thinks I did a good job of refuting her college remark last night, so that there's no misunderstanding by our son. I don't want him to think that he can't go to college now because he doesn't attend school. We had a nice, long chat.
I reiterated that the main reason we don't use school is because we want him to have control over his day and what he does. He then added, "In school, you have to do lots of homework but at home, you can just stop when you don't feel like doing it." We don't do "work" per se but they have some workbooks that they use from time to time, so that's what he meant. He's in control of his day and he does know that. But when confronted, he said that his parents just don't want him to go to school and he doesn't know why. And he apparently has no idea what grade he's in.
Anyway, I just needed to do a minor vent and to share a bit of humor. Thanks.
My oldest would be going into 2nd grade this upcoming year, if we did school. Our homeschooling essentially looks like unschooling. My oldest child takes a lot of extra "after school" classes, because he really enjoys them. During the year, he immerses himself in art. Now that it's summer, he's taking some science day camps. When he takes his art classes, I sort of prep him to answer common questions. If someone asks him where he goes to school, he could just tell them that he's homeschooled. And if they ask what grade he's in, he would have no earthly idea what that is. So, this year, I've prepped him to answer "first grade".
So, I was really surprised when he asked me what a kindergartener was yesterday. He said that a girl in camp (ages 4-7) asked, "Why do you color like that??" My highly meticulous, detail-oriented little artist did what all kids do from time to time, which is that he quickly colored with no regard for the lines. He didn't understand what she meant. Then, she asked, "Are you a kindergartener?" He didn't know what that meant so she asked him how old he was and he answered "7".
It's kind of funny because it's like this stereotype of homeschooled children; he didn't know what a kindergartener was or what grade he was in.
We had a little talk and I explained that he was going to be in "second grade" even though we don't do grades.Then, my son said that he and the little girl talked about college, which is a favorite subject of his. He's always saying how he's just skipping school and going to college. He can't wait to go to college, etc etc. I should also add that he's extremely innocent and sort of sees the best in everyone. I was happy that this conversation changed to a positive one. I asked what she said about college. Then, he said that the girl said, "When you grow up and want to go to college, you'll wish that you had gone to school."
So we had a big college talk about how lots and lots of homeschooled children attend college and how he doesn't need to attend school first to get there.He then told her, "My parents don't want me to go to school." That sounded really funny because it sounds like we're locking him in the closet or something. Truthfully, he's this happy-go-lucky daydreamer who prefers to play and make stuff for most of the day. I really think he would get eaten alive in school. He knows that the big benefit of homeschooling for him is that he's in charge of his own day. He's very headstrong and he doesn't like to be directed so he's aware that homeschooling allows him to do what he wants. But the way he made it sound, my husband and I just don't want him to go to school.
Then, the girl asked "why" and he said, "I don't know." Then, he told her, "I think they would miss me too much if I went to school." Then, as far as I know, the conversation ended.It was kind of a funny account and also slightly disturbing. I know kids just say these things and they often parrot what their parents say. I was annoyed on his behalf that she picked out his coloring and asked if he was in K, because of it (he's very tall; there's no way he could be mistaken by a kindergartener by anyone, trust me). And then the college remark annoyed me. My husband thinks I did a good job of refuting her college remark last night, so that there's no misunderstanding by our son. I don't want him to think that he can't go to college now because he doesn't attend school. We had a nice, long chat.
I reiterated that the main reason we don't use school is because we want him to have control over his day and what he does. He then added, "In school, you have to do lots of homework but at home, you can just stop when you don't feel like doing it." We don't do "work" per se but they have some workbooks that they use from time to time, so that's what he meant. He's in control of his day and he does know that. But when confronted, he said that his parents just don't want him to go to school and he doesn't know why.
And he apparently has no idea what grade he's in.Anyway, I just needed to do a minor vent and to share a bit of humor. Thanks.
but also a few that think it's not right, usually those kids are influenced heavily by parents saying things at home. 
Anyway, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Kids put each other down sometimes over various topics, this is a topic that they happened to be discussing at the time. They're young and don't know much about anything at this point.
