Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Anyone loved home schooling so much they're thinking of carrying on with it?

37 replies

Flippetydip · 23/06/2020 10:36

I just wondered if anyone had so much enjoyed the experience that they were thinking of making it permanent. I have seen on here how much some people have enjoyed it, and have felt that it's benefited their DC so was just wondering.

Just to show my hand, I am absolutely not. Our children will be back in full-time as soon as they are allowed.

OP posts:
Mawbags · 23/06/2020 10:38

Secretly I have loved it, have loved learning new subjects and will miss it.

But we are being fed the teachers work, it’s not me doing it.

My contributor has been compulsory Dr Ouch episodes every day and a dog walk.

Sulusu · 23/06/2020 10:44

Not exactly the same situation for me, but we decided to home ed my son a year ago. Tbh its has been much better for him overall (mild ASD).

What surprised me when we started, was just how much support is out there through home edding groups, and online education. So for those thinking about it, have a look around on your local facebook for groups etc and do a bit of research to see what's around you locally. :)

lughnasadh · 23/06/2020 10:46

it depends.

i know of two families who are leaning towards home ed, becaucese their children have thrived, and come on in leaps and bounds.

I know families who are champing at the bit to go back.

I think it's promoted an awareness of the fact the school doesn't work for everyone.

Sadly, economics, work patterns etc. will win out.

Home schooling, done properly, is the preserve of the privilidged minority.

Exam schedules, and estimited grades are an absolute arseache for HE families right now though.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Home educating
SeaToSki · 23/06/2020 10:58

We are switching with youngest child. She is very self motivated and academically advanced. We are going to try it for a year and see how it goes. However I am not going to be teaching her myself, she will be doing an online gifted school program, art classes at our local art gallery and football with the town team.

Part of the reason is that ordinary school for her is mostly to benefit her socialising, but we dont think schools will be operating normally for large chunks of the upcoming school year, so much less benefit than normal.

Bmidreams · 23/06/2020 11:00

Definitely not! But I will be getting them to work a bit over the summer, when we normally wouldn't.

Letshavesometea · 23/06/2020 11:14

God no

Bogiesaremyonlyfriend · 23/06/2020 11:21

I've loved it, although it's been hard as I've been working full time too. If I didn't have to work I'd love to home school, but always would have done. Dds have made amazing progress and loved it too, but are missing the social side and all day just us 3 is resulting in a lack of things to talk about!!

megletthesecond · 23/06/2020 11:24

Over my dead body.

Sirzy · 23/06/2020 11:24

I was already considering it for secondary (year 5 now autistic with full 1-1) and this has made me more sure

nevergoingoutagain · 23/06/2020 11:26

My children thrive at school, they are all back to some extent and it's like having the real them back again.

However as a teacher I know that school isn't good for all kids. I know lots of parents who have found their kids much happier not being at school and can think of many kids that would suit good home Ed.

As mentioned I think people who are considering it really need to think about how they would do it without any guidance from the school. It needs lots of research first. I think I could do it very well if my kids needed it but only because they are bright with no learning difficulties so I would effectively be able to follow a national curriculum type model which obviously I am very familiar with. I don't think I'd be so good at alternative education though I am quite into forest school!

Original poster
Flippetydip · 23/06/2020 11:26

Interesting mix so far. I agree with @Bogiesaremyonlyfriend that there is a limited amount to talk about when you are all at home. The "family dinner table" experience of downloading everyone's day has gone for a burton as you know exactly what you've all done!

OP posts:
Adirondack · 23/06/2020 11:27

In a word, no.

JustC · 23/06/2020 11:28

Good God no! Not for us. I admire people who have the patience for it. But even if I did have it in me, I still wouldn't do it, as I think social enviroment, working in a collective is very important in the long run.

Franticbutterfly · 23/06/2020 11:50

😂 No.

Duckchick · 23/06/2020 11:56

We need me to go back to work once mat leave finishes so not an option and DS started back at school when they opened. However, we absolutely would go for it otherwise. DS learned a lot more as we could go at his pace, school is actually a very inefficient use of time. I also don't think under normal circumstances it would mean less socialisation, as you'd be able to do after school clubs etc that he was too tired to do after a normal school day.

ScrapThatThen · 23/06/2020 11:58

I agree school is an inefficient use of time, and switching between subjects all the time is useless.

coconutcoconutcrack · 23/06/2020 12:31

Over my cold, dead body do I ever want to have to HE my kids again. One of my kids has PDA I.e. pathological demand avoidance (it's a subset of Autism). You can only imagine how shiteola it's been in my household with a child who doesnt do demand.

angstridden2 · 23/06/2020 12:35

Out of curiosity, how do you home educate a younger child while working ft even from home?

DoctorHildegardLanstrom · 23/06/2020 12:39

we have enjoyed it at times, but only because the teachers are setting all the work, I think if it was just down to me then we wouldn't be anywhere near to what were getting.

Also, I don't think my DS would get the social aspect with me doing homeschooling, so in the long run would really suffer, as it is, we are not doing very well at the moment, just proving we couldn't do it long term

Original poster
Flippetydip · 23/06/2020 12:43

@angstridden2

Out of curiosity, how do you home educate a younger child while working ft even from home?
You don't
OP posts:
wizzbangfizz · 23/06/2020 12:48

It's a hell no from me

museumum · 23/06/2020 12:53

No because I love my work. I’ve cut to half time for this pandemic but even that short-changes ds. I’d have to give up completely to homeschool and I wouldn’t like that.

museumum · 23/06/2020 12:55

Also, maybe this is because I only have one child but I feel that our relationship would be far too intense if I homeschooled, it’s almost like going back to the baby years of 1:1 permanent attachment.

Lardlizard · 23/06/2020 12:58

Certainly would seriously consider it, eso if one of my children was not happy at school
I think they have advanced so much more academically at home then they would have at school over the same duration

RubixCubix · 23/06/2020 13:36

I was home schooling pre-lockdown anyway but was possibly considering some school/college education for my DC over the next couple of years. We have definitely decided against that now as the uncertainty and variability of provision would be disruptive and detrimental to their education at this time.

And to dispell one home ed myth: I'm a full-time working ( plus p/t 2nd job in non covid times) single parent, so not being bank-rolled by a wealthy DH Wink