View other questions

Anyone thinking of abandoning ‘home schooling’ next term in favour of a happier life and better relationships with their

Answered 4 years ago

Anyone thinking of abandoning ‘home schooling’ next term in favour of a happier life and better relationships with their kids?

We are on school holidays now, but after having a taste of homeschooling and everything else im wondering if it would be better for my family to just abandon term two. The stress of it all and the way it is impacting my relationship with my kids is worrying me. Im thinking we would still continue with daily reading, maybe some handwriting sheets/books and maths sheets, reading eggs and mathletics, then just life, as in making cakes and doing all our home things that we’d usually do, painting, play doh what ever.. Maybe some good lessons on making beds and cleaning toilets too... The time table our school has provided is sooooo full on, i just dont feel like i can stick to that and have a happy family too. What say all of you?


Have an answer?

This question has been closed and is no longer accepting answers.

Answers

An unexpected error has occurred, please try again shortly.
ANSWER
4 years ago
I read this post initially and thought lazy parent. However after you outlined what you have been doing that is exactly what schools should do, in primary there should be an element of structure, spontaneity, fun and life skills - well done to you. Kids are not robots and do not need to be programmed hopefully parents like you will band together and provide your feedback to the department of education so they stop all this mindless rote learning and give teachers the freedom to try a flexible approach to learning. And this monitoring of kids and teachers has to stop we have to foster a love of learning.

ANSWER
4 years ago
I’ve already abandoned it with my 7 year old. He has Aspergers with adhd....if I can get him to concentrate on one sentence that comes out of my mouth it would be as if I’d been blessed with a miracle 😂 I tried it and am now solely doing reading with occassional printed out sheets.

ANSWER
4 years ago
Yep, looking at throwing in the towel to be perfectly honest

Replies

REPLY
4 years ago
Hi there ^ 😊 im the OP, wrote this question a few weeks ago, since then i took my own advice and that of a few on here, we have not been doing ‘home schooling’ and we are very happy as a result, my younger kids are 4 & 7 (i have 16 year old too, but she is a Trainee and self studies).... We have been very busy doing all sorts of things, the kids are reading everyday, doing reading eggs and mathletics, we have work books as well and we have been doing lots of painting, play doh, cutting, sticking, puzzles, writing etc but all on our own timetable. Aside from other things my 7 year old has learnt to sort and do the washing! Including using the washing machine and hanging it out and bringing it in (and she loves doing it!) this new skill she has learnt has gained her ‘employment’ with my 16 year old paying her $7.50p/w to do her washing (which is 1-2 loads p/w)! Great life lessons. Now she is ‘earning’ we will be learning about saving money, counting money, banking etc. She has also learnt to cook a vegetarian shepherds pie, omelette, muffins, and a few other basic dinners all by herself! So to you above and anyone else reading id say THROW IN THE TOWEL! Use the skills you already instinctively have to teach your children and leave it at that. Any gaps that occur can be made up, damaging your kids, your home environment and your sanity can take years to repair and some things may never be repaired.

REPLY
4 years ago
Really well said. I have spent half the day going through my elder child’s work as I didn’t get time to check it during the week and it led to tears and arguments from both of us. I am exhausted and meant to restart all over again tomorrow morning. If we were to go on holidays the kids would miss a week of school not do work and it would be ok so I might pick a week and just not do the work that week and we can have an iso “holiday “ at home.

REPLY
4 years ago
OP Thank you so much. I wrote that comment after a particularly stressful week. I have a 6 year old and a 6 month old. Trying to teach according to the school timetable is causing a rift between myself and my 6 year old and the household has not been functioning. I would much rather spend the time strengthening our family bond and cherishing this precious time my big girl gets to spend with her baby sister. This week that is what I'm going to do, and will likely continue to do. 6 year old also reads every day, does reading eggs/mathletics. We will spend time baking etc, and she also enjoys helping me with the washing! I will focus on her interests and build from there. School can bugger off, I'm not getting paid a teacher's wage to teach all day anyway. I'll continue my job, which right now is to be a Mum. I have told the school it is not working out for us, I'm not concerned if she misses a few weeks of school but I was feeling pressured by the teacher/school community.

REPLY
4 years ago
Yay! Great decision, go you! 😊

ANSWER
4 years ago
Yep now that we are 3 weeks in I’m considering “wagging” half the time it’s just impacting all of us. I’m miserable takes all day we have less family time than before

Replies

REPLY
4 years ago
Please read my comment below 😊 hang in there xx

ANSWER
4 years ago
There is no shame in not being able to teach your kids every thing after all you are not a university educated teacher with years of experience. Not saying this is you but I imagine this is going to be a reality check for some very over demanding parents who think their little angels are perfect and spend their time complaining about teachers and pestering them. No I am not a teacher but I have witnessed some very entitled parents and I do wonder how they are going to cope in a little world called reality.

ANSWER
4 years ago
I took my three kids out of school for six weeks of the term to go travelling overseas. They were aged 13, 9, 7. Did them no harm at all. There are so many ways to give a child an education other than just sending them to school. The OP said she’d do reading and worksheets and other forms of learning. I think that’s fine.

ANSWER
4 years ago
I’m sure you have good intentions but I think if you do this, you are not developing your child’s resilience. When life gets tough, take the easy option?

Replies

REPLY
4 years ago
The kids won’t see it that way.

ANSWER
4 years ago
I’ll not be battling with the kids, I’m working full time from home & at their stage of schooling it doesn’t bloody matter if they miss a bit. I just don’t care.

ANSWER
4 years ago
How old are your kids? If they are early primary I think what you’re planning is perfect. That’s what I’d do if my kids were young but mine are highschool.

ANSWER
4 years ago
It sounds great but you'll need to look at the bigger picture. It's not as simple as not sending them to school. Having send that, you know your kids and if thats what you decide to do, then all the best xx

ANSWER
4 years ago
Ignore the idiot response above. It sounds like a good balance for you and your family. Learning is more than academics. 3-6 months of learning life skills, how to enjoy a slow pace, cooking, craft, problem solving, nature and connection with children will no doubt set your children well for life. The whole world is experiencing trauma, we will all be able to ‘catch up’ on the other bits later.