Question to homeschooling families

[jmj777]

Please note: This is not an argument about whether homeschooling or public schooling is better or worse. I just want opinions from homeschooling mothers/fathers who have teenage boys or already raised teenage boys.

We homeschool our children and recently DH told me he wants our 12 year old son to sign up for an afterschool program, whether it is an our local YMCA or with our town recreation center. DH believes our son would benefit from exposure to all kinds of different people.

Up until now, our son has been part of a Catholic group, called Fraternus, that he loves going to. He will also be starting soccer season. I don’t feel it necessary for him to be “exposed” to things just for the sake of learning how to deal with youth of all walks of life. I think he should be with like-minded families until he gets a little older. I know that he gets enough exposure to other children who talk about sex, etc. at soccer and swimming, but I don’t feel the need to throw him into an unstructured environment where more bad influences can open his eyes at his age.

Homeschooling moms/dads: How have you dealt with your boys getting out there in the real world? At what age did you allow your sons to be exposed to outside influences?

+JMJ+

 

[Bonnie]

Our 2 (1 of each) were homeschooled & they were “exposed” to the world at an earlier age. Our original homeschool support group was a very mixed secular group - the best one we were ever in. By the time they were 12-14 they were involved in various group activities, depending on interests, time, & transportation.

But because our kids grew up on our small family farm, they were well aware of the facts of life before anyone could interest them in stories - either true or not - about sex.

 

[Xantippe]

Please note: This is not an argument about whether homeschooling or public schooling is better or worse. I just want opinions from homeschooling mothers/fathers who have teenage boys or already raised teenage boys.

We homeschool our children and recently DH told me he wants our 12 year old son to sign up for an afterschool program, whether it is an our local YMCA or with our town recreation center. DH believes our son would benefit from exposure to all kinds of different people.

Up until now, our son has been part of a Catholic group, called Fraternus, that he loves going to. He will also be starting soccer season. I don’t feel it necessary for him to be “exposed” to things just for the sake of learning how to deal with youth of all walks of life. I think he should be with like-minded families until he gets a little older. I know that he gets enough exposure to other children who talk about sex, etc. at soccer and swimming, but I don’t feel the need to throw him into an unstructured environment where more bad influences can open his eyes at his age.

Homeschooling moms/dads: How have you dealt with your boys getting out there in the real world? At what age did you allow your sons to be exposed to outside influences?

+JMJ+

Does he have other interests that could be developed? Is there a volunteer project he could do?

Also, not a homeschooler, but it might well be that he is busy enough during the school year, but would get a lot more out of a bigger investment in summer camps and summer classes. I think you could get a lot bigger bang for your buck by saving the money you would have spent on the YMCA or rec program and planning a really fun, educational summer.

The YMCA/rec idea just sounds a little unfocused.

Also, your husband might freak a little at this idea, but has your son had a chance to try cooking yet? My 11-year-old son has lately really gotten into it. His older sister has done summer cooking classes and we’ll eventually put him into that if we can. Kids that age often really enjoy cooking.

One thing that occurs to me is that while your son probably has ample opportunities to be around other boys, he may not have enough opportunities to interact with girls in a wholesome environment.

 

[Tablefor9]

Believe me when I say the church youth program and maybe scouting can be enough exposure early on, as well as hanging out with kids from the neighborhood, and their own cousins. By the time our oldest boy was about 10, he was in music programs/lessons outside the sphere of influence described above, as well. The girls have been in dance since they were little. Summer camps, retreats, mission trips, group activities with friends (& friends of friends) all add depth to social structure.

The key is open discussion and a vibrantly lived faith at home. Kids have to understand, even more than we do, why they believe what they believe. There’s some good research to support that if a child’s religion doesn’t become his own by age 12, there’s a 90% chance it never will; even religiously home educated children will fall away in college.

May this never be so.

 

[Anglewannabe]

I am in agreement with DH. I tutored home school children and I think it is best that they are exposed to non-catholic settings while they are still young enough to talk about it with their parents.

I feel for the kid who goes off to college and only ever socialized with Catholic