How do it fit it all in with young children?

[Elf]

Hi, I haven't been on mumsnet for ages but we are now seriously considering home education and I thought this was the best forum for some help quickly!

In a nutshell, we have three children, 4, 2 and 12 months. So, as I think it was Chalkie1 ask, how do you manage to add education to the monumental list of current things to fit into the day? I already feel quite stressed and have no time to myself. I know you don't have to sit at a desk and teach for 6 hours and all that stuff, but at the moment I find it hard enough to sit and do some colouring for 10 minutes with my poor 4 year old.

Of course I am already talking about eg butterflies and all the usual things that come up with little ones but I don't see how you do much more.

I do hope some people will help me with this concern I have because we are very excited about HE and this is the only thing really worrying me. It's the fact that they are so young and need such a lot of attention already and we don't want to make the 4 year old go to school at all if possible.

Think how much attention your 4 year old will actually get in a class of 30! Yes they get to do activities in Reception which rotate and change each day, but they don't get one on one attention for more than about 10 minutes a day! You'll also save time because you won't being doing the school run twice a day and getting the little ones ready for that. The stress of getting there on time in the mornings is bad enough with just one child...

Hi Elf,

Have you decided what sort of approach you want to take to HE?

Some HE families follow the same routines and timings of a school day; some are completely autonomous. From my experience, most are somewhere in between.

The thing I love about HE is that education just becomes part of living. (That sounds a bit naff, but it's the best way I can think of explaining it!) eg: my children are sometimes given a budget of £10, and they have to plan a family dinner, go shopping, cook it etc.

The children develop their own interests, and as they get older they learn to become more independant about their learning, and you can just facilitate this.

You will find a way that suits your family best - I know it is a concern, but I found that it just happened naturally.

My children came out of school though, and it did take a while for me to gain enough confidence to know that what I was doing was right for my children.

We started out with quite a planned, formal day. That lasted about a week!

Just as you manage to care for all your children now, you'll also manage to give them what they need in the future - you just will!

Is there an HE group near you that you could visit with your children? I'm sure it would help to allay your worries if you could speak to a few HE families face to face.

I'm sure you've already visited the Education Otherwise website?

Good luck with it - I'm sure you'll all love it!

Thank you both. Yes I'm sure you are right about the ten minutes one to one attention from a teacher if DD was in the reception class. Crazy isn't it? Yes I am going to join EO and get in touch with people, thanks again.

Keep us updated - I wonder the same thing as you in your OP...

I always think of it like this.

By the time your children reach 5 and go to school, you as their parents have already taught them SO much ; names of various animals and what noises they make,Parts of the body, loads of songs,alphabet,how to dress, potty train, numders to at least 10 etc etc and ALL that without even thinking about it or worrying.

True isnt it? Did you ever worry if you could get your child to school age with all the knowledge they needed?
I expect not as it just comes naturally and this doesnt magically stop just whenthey hit 5!!
We dont suddenly lose our ability to do whats best for our kids through normal love and care of them.
I didnt do well at school and do have help with my eldest DD who is 13.
She has a tutor for maths but other than that i just happens. Some weeks better than others but when it goes right it really works and it can be so rewarding. if I can do it with 4 children I really believe anyone can

Elf,

Hiya,

Just wanted to say that I am in a similer position to yourself. I have three girls aged, 4,3 and 11 weeks. There have been times when I thought could I give enough attention to all three. But whatever I can provide them with will be more than what they would get from going to school with 30 children in one class.

Hope all goes well.

Hi everyone, I have finally managed to get back onto the computer and have seen the latest messages. Well, DD still isn't at school and I have been reading quite a lot about HE, particularly about the idea of informal learning which feels much less worrying. Also there is that school of thought which believes it is better not to do much formal learning before the age of seven isn't there, so that bides me some time! DD is really happy at home, playing with her brother and sister and just living life as we live it.

The thing that has struck me most about all this is that I am no longer thinking, oh one at school, only two years and then two of them will be at school etc and I will have some time to myself. Now I am living in the present and am getting used to taking them all wherever I go. As they are getting a little easier too I am enjoying their company so much. I am thinking of us all in a very close family way rather than trying to get rid of them all the time!! I have arranged to have about two hours to myself a week but hopefully that will increase somehow at some point....

Pinkdolly, are you definitely going to HE? What is your situation? I like to hear about other people with children of similar ages!

'I am enjoying their company so much. I am thinking of us all in a very close family way rather than trying to get rid of them all the time!!'

Bang on Elf!!

I too love being with my girls 3 and 7!
That's why I had kids, it may seem selfish, but I really missed them when they were in school and nursery.
Now we are a HE family we are much happier and closer.
Spending an afternoon alone shopping or in the gym is just not me.
I have 2 evenings to myself when they're tucked up in bed at Salsa and yoga.

Long live HE!!

hi you just do and it's surprising how uch you fit in without thinking about it,

i'm very much of the opinion that pre-school and early primary that unstructured play is best for them to learn through. we have always talked about anything and everything and i read an awful lot to them. we play, bake, draw, play music, sing dance run around everday and i know they learn stuff with everyday stuff when we shop, cook, clean etc. i had kids, i didn't expect my life to stay the same so i'm happy that everyday is taken up by them, i see it as my role as their parent. as long as they are happy, stimulated i don't really care if the house isn't like a show home (there's times i'd like it like that though and it does happen!!)

would very much recommend getting the support of other HE'rs as (as i've said on another post) LEA's often provide mis-information about their role so it's important for your own sanity you have the confidence regarding your rights and position as a HE.

have you read any John Holt? (Why Children Fail and Why Children Learn)

good luck! have faith in yourself - as their parent you know them best.