How To Homeschool Without Making Your Child An Outcast

If you are currently homeschooling or considering homeschooling your child, you probably know all the benefits homeschooling can provide. You'll have more control over the curriculum, be able to customize teaching to your child's personal learning style, and avoid the pressures and dangers of public schools. However, are you aware of the major mental and social damage you can cause if you don't make the right choices?

Children need friends. Usually, they meet their friends in school. Take a child out of school, and where will they meet potential play partners? 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. Your child might be made fun of or picked on because he isn't considered normal. 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.

By deciding to homeschool, it becomes the parent's responsibility to find friendships for the child. This task is just as important as the actual schoolwork. The following tips will get you started towards placing your child on the track of a positive social life.

Know your neighborhood: 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. Seek out parents nearby. Let them know you have a child that you'd like to set up a play date for. Since you're the one initiating these meetings, you're also the one who needs to do the organizing. Have a party. Hire a clown. Invite all the local kids over. Invite other kids and their parents to a ballgame, fishing, bowling, or any other activity that children enjoy. Or even offer to baby-sit.

Sports are important: Next to school, sports teams provide the best environment for your child to form deep bonds with other kids. They spend a lot of time at practice and root for each other in games. Also, you'll be meeting other parents while watching all the games. If your child has physical problems or would embarrass himself on a playing field, get them involved in activities like Boy/Girl Scouts or any other local organization for children.

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 important to keep them away from dangerous situations, it is also important to let them be exposed to the same influences as other children. Remember that your child is already facing an uphill battle to not be considered "weird." Imagine how much worse it would be for them if they didn't know any of the hot bands, cool TV shows, or what type of clothes other kids wear? Without being exposed to mainstream culture, they will have little to talk about with other children and will have a hard time relating to others.

To read a complete collection of Homeschooling articles, visit http://www.homeschoolingsecrets.info

---

Co-Morbidity Rates: Other Problems That May Come With ADHD

Diagnosing children and teens with ADHD can be a challenge.... Read More

Child Separation Anxiety: Does Your Child Have It?

If you are a parent, then more than likely you... Read More

Gifts From The Heart: Moms Remember...

To the untrained eye, it might look like a piece... Read More

One Definition of Success

As parents, we want our children and teens to grow... Read More

Tools to Find Family-Friendly Content

The Internet, is magnificent in its resources for families. Educational... Read More

Top 25 Children Quotations

"You can learn many things from children. How much patience... Read More

Five Ways To Build Super-Strong Relationships With Your Children

One of the questions I ask in parenting presentations is... Read More

Reincarnation: Sacred Children Series - 1 of 3

Many years ago, my children were raised on the various... Read More

Home For The Holidays: Is it Time for That Talk?

Just a couple of years ago Annie helped her parents... Read More

Pick Your Fights With Your Teenager Wisely

I know as a single parent or even with 2... Read More

Developing a Fantastic Relationship with Your Child

Here's a scene: A parent "might suddenly grab a happliy... Read More

Study Skills - Help Young People Study Smarter, Not Harder

Many young people don't know how to study efficiently and... Read More

Teach Your Children - Without Them Knowing They Are Learning!

The great thing about children is they absorb knowledge like... Read More

Dinner Table Drama

It has been a long day. Home from work, you... Read More

Fundraising For Your Preschool Or Daycare Center

Most day cares are non-profit organizations that must operate within... Read More

Power Foods for a Powerful School Lunch

There isn't a school day that goes by that I... Read More

10 Universal Laws for Parents of Teens

1 "Law of Belonging": The greatest need of teenagers (after... Read More

How to Stop Divorce Parental Conflict from Bursting?

It is not the divorce but the conflict arising after... Read More

Why Me?

Why Me?"We should certainly count our blessings, but we should... Read More

The Better Behavior Wheel - A New Kind of Calm in the Family

There's a new kind of fun and calm out there... Read More

Homework Doesn?t Have to Be a Battle of Wills

Homework. It doesn't have to be a daily battle of... Read More

Honey I Can?t Afford The Kids

Sex has a lot to answer for ? babies usually... Read More

The Homeopathic Nutraceutical Attend as an Alternative to Ritalin

You no longer have to use Ritalin or other stimulants... Read More

A New School Year

Depending on where you live school will be starting this... Read More

Career Education: Does Not Mean the 6 Year College Plan

Researching career education uncovered the following shocking statistic: The average... Read More

How to Make Kids More Likeable?

Nothing touches the heartstrings of a parent more than the... Read More

14 Romantic Time-Outs for Parents

Here are fourteen spontaneous time-outs, specially designed to help you... Read More

Helping Your Kid?s Grow a Garden

Start some gardening traditions with your kids. Give them their... Read More

How Public Schools Assault Parents Values

Is there anything wrong with lying, cheating, stealing, shop-lifting, taking... Read More

Life Stuck In Fast Forward

the woes of being a parent of an ADHD child.....Like... Read More

How to Handle Child Tantrums?

Child tantrums are a way for children to express their... Read More

A New Idea For Kids Party Parties: Hiring A Caricaturist Can Make Your Kids Party A Real Blast!

There's a new trend for party entertainment. It seems as... Read More

Parenting Your Teenager: How to Build Trust

``Mom, can I go to the mall with my friend... Read More