What do your DC do for PE?

[peanutbutterkid]

Just wondering how HErs normally handle it. How formal is it, which activities, how often, etc.? TIA.

[FlamingoBingo]

A local mum hires a tennis court once a week in the summer, so we go along there and she informally teaches them tennis skills.

We are also lucky enough to have a new HEor who is a PE teacher (I think) who has started up a weekly PE session.

Apart from that (and before they started) it was just us adults leading games of rounders etc. at home ed groups.

How specific are you thinking? Do you mean PE in order to learn games, or PE to get some exercise?

Of course we go on lots of walks, go to the park etc. for the exercise part of PE too.

[peanutbutterkid]

I'm not being specific, just wondered how ppl interpret.

[TheDMshouldbeRivened]

we didn't but the kids ran around and played games at home ed meets

[Kayteee]

Mine do various activities but we don't call it PE.

Swimming, cycling, ice-skating once a week for about 3/4 hours (parents get to skate free which is a bonus), occasional horse-riding lessons (only when we can afford it),
rollerblading group, skateboarding, general running around parks/fields with other HE kids, trampolining, occasional tennis, badmington, table-tennis, football, rounders, climbing courses, sailing courses,
wind-surfing, etc;

You can even join in at a Sports Day if you want

Obviously they don't do all of these all of the time but we certainly aren't stuck for "PE" activities here.

[logi]

My ds has a trampoline,trips to park and weekly gym class .

[julienoshoes]

Just looked at the report we sent to the LA. In the last year dd has done
Dancing, Swimming, Ice-skating, Bowling, Rugby, Canadian canoeing, Kayaking, Bell boating, Body boarding, Rock Climbing, Abseiling, Zip Wires, Assault Courses, Orienteering, Grass sledging and Bike riding.

Thats in addition to games that she plays with other HE youngsters at HE camps and gatherings, like 'British Bulldog' and 'Rachet Screwdriver'

There was also the brilliant sports day at HesFes of course.

We don't call it PE or anything else though, it's just part of living life.

[terramum]

DS constantly moves...even when eating he's jumping up and down LOL so that's enough atm along with his trampoline, his bike and the odd kick about with a football and doing some wii sport/fit with me. He's only 5 so not doing anything else yet. But there's plenty we can do locally with football, cricket, tennis, rugby, swimming, water sports and athletics clubs nearby which we shall start looking gradually over the next few years to give him a taster and see what he likes.

There's also a lot happening in the local HE scene with things like climbing, martial arts and fencing available...I'm sure there's more but I haven't got the newsletters to hand atm.

Like julienoshoes we don't really call it PE. I see it more as adults do - a spot of exercise and/or a hobby. No curruculum, just exploring and having a go

[TheDMshouldbeRivened]

'n the last year dd has done
Dancing, Swimming, Ice-skating, Bowling, Rugby, Canadian canoeing, Kayaking, Bell boating, Body boarding, Rock Climbing, Abseiling, Zip Wires, Assault Courses, Orienteering, Grass sledging and Bike riding.'

But you don't have to feel inadequate if you cant afford all this stuff or don't have the time! Just running around, walking to shops and cycling is good exercise. ds1 and 2 have never done team type games and didn't want too. dd1 did join in kicking a football round at HE meetings. We did HE ice skating for a bit but nothing else.
The one disadvantage is you might have to pay. But ds1 has managed t reach 16 and is waiting for 10 GCSE results without having done a team game or recognisable 'PE'.
School PE is really just an attempt to get exercise into the curriculum. And games and sports are the easiest way. You might have a child who loathes them whether you are at school or HE.

[julienoshoes]

No Riven
You don't have to feel inadequate.

The majority of that apart from the dancing was done with our local HE groups.
Doesn't cost very much at all that way-we get educational rates by using facilities when they are empty of schooled children.

The OP said:
'Just wondering how HErs normally handle it'

and I think the answers here already demonstrate that we are all very different and I don't think one way for anything is 'normal' for the home ed community.

Just like choices of going to school or not, socialising a lot of not, how you fit in physical activity depends very much on individuals and when we HE we can make personalised choices.

