Hi- My kids have a HUGE need to get outdoors or exercise before we can get any work done. (Ages 6 and 4 1/2) However, I’m very concerned/consciously aware when we are outdoors during public school hours. I err on the side of caution for our own safety as well as our representation of homeschooling. If I want to go for a walk or bike ride I don’t feel like that’s such a big deal, but letting my kids play in our backyard in the morning when we get school done after lunch for example, is something I’m wrestling with and am not feeling like it’s an option. My neighbors are cool, but one 2 are new and I don’t know much about them. Can someone enlighten me on what you do about this? I refuse to be a prisoner in my own home, but I also don’t want my kids running reckless in the culdesac when all the other kids are away at school... I feel like we have to be quiet.. I don’t want any official visitation of any sort. Am I over thinking this?
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Woodland Area Christian Home Educators
When it comes to education, there's no place like home.
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If your kids are under six there is no problem.
Hi Connie, I feel the same way when we are just starting homeschooling. It is legal to homeschool in California. I read in California homeschooling law that kids 6 years old and up needs to do school until 4pm. For us we get our school done earlier than that. Let me encourage you by saying... do not worry about it much, if you are a member of HSLDA it gives more confidence. You and the kids can play whatever time of the day outside, we are homeschooling and just like public school we need P.E. and freedom to choose where we can have our P.E. each day. As long as we are present and with our kids at all times. For people who will ask you about why they are not in school? Well tell them we are, this is our P.E. or we are in a fieldtrip today or Nature walk every Wednesday, or any day... public schools have minimum days students are dismiss early once a week...we can have minimum days too. There are days that my kids and I go to park at 8:30am exercise get some sunlight and start school at 9:30am. We have 15-30 minutes recess at our front yard each day. Now that my kids are 13 and 11 I am thinking eating breakfast at Panera and bring our school work there just like other UC Davis students ;) enjoy your freedom, we choose to homeschool because we don’t want our kids to be stucked in one room doing school and be bored :) Enjoy it there’s so much to learn while playing :)