We had our first “home day” today

[PirateJones]

And I loved it.
We haven’t really done anything too interesting, it’s just been a really nice calm day together.

For those that don’t know, I’ve had my 6 year olds school week reduced by 6 hours.
He needs new shoes because next week DH wants to take him to work with him. So this morning we bussed into town, bought new shoes and went swimming at our local leisure centre, the pool was empty, there was only one another other family, a mother with two children. You guys are all probably used to having things like this to yourselves; it’s a new experience for me.

on the way back home we popped in to morrisions, shared a pot of tea and had a sandwich then got off the bus a few stops early so we could go “exploring” and look for parks.

We are now back home and it’s only 1:55.
He's in the kitchen right now waiting to help me make dinner.

Clearly I'm missing something here.
Isn't the whole point of home ed to EDUCATE?

I'm not saying you shouldn't have downtime or go swimming etc, but each of us could do this if we took a day off...

How is this Home eD?

^Isn't the whole point of home ed to EDUCATE
I'm not saying you shouldn't have downtime or go swimming etc, but each of us could do this if we took a day off... ^

We can all give children stuff to educate them in our downtime to, why isn't that Home ED?

How is this Home eD?
Becuase education isn't all about learning academic things.
My 6 year old is fine academically, he needs help socially and emotionally.

Twitter, don't children also do swimming at school? and cookery? and lunchtime?

Maybe she got the 6 year old to count the money for the driver on the bus?

There are plenty of ways in which what she's described is educational. Would you complain if your DC's school took them to the park in school time? My DS' school has done this.

Twitter, home ed often looks like that. And they still get GCSE's and go to university - not sure what schools do with them all day frankly...

Money, swimming, catching buses - absolutely all vital life skills that schools don't (often) teach and should do.

I have no argument with that at all. Maybe it's just me interpreting OP's post a bit harshly but it sounded a bit like living OP is living in la-la land.

but since it's the 1st day I'll let you off!

I am not very clued up on home edso was wondering :

I can appreciate that the activities could be educational but how does it help 'socially' ?

sorry meant 'home ed so'

it sounded a bit like living OP is living in la-la land.
I do live in La La land.

Money, swimming, catching buses - absolutely all vital life skills that schools don't (often) teach and should do. I have no argument with that at all.

Apart from the argument you had up thread.
"Home Ed" is the close match to what I’m doing. Even though he's at school 4 days a week. However maybe I’m overlooking the sections for "Part time school", "Children who have had school hours reduced for personal reasons" or "children whom doctors feel need more childhood experiences because they were abused for the first 4 years of their lives."
If they exist please point me to them.

Sorry you've had these responses pirate ,they are obviously from people who have not read your other threads about this little boy . I'm glad you've had a lovely day and I sincerely hope that you have many more of them ,your little boy is lucky to have you and your DH .

I can appreciate that the activities could be educational but how does it help 'socially' ?

It is seeing interactions away from a classroom setting, with real people, but still in a controlled environment. It's what people do everyday, buying things, counting out money waiting in lines talking to people you don't know and learnign how to cope in those situations.

Sorry you've had these responses pirate ,they are obviously from people who have not read your other threads about this little boy .

Thank you and it's okay, the responses are perfectly understandable.

This is the kind of thing I do with my children all the time. Some of the things they get out of it are to do with the confidence of paying the bus fare themselves and getting the change and taking the ticket (when they feel ready to do all those things), and learning the social code of talking with the bus driver - I know so many perfectly ordinary children who simply don't feel confident doing those sorts of daily transactions with strangers. It's a really valuable thing to learn.

But PirateJones, really, please do not go advertising the fact that those of us who don't send our children to school full time get to enjoy swimming pools and museums and zoos and parks and make-your-own-pottery places and all the other fun stuff when there is almost no-one about and it's really calm and quiet and enjoyable even for traumatised or sensory defensive children. Other people might catch on to how fab the HE lifestyle is, and then they'd all be crowding into the swimming pool on a weekday lunchtime with their children, and then where would we be, hmmm?

sorry PJ didn't know the backstory to your opening post.
Good luck

please do not go advertising the fact that those of us who don't send our children to school full time get to enjoy swimming pools and museums and zoos and parks and make-your-own-pottery places and all the other fun stuff when there is almost no-one about and it's really calm and quiet and enjoyable even for traumatised or sensory defensive children

Sorry.

The swimming pool was great because it was so quiet, he doesn't like shouting and screaming so in the past we have had to avoid or cut short the visits as he ends up breaking down and crying / having a total emotional melt down.

I was joking - getting to places when they are quiet feels like the best naughty secret of the HE world I'm really glad you had such a good day :)

I was joking

I was playing along.

Phew!

Pirate, today sounds like a perfect day to me. SmallBoy and I spend most days like that. Today it was walking to town along the old railway line (turned path before anyone thinks I'm teaching him naughty things), watching the birds hunt for worms and cats stalking the birds and greeting/chatting with people we encountered. We went to soft play where he asked for entry, counted money and chatted with the receptionist (we're regulars there between the soft play, swim lessons and open swim so the receptionist is always good for a long chat if there's no line). We met up with other home ed families so manic soft play play with children from just toddling to eight years old (SB is nearly 4 1/2). After that we went to the cafe for lunch so choosing his meal/more money & paying/chatting with the girl at the till. Then off to the grocery store so shopping, choosing products, basket etiquette, ticking the shopping list, using the self service till, etc. followed by the walk home in the rain so puddle stomping and snail watching (as well as a chat with a policeman -- always exciting!). No SB is watching a few minutes of television while he waits for "time to make dinner time."

I hope you continue to enjoy all of your Fridays like you have done today.

What a great first day. :)
If he enjoyed the exploring, it might be worth looking if Home ed groups near you are organising 'Forest school' sessions. The sessions tend to be very calm and the activities are very ''childreny'' : building bug houses, flower collages, sitting in meadows to observe wild life, forage, cooking on fire, wood work...and for after the sessions the children get the chance to explore together, build dens, picnics...

Thank you.
FavadiCacao It sounds nice, but I'm assuming if i start him with something like this i won't be tied to going every week / month or whatever?

Fantastic first day!! I am thrilled for you. Your little boy is already reaping the rewards of your determination to give him what he needs.

I was hoping Twitterqueen would post back.

FavadiCacao how do i find forest school sessions?

Pirate nice to be missed!

I began my first post with the words Clearly I'm missing something here and it quickly became very evident that I was - a whole back story and a little boy with specific needs - both of which I was totally unaware of.

So since I'm not qualified or experienced or aware of the whole story you can safely ignore everything I say.

I wish you all the best in educating your DS.

Home ed is very different to school. It doesn't need to look like school and to the casual observer it can look like there is no learning going on. But provided home life is stable and 'normal' (yes there are some horror stories around home ed families but there are plenty of horrific stories affecting children who go to school too), then wonderful children emerge. The difference is that home ed children are eager to learn and so need less time to pick up the skills and facts that society desires.