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[My daughter is] a very social child and I worry that although she says she wants to homeschool... she'll lose a lot by being out of frequent interaction with her peers.

This a valid concern, it is best to consult the homeschool message boards and talk with other parents who homeschool and who face this issue, as well as the homeschool associations both national and local (we have one for California). There are books, too, that talk about how to remedy this issue, but it can be remedied.

However, I like to point out that how many children (including ourselves!) learned social skills at school? Or got over shyness at school? Some children had few, if any, friends in school unless they themselves "fit the mold".

Other places to go and learn how to be social: the neighborhood park, pool, community center, family volunteer opportunities, neighbors, children's theater workshops or classes, etc.

So don't let the social issue stop you, just do your homework, and most likely you'll have to put more time into it than if she were at a regular school.

I run a PR business out of my home part-time. I need to work about 4 hours a day and a couple of hours at night when I put the kids to bed. Is this realistic?

Yes, and I think ideal. My mother (a single mother) had to work a full time job, and as I got older, was at home alone, leading to mischief to say the least! A parent should be home as much as possible, is what I now believe.

I was thinking that with her studying in my office she might get to see me in the "real world" and that might be a going out sort of experience for her....

Yes, yes, yes, one of the pitfalls of parents being "responsible, hard working, with a work ethic" is that they work some where else! Absolutely we want our children to see this! It will give them a better impression!

My thought has always been that young children should spend a great deal of time with their parents, but the children seem like they want to be there [at school]. What is your opinion?

I feel (and from my 20 years of teaching) that what is excessive is a toddler or a three year old being in school from 8-6 PM each day, although many start out that way since infancy and grow accustom to always being at school during the day, all day, but it is still hard. Many single mothers just don't have a choice, my mother was that way...

Going to school each day is best when it is the same time and there are no changes (you drop off your child at the same time each day and pick him up at the same time each day). It is when the routine changes that young ones have trouble because of their "sensitive period for order"!

And time spent with parents is best when the routine stays the same (boring for adults, I know). They like the same story being read, the same song being sung, their favorite dish, the same cartoon over and over... that is what is MOST important. Don't change that.

A typical routine for a young one can be 8:30 to 2:30 or 3:00 PM, five days a week. This is fine!

Children who come 2 or 3 days a week begin to miss out on social development and getting lessons from the teachers compared to kids who come five days a week. The same is true for kids who go half day and are approaching the age of 3... it is best for them to start coming full day, especially if they love school! But staying until 5 or 6 is hard.

Hi there, I have 3 daughters ages 5, 3 and 5 months. My 5 year old is in her 3rd year at a Montessori school and the 3 year old has started her first year. I am planning to homeschool next year. I was wondering what your thoughts were on keeping her in the Lower Elementary program one day a week as a homeschooler which the school is open too.

Yes, because she is older, she can handle the variation in that type of schedule. However, typically when children go to school part of the time, it affects their social life in that the children who are there everyday make close friendships and bond with each other, so it may be difficult for your child to do this if she's only there one day a week. So have other opportunities for her to make and have friends!

Also, what about the 3 year old? Should I let her go through 1 or 2 more years of pre-school before she begins homeschooling?

It is different for a 3 year old, they are very, very, very sensitive to changes! So make as few, if any, changes as possible! And it is hard too when they start making friends only to be taken out of the classroom the following year and to not have developed those much needed social skills! If you can keep her through the third year this is ideal as in the third year the five and six year olds get to be the leaders in the classroom and this is so beneficial both in their self esteem, confidence, academics, and of course social skills.

There is a Montessori, or at least named Montessori, child care center here in my city and I was wondering what the criteria is to be able label a school as Montessori. The people are nice enough, but I don't believe they are up to Montessori standards nor is the facility. Please let me know ASAP if you know of any guidance that can help me look into their operation a bit further. I have two year old son that I may just want to home school now if their facility is substandard.

Unfortunately, anyone can open a school and call it Montessori!

Ask if the teacher(s) are Montessori trained, where they got their training. Also ask if the school is accredited by the American Montessori Association, that's the standard.

Some schools have non-Montessori materials and or activities, especially in daycare (after regular school hours for kids who stay late) and that is OK and quite common. But you want a school with credited (trained) Montessori staff (usually the assistant teacher is not or is in the process of getting training). Ask the same about the director!

Ask to have an observation to see if you think your child will be happy there, do the children play and work nicely together, and do they themselves look happy. And does the teacher look happy--or burnt out?

 

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