[Scrubsjm]

I couldn't think of a good way to title this. I will be HSing my 4 year old and I feel like I keep having the same conversation with her over and over about why she is not going off to pre-school with her friends or why she won't be going to PS later. She has this idea probably like most kids that school is all about riding the big yellow bus and playing with your friends all day. I've tried explaining until I'm blue in the face about all the advantages of HSing and how she'll have time to do all these extra's that she loves and how PS is going to be mostly about sitting and waiting on others. The choice between HS and PS is not up for discussion, and it's not up to her, I've also tried explaining that. That sometimes Mommies and Daddies have to make decisions that are best for our family and this is one of them. But honestly I'm just getting tired of going over this again and again with her. In her mind Mommy and Daddy are just being mean, and I don't feel like justifing the decision to her anymore. So what am I doing wrong here?

The blinkie in my sig is obviously wrong she doesn't love HS she thinks it's a punishment!

 

[Dar]

Join a homeschool group, or a conference. Let her meet other kids who don't go to school, both her age and older. My daughter was always happy to explain to other kids just why homeschooling rocked...

dar

 

[OTMomma]

My dd is also 4, she watched "Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends" on Noggin, and I explained that Miss Spider homeschools her kids, and she gets to homeschool just like them. There is one episode I had watched with her where Miss Spider took her kids all on a field trip with a snail... it was a good one. Anyway- somehow the TV show made this make total sense in a way that my explainations never had.

To me- this was a good use of TV.

 

[Irish_Blue]

My twins were like that as well but once we became invovled w/ other families and groups that hs it's just normal to them now

I found yahoo groups to be a wonderful place to start when I was looking for local groups.

 

[zeldamomma]

I agree with the idea of joining a homeschooling group. What my dds seemed to best understand was when I told them that instead of going to school, they'd stay home with me and we'd do fun things together.

If you want to make her less enthusiastic about school, let her watch the disney channel-- they're having a "getting ready for kindergarten" series as filler between shows that makes it seem just awful, IMHO.

ZM

 

[Leersia]

Hi there,
I haven't spoken too much to my 4-year-olds about HSing yet, as I am sending them to a Waldorf preschool this year and am not fully decided about HSing (but leaning heavily in that direction). However, just today I read them a library book called "I am a Home Schooler" by Julie Voetberg that they found fascinating. Afterwards, they told me that they wanted to be home schooled too (and they ask me about "regular" school all the time too!). Give it a try with your daughter?!

Good luck! I'd love to know how you do with this.

 

[SagMom]

I'll third (fourth?) the suggestion of a homeschool group.

Also, has she been involved at all in the planning for what you'll be doing? If you're buying supplies, could she choose the art supplies or puzzles or whatever? If you're planning any trips could she be in on the discussion?

 

[Roar]

Joining the chorus here - you need a group. If she can look forward to meeting the other homeschooled kids on Tuesdays at the park (or whatever) it'll make a big difference. And, if she wants to ride a bus, you can take her for a ride on the city bus. I did that with my five year old and it entirely cured his interest in bus riding.