AIBU to not expect some sort of righteous witchhunt by home educators?

[pocopearl]

So I was on a home education group on fbook asking for some advice on one of those facebook groups with the no nastiness disclaimer at the top. Basically asking for some advice re semi structured learning for HE for 2yrs plus. To which I have every one telling me this research that research etc play this play that. and telling me that I am in the wrong and should educate my child differently. Now I am no friggin expert in this but surely the reason most people home educate is that they don't like the way school are educating their child as their child is not being educated to how they want. so what right do they have to tell me my plans are wrong, because my plans dont fit into how they HE.

Then up pops links to the conversation and screen shots in other HE groups saying I give HE a bad name, this is whats wrong with the world. O my days. So annoyed. What is wrong with people. If they have nothing nice to say they should just get back to home educating their kids.

What advice were you asking for? I'm really intrigued. I know a few HE but most of the kids I know are in mainstream

Also how old is your child? What sort of things do you want for him?

So, are you saying you were asking for structured learning ideas for a 2 year old?

If so, I'm not surprised that many people who HE would not agree with that as often their reasons for HE are that they think school is too structured even for much older children.

All I was asking was for some semi structured he for him. Nursery where he is is amazed by his level of reasoning and how quickly he picks things up, although on par with his speech everything else is above where he should be. He is achieving at 24-30 month goals at 15 months (except speech). Thankfully someone has helped me now (via pm so she wasn't hounded as well). Happy with that advice of trying to implement a total of an 1 hr - 1.5 hrs worth a day in 10-15 minute sections, and this to start when he is around 2. So still plenty of time to go, just feel that as he is so advanced that it should be encouraged etc (defiantly not in a forced sit down and study 8 hours a day way).

Regardless of what I wanted not really sure there was a need for them to be so bitchy. What is wrong with people, why can't you ask for advice any more without being made to feel like utter crap. I always find myself apologising for the fact my son is advanced, and I'm not sorry really because he is a frigging genius and that should surely be nurtured in a loving environment which allows him to develop on this path rather than be little his abilities by making him play with toys and 'find himself'. Honestly if someone asked me for advice I wouldn't turn round and say your wreaking your kids life or destroying their childhood. Nor would I accuse them of it being a form of abuse.

Hahahahahaha
Frigging genius. Nice!

It's the 'making him' play with toys that got me

Their words not mine.

IME non-conformist hippy-types can be the most judgmental and dogmatic. I'm not surprised they all had a go at you. How dare you have different ideas to them?

Lol thanks. :)

Out of interest, what are 24-30 month goals?

How did people work out how to educate their kids at home without randos on FB giving them advice?! Sounds like you're doing a fine job

We home ed, but I'm afraid I ailed out of the fb groups a while ago. I have never encountered such counter-culture wannabes insisting that their way was the only way, hounding anyone who disagrees and so blinkered and lacking in self awareness I seriously questioned whether HE was a good idea. I then realised that whilst they were home educators not one had been home educated. So not really a convincing factor anyway

Seriously, carry on doing what your son thrives on. You don't need to hold him back in case he doesn't "play" enough.

Congrats on the frigging genius!

Bailed. Not ailed.

Wow

Have I missed something? If he's home educated, how come he's at nursery? And how come you are using "24-30 month goals" to measure his ability. I thought the whole point of home education was to dispense with the usual methods of assessing children in favour of a more child-led, organic way of learning.

Though I know nothing about home education so may have completely missed the point of it.

Righteous witchhunts are not good.

But I will say that I'm not sure there's much point planning an education program for when your kid is almost twice as old as he is at the moment - it's just too far in the future in terms of percentage of his life so far for you to have any idea what his needs will be. I'd leave the actual planning for another 6 months at least.

But in any case, fifteen minutes four times a day will leave loads of time for him to play with toys - or other kids.

Ah you had me until Frigging genius

Is this real..?

Certainly as both a teacher, and with a psychology background, I would not be trying to do any form of structured education at 2.

Nursery are amazed at your 15 month old's level of reasoning? Have I got that right?

The terrifying thing about this is, these people are in charge of raising young impressionable children.

I'm going to be as gentle as I possibly can here...

If your 15 month old is a genius, you don't need to teach him, you need to facilitate his learning and follow his interests. No wait, that's the advice I'd give to every parent. Hm.

I'm not sure what you think you'd be teaching him aged two, but really - if he wants to learn to read he will ask you to teach him or it will spontaneously happen. True geniuses need opportunities, not hot housing.

What areas is he ahead in - out of interest?

What does the 1.5 hours involve?

I expect he can get everything he needs at 2 years from stuff like jigsaws, painting, building, helping bake, building damns in streams etc

One of the many nice thing about 2 yr olds is they're learning all day long, you can't stop them. No harm in planning some fun activities and making sure you cover different areas of learning. But be prepared for toddler to have their own agenda too!

EYFS goals for those who want to check if their toddler is also a frigging genius. Pretty sure mine is

www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2012/03/Development-Matters-FINAL-PRINT-AMENDED.pdf