Anyone out there homeschool?

[greengarden]

Just a random moment of curiosity on my part I have two older children who go to regular primary school but I also have a very smart beyond her years three year old. I've held off doing much with her in terms of active teaching because I didn't want her to be too far ahead when she starts school(not for another 2 years) but I've recently had to admit to myself that I was doing her a disservice and I've started her on her basic reading, writing and number skills and we'll just go from there at a relaxed rate depending on her interest levels. Unfortunately given the rate she is picking up the things I teach she will be far ahead of her class when she does get to school but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

I'm a qualified primary school teacher with an undergrad degree in ecology/botany so I know what I NEED to teach her and in what order but thought if there was others out there with early years kids we could 'swap notes' so to speak

[ALToronto]

I have two kids who are quite advanced for their age, and have been since before they started school. Both could read well in kindergarten. But I would never deprive them of the socialization that they get in a school environment. The teachers are happy to give them extra work to keep them occupied and interested while they explain the simpler concepts to the rest of the class. And my kids get to spend time with their peers, which I would argue is much more important than anything academic.

Even in grades 6-7, I can tell the difference between nanny-raised kids and those who went to daycare - the difference is in the social skills. Don't deprive your daughter of that.

[greengarden]

Oh she'll go to school when she old enough but she isn't allowed to go to school here for another 2 years so it's just a matter of keeping her occupied until then. I had thought that at least by getting her reading she'll be able to investigate topics that interest her in the large library of interest books I have here. She's very big for her age and most people think she is a year older than she is just by her speech and manner as well so atleast if she does get to school and they decide she would be better off going up a year(most of the classes at our school are composites so this is quite an easy thing to do at our school and they are still with their friends) she'll have the size and maturity to match.

Was just thinking that if there are others out there who are homeschooling in either the long term or just the short term like I am then I'd love to hear about resources, etc.

[Ordphien]

Go for it...
Just make sure they get to be with lots of other kids quite often.
My mother homeschools my siblings (I went to private) and its sort of disturbing to see how socially awkward most of the kids are... and extremely sheltered...
The sheltered bit might just be our particular area.
Anyhow, my siblings are in homeschool for the reason you listed above... and the fact that the schools around here are... um....
I'm very fortunate I was never enrolled in one... else I might not be able to list all the countries.
So I definitely see it as beneficial. Especially if she's eager to learn.
But if your school is happy to accommodate her interests as mine was when I was young I see no issue going that route either.

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[greengarden]

Certainly no worries on the social side of things right now, her best friend lives just over the road and she plays with him as much as she can and there are quite a few other kids in the street as well as her older brothers. She's extremely outgoing and makes friends everywhere we go

We are in a regional area with a few very small primary schools and only one high school a few towns over or the kids take a bus into the big town, not sure what we'll do when highschool rolls around but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. The primary school my kids go to has mixed age classes so they should be able to accommodate her somewhere.

[Leafmite]

We sent our kids to public school but we also raised all kinds of critters, had a pond, went to museums, bought science kits, had foreign language tapes, went to zoos, grew some of the herbs mentioned in books (rue, wormwood....), faithfully went to the library, explained things to our children (we both have a chem/biochem background), took our kids to see great movies about topics like global warming, and did all we could to open our children's minds. School immersed them in the important social arts that are so vital to survival. Where our schools failed/fail, we supplimented/suppliment. We had a microscope and had quite a bit of fun. The area astronomy club sets up at the local museum and we took them to see the stars. They also enjoyed the talks on astronomy.
School is only eight hours, five days a week, ten months. Your kids will share those hours with other children, learn what to do and not to do in making friends, learn independence, meet friends, make memories, encounter caring adults, and so much more. Then you have all those other hours to fill in the gaps.