[juuule]

At the moment we are going swimming as the children go free due to the gov't free swimming thing.

[terramum]

Ooh lucky you juuule. DH took DS swimming this morning and his (unemployed) fee was less than DS's "junior" one as our council only do the oap free swimming

[streakybacon]

We just dip into whatever's available when we need it.

Ds does karate and swimming, but he did that for years before coming out of school.

He's just done two weeks of local authority summer playscheme, where he's done swimming and outdoor activities, but especially loads of team games and sports that he could opt in or out of depending on his mood and preference, with no pressure. He's going to do the Easter scheme next year as well.

He also goes to a weekly (term time) SN play session where again they do team games, bouncy castle etc.

On top of that there's loads of free play with HE kids we meet up with, at the beach, woods, park etc. He gets far more opportunity for PE/sports now as he's calm enough to take part, which he wasn't while he was at school and regularly had to miss swimming classes etc because he was too stressed to go.

[peanutbutterkid]

I have fantatic friends HE'ing their primary age DC. The children are beautiful, very clever, very nice, very content. Having a splendid feral childhood.

For PE our friends call it that the children have regular swimming lessons and several times a week swim X many lengths in the pool. The parents are quite strict about it. At least one of the DC hates the regular lessons and her 30 lengths. We used to regularly meet up for my DC and their DC to have fun swims, but it never seems possible now (they just go 4 lengths).

The parents are fairly skint and occasionally mention the expense of the lessons, which is why I'm puzzled they're so set on them, especially for the eldest, whose swim ability already exceeds the standard of the top ability class available. The kids do lots of walks and casual sport, but don't do any other formal sport, partly because of cost and the parents often travelling lifestyle.

It all just seems so... at odds with what I imagine to be the usual spirit of HE.

And YES, I know it's all None of My Business ! The kids are having a wonderful childhood, our friends are terrific parents. I don't know why it bothers me, maybe because they are so rarely available for fun swims with my lot .

[TheDMshouldbeRivened]

oh wow. I hadn't seen the free swimming thing. How can I find out. ds2 can't swim and I'd like lessons but can't afford them. He's 14. And dd2 could do with some water play although i'm guessig they charge if an adult has to go int with them?

[streakybacon]

Unfortunately not all local authorities are taking part in the free swim scheme, but it's worth asking.

Are you on a local children with disabilities network, Riven? Ours has enhanced leisure cards so we get free swimming and half-price on sports and activites, including swimming lessons. Might be worth enquiring.

[CommonNortherner]

Our lot have PE lessons run by the YMCA every other week.

Otherwise for us personally, ds goes swimming with us 2 or 3 times a week (which includes the 1 hour and 20mins walking round trip), nature walks, and when he's old enough he'll be starting up karate and dance (it's mostly ballet for younger kids and he's specified no ballet!)

And of course there's whatever games the kids decide to play at meetings.

[juuule]

Is this any use to you Riven?

[TheDMshouldbeRivened]

ta

[chatterbocs]

We've done dance, swimming, Geocaching,skipping, biking, we're about to do tennis every other week, pretty basic stuff really...

[cheesesarnie]

i recently found out ds1 is being taken out of his weekly pe lesson because hes dyslexic and they think thats a good time to give him one to oneinstead of letting him do something he enjoys/is good at/get rid of his frustration at not keeping up with other things. sorry off topic but

[redpyjamas]

Mine cycle most places (in term time, average 50 minutes a day), or walk as we have no car.
They have weekly gymnastics and swimming, and love climbing and racing at the park.
Lots off one-off stuff too, like HE sports days.
They don't play regular team sports though.

[Yurtgirl123]

We are only just starting he but Im not thinking in terms of PE at all - that is what schools do!

We currently walk, run about, trampoline in the garden
Swimming lessons are next - possibly taught by me initially well see!

Once they can swim - kayaking and canoeing
'proper walks' involving walking boots map and compass etc - orienteering will follow

DS is keen to try rugby - which will be interesting!

We are really keen to get involved in living history events, combined with camping - not PE but sounds like fun