Homeschooling is a misnomer, because homeschooling kids are not confined in the comfort of their homes.   Parents usually expose homeschooling kids to organizations and life situations as they happen.  Contrary to what others perceived, homeschooling is not over protecting the kids.  This  article should clarify the stereotype definition of homeschool.

I remember my firstborn when he was barely 8 years old.  It was his first homeschooling year.  It was also the first time we went out together on a school week.  I had to do some errands and our first stop was bank deposit.  The long line made my son bored and impatient.  He was starting to annoy me with questions.  “Why is it taking too long, Mommy?”  ” Is it our turn yet?”  He went on and on for several minutes until I suggested that he talk to somebody who works in the bank.  Someone who would like to listen to him.  I was not serious when I asked him to do it.  It was just to silence him and make him sit still.  I thought this would make him behave because I know most kids would not want to talk to an adult they don’t know.  But not my son, in fact, he did the opposite.  It got him thinking afterwards until ironically, he followed my advice.  Finally he approached someone sitting across the table.

I had no idea what they talked about.  They seem to be enjoying each other’s company.  A few minutes later, the person who talked to my son approached me and said, “Your son is so smart, he was even asking me how to open an account. She must have had a very good teacher.”  I just answered with a smile.  My son was smart indeed.  If I didn’t know any better, I already had an idea that my son told her that he is homeschooling and I am the teacher.

The person whom my son approached, turned out to be the branch head of that bank.  Since then, she became our good friend.  Every time we visit the bank, we are treated as preferred customers.

These are only some of the incidents my son encountered during the 5 years I homeschooled him.  Homeschooling has worked to our advantage.  Kids like him are not limited to the 4 walls of the classroom to learn about academics and how the world works.  Homeschooling kids go out into the world, do the groceries, participate in outreach programs, and other civic activities.

Some parents who can afford it, even expose their kids to multiple sports and musical activities.  We call this the age of discovery, where kids get to attend different music lessons or sports clinic until they discover their niche.

“Possibilities are limited to what we are exposed to.”  writes JoyCanon-Abaquin ED.M, author of 8 Simple Secrets to Raