Just wanted to bump this post, say that we are seriously thinking about it and looking for advice.
My concerns are things like sports day, socialisation etc, I really don't want them to miss out too much.
Check and see how homeschool friendly your school district is. We have two that are and two that aren't so much. At ours the hs families enroll in extracurricular activities, classes, sports, clubs, etc. There is paperwork of course, but mostly they are welcome to join.
Also check your local parks and rec office for offerings. Because so many families are dual income working, our local parks and rec always has days and week long sessions in sports, cpr, etc for when the kids are out of school but the parents still have work. They call these programs Sports and Shorts.
There are many online homeschool support groups. I think the hardest part is when family and friends don't understand. And also maintaining old friendships is possible for the kids but realize on different schedules that it is more work to get together.
What we found is that when a family would begin homeschooling that the offerings we made to do social things with them was declined rather than them offering and us declining. I thought that was odd but I guess we did the same thing the year we homeschooled (for health reasons). My dd liked getting together with her public school friends but occasionally she just wanted to stay home and do projects she had started and wanted to finish. for us it wasn't a detriment for her but for another family we sensed the child was withdrawing too much. Who's to say? We all need time to ourselves at different times in our lives. HS today, something different tomorrow!
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Ellen in PA
"God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of love, power, and a sound mind."
We homeschool in Georgia. I help co-lead a local support group and had a mom last week tell me that they have done more socializing with homeschoolers since she pulled her son from school than they did before. I find that to be true for my family too.
If you check out local homeschool groups for your area you will probably see there are quite a few things to be involved in. I have 4 daughters who really aren't interested in sports so that isn't an issue for us. They are interested in music though and so we joined a homeschool choir and band. It keeps us busy - they perform a minimum of 4 concerts each year.
We also find homeschoolers at the library during the day.
Well, my phone has rung so I need to sign off. Have a great day!
__________________ Martie
"The Bible calls children a blessing, and debt a curse. Yet we apply for curses and prevent blessings!" (Doug Phillips)
Between church, Sunday school, AWANA, sports, scouts, 4-H, homeschool field trips, homeschool meetings, homeschool parties, and neighbor kids, when would they NOT get to socialize??? We have a fuller schedule since we started homeschooling than we did when my oldest was in ps.
Socialization: The process whereby a child learns to get along with and to behave similarly to other people in the group, largely through imitation as well as group pressure.
Is a SCHOOL really where you want your kids to be socialized?? How many times do you sit in a room of bullies and their victims with no hope of escape day after day and you're not allowed to talk to anyone most of the time and when you are, it will only be people about your age (give or take 1 year!). Is this what we want our kids to learn?
I've even heard some ask me, "how will your kids learn to stand in line?" (UMMM Grocery store comes to mind)
Seriously, if you are considering homeschooling read some of the great books available on the subject (Linda Dobson, Debra Bell, John Holt, Raymond and Dorothy Moore are some authors), read some of the great websites on the topic, read some blogs by homeschoolers. Google homeschool and blog. Pop in to your local library and ask the librarian if they know any homeschoolers you could talk to. Google your city/state, and homeschool group.
I have to agree here with the socialization. Since we are homeschooling my DD has started to talk more with adults, than she use to.
And we are much busier now than when she was in PS.
Not to mention, how much social time do they really get at schools anymore? I know my DD said that the only times they really get to chit chat was at lunch, which was only 20 mins, and they had to eat during that time. Than at recess, which was again only 20 mins. In the morning before school started, and yet they had a packet that they were to sit down and work on before school started. And of course on the bus.
My daughter has all the following for socialization:
1. the neighbor kids,
2. Soccer practice
3. Release time(church on Thursday during day)
4. soccer practice
5. church
6. Wednesday night church
7. MOMS club
8. Sunday church/Sunday school
9. And a twice a month offering through the Cyber Charter School that she attends.
There is no problem with socialization with my DD.
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Karen
When I was young, I always said I wanted to be someone...I guess I should have been more specific!
Steve's bird, Mum to Elizabeth-13,Rachel-11,Jessica-8,Olivia Rose-4
Ellen in PA 
