Please would you help me, I'm starting to think about HE (very young children)

[sedgieloo]

My children are only 2.2 and 2 months, so we do not need to take the decision anytime soon. But I'd appreciate any advice or recommendations of resources I could reference to help stimulate my thinking on the subject and also some discussion with DH. I don't know where to begin and it's a big decision.

Thank you in advance.

[EauRouge]

Hi sedgieloo,

Like you, I was thinking about HE when my DD1 was very young. There are loads of good articles and websites. This is one of the most useful I have found, it has legal stuff and links to local groups etc. I also found a couple of nice articles here.

It is a big decision how to educate your child but remember it is not a permanent one- if whatever method you choose (school or home) does work out then you can always switch. Some people opt to HE temporarily until they feel their child is ready for school or until their circumstances change.

[sedgieloo]

Thanks eaurouge. I will take a closer look at those sites. It is something I want to explore. If the subject comes up with friends and family and I mention I want to give thought to HE I just get a twisty faced response which is an off putting starting point! I will have a read.

[julienoshoes]

Have you found Muddle Puddle a website especially for families home educating children aged 8 and younger?

Lots of stuff there I think you may find useful!

[Djemila]

Hi, I've got children around the same age as yours. I'm reading HOMESCHOOLING THE EARLY YEARS by LINDA DOBSON and I think it really helps in clarifying everything. And it's so reassuring to newbies like us!
Hope that helps

[crumblequeen]

My children are nearly 5 and nearly 2 and we decided to HE when DS1 was around 2.5 and started meeting up with other local families when he was around 3.5. This was great as it meant we had a support network already there when he would have started school and lots of his friends were starting school. I found this forum great for helping to decide and Free Range Education by Terri Dowty. I started a blog last year to keep a record for ourselves so have a look at that if you are interested

dancinginthemud.blogspot.co.uk/

[Saracen]

Hi sedgieloo!

I think you might find it easier and pleasanter to explore the idea of home education first with people who know what they are talking about, namely those who have done it. Then you can have more productive discussions with the "twisty-faced" people later. Many people have some odd and totally unfounded ideas about home education!

If and when you decide to go ahead with it you may be feeling confident enough that the doubting Thomases won't bother you so much. You might need to educate them a bit.

Parents who have young children and who are exploring the idea of home education often come along to local home ed groups. You may find there are other families near you with preschool-aged children who may like to meet up with you for a play and chat.

[sedgieloo]

Hi just revisiting this question and also my old thread here. Many thanks for the posts in the days that followed as I hadn't seen them and I have been checking the resources and books that have been recommended and this is really helpful.