
You must know the multiple benefits of homeschooling if you are contemplating this or already doing this. Not only do you have a controlling power on what is being taught to your child but you could even personalize the course according to your child’s specific learning needs and stay away from the pressures of public school education. However, do you know how much damage you can cause both in the mental and social context, if you do not make your choices wisely?
Every child needs someone to talk to and someone to play with, and they find their mates in school. What will the other kids think of your homeschooled child? Like it or not, children in public schools often think that homeschooled children are not in public school because of mental disorders, behavioral problems, or “freaky” parents. This makes your child out of the ordinary, and this may make others make fun or tease him. These challenges must be overcome if you want your child to have a positive social life and be able to function amongst their peers when they get to college.
When you decide to homeschool the child, also take care of his companionship needs and this as important as his academic needs. For the child to have a positive social sphere later, here are some tips that would help you to put him on the right path. Know your neighborhood and start with where you live: How many children close to your child’s age live nearby? Do you know the parents? If not, you need to. Talk to the parents who live close by and tell them about your interest in setting up a play date so they can get to know each other. Since you are the initiator, it is your responsibility to set the ball rolling, so fix up a party and call a clown to liven things up. Call all the kids in the neighborhood along with their parents and set up a ball game, fishing, bowling or similar activities which kids love and even be prepared to baby sit if necessary.
Sports are important: Next to school, sports teams provide the best environment for your child to form deep bonds with other kids. The practice sessions make their friendship grow and grow stronger as you also get a chance to interact with other parents. If you child is handicapped or challenged physically which makes it embarrassing for him to make public appearances, then girls/boys scout or similar kid organizations are the best option you have where he could join.
Let Pop Culture into the Home: Some homeschooling parents maintain strict control over what their child is allowed to listen to on the radio, watch on television, and what they do on the internet. While it is good to protect your kid from the so-called evils of modern society, remember the child also needs exposure to things which other kids are exposed to. Remember your kid is fighting a lone battle with other kids who think that he is from Mars, imagine his predicament in public when he shows his ignorance about what is hot on TV, what other kids are wearing at parties and which bands are making a mark? Without any exposure to what the modern society is going through, your kid runs the risk of being treated like an outcast and would have a lot of problem relating to others.