feeling guilty about homeschool...

I really really want to homeschool my son. He is currently in preschool and I just.. hate it. It's not like its a bad school, it's a really good private school. But I just idk, he's 3.5 and I just feel like he would benefit for more outside time (at home) he only has 30-40 minutes a day broken into two 15-20 minute periods. I just don't want him to end up hating school or getting burnt out. I feel it's important to let boys just play and learn hands on. I just don't know what to do. I dread when he begins kindergarten and it's full day and he's sitting in a classroom for 6+ hours.

I adore the finnish way of learning that up until the age of seven a child is just being a child and playing and learning how to learn. That reading isn't forced upon the child but yet letting them get it when they get it, but reading to them constantly.

I Just don't know what to do.. I have doubts in myself, and I feel guilty for putting him in school to begin with. I feel that my fiance family will constantly judge us which is hard since we live in their household. But then I have this gut feeling, the US is ranked 14 in education.. the countries that are above us must be doing something right, there is an increasingly number of boys in the US to not do as well as girls and I want to give my son what will help him succeed. I'm just conflicted.

Any thoughts/opinions would be helpful. Especially if you personally homeschool.

If he's only in preschool half the day, why can't you take him outside the rest of the day? Being outside is not "schooling" them though... He's going to learn alot more around other children (inside or outside), then he will all by himself. KWIM?

Quoting ma ♥:" If he's only in preschool half the day, why can't you take him outside the rest of the day? Being outside ... [snip!] ... them though... He's going to learn alot more around other children (inside or outside), then he will all by himself. KWIM?"

He has full day preschool. We take him outside after but he is so beat after school and cranky/grumpy almost like he's too overstimuliated (sp?) and antsy because he's been sitting all day.

put him in 1/2 day preschool?

Quoting ♥ ILU ♥:" He has full day preschool. We take him outside after but he is so beat after school and cranky/grumpy almost like he's too overstimuliated (sp?) and antsy because he's been sitting all day. "

Hmm I've never heard of a preschool where they are sitting all day.. I agree that is a little much for a 3yr old. Maybe look into different schools? My son goes to an excellent private christian preschool & they are out playing all throughout the day. Outside, inside. But they also sit down & learn. & Sing, & color, & do all sorts of stuff.

We did homeschool and my son is in public school now, sooooo..that should give you some indication of how that went.

Playing outside isnt schooling. Why would you not want your child to be full of knowledge? My son is in 1st grade and my daughter starts kindergarten next year. I work so hard with them. My daughter is 4. Writes her own name, counts to 20, says her ABCs. We are recognizing numbers and letters with flash cards. We read things. She askes me to spell words. You can never give your child too much knowledge. School will certainly expand their knowledge. My son learned more in school than he ever did with me teaching him.

Quoting MommyingWithGrace:" We did homeschool and my son is in public school now, sooooo..that should give you some indication of ... [snip!] ... knowledge. School will certainly expand their knowledge. My son learned more in school than he ever did with me teaching him."

If you look at other countries school systems there is learning before the age of 7 but they do not start school until this age. Children are allowed to play and simply be children. In their kindergarden it is more about learning about caring, love and respect. Reading is at their pace. In finland (top in education) there is no standartirized(sp?) test until the end of highschool, Their students surpass our students in every single grade. It has been proven through many studies that boys need plenty of outside/physical activity that this is a main reason that boys fail later in school. Up until age 7 in these countries they learn how to learn, they learn through hands on skills, playing and conversation.

Quoting ma ♥:" Hmm I've never heard of a preschool where they are sitting all day.. I agree that is a little much for ... [snip!] ... throughout the day. Outside, inside. But they also sit down & learn. & Sing, & color, & do all sorts of stuff."

yeah my son is in pre school and goes half day and they get plenty of time outside.

Quoting ma ♥:" Hmm I've never heard of a preschool where they are sitting all day.. I agree that is a little much for ... [snip!] ... throughout the day. Outside, inside. But they also sit down & learn. & Sing, & color, & do all sorts of stuff."

They do a lot of activities that require him to sit still, they push a lot of academics which I thought was a good thing until I began my research. They get two outside times of about 15 minutes each time. It just seems way too much for a 3.5 year very active boy.

Quoting Bender Bending Rodriguez:" yeah my son is in pre school and goes half day and they get plenty of time outside. "

Yea.. all the ones around here are either 2 15-20 minute ones or one 30-40 minute period. Same with the preschools around here too...

My husband and I have been discussing this. And I will continue to be a SAHM. We are going to be homeschooling... With all the time spent getting all the kids ready to listen, prepared to learn, just everything... We will be able to accomplish the same thing in the same time, working at my kids pace. Rest if they need to rest, run around if they need to burn some energy. I want to know who thought it would be a good idea to teach a 6 year old to learn, sitting behind a desk for hours. There are tons of homeschool social activity / class's available for the kids to pick one.

I'm not saying all parents can or want to homeschool, but f that's what you feel is best for your family, and that's where your heart is, why not?

Quoting boobook:" My husband and I have been discussing this. And I will continue to be a SAHM. We are going to be homeschooling... ... [snip!] ... parents can or want to homeschool, but f that's what you feel is best for your family, and that's where your heart is, why not?"

this is how I feel! I want to cry imagining him in kindergarten and first grade that young sitting in a desk for hours. if other countries are producing "smarter" kids then ours and they don't even introduce formal learning and have no standarized testing and don't give their children hours of homework a day then something must be wrong with our system.. The percentages for boys and the collage attendance rate and highschool graduation is staggering and not in a good way. In 2 hours I can teach him what he would have learned in 6 at school, and in a funner way. I just want him to love learning not feel burnt out and hate it.

Honestly, they dont sit in a desk for hours. My son's teacher sent home his daily schedule. Between class work, music/art/PE/etc, recess, lunch, bathroom breaks, more class work, and group activities...they arent in a desk long. You might need to look at different schools.
My son's teacher has those huge exercise balls for the kids to sit on instead of chairs. They dont have chairs at their desk. They bounce on balls. all day. lol

<blockquote><b>Quoting ♥ ILU ♥:</b>" this is how I feel! I want to cry imagining him in kindergarten and first grade that young sitting ... [snip!] ... he would have learned in 6 at school, and in a funner way. I just want him to love learning not feel burnt out and hate it. "</blockquote>


I feel the same way.. And any more reason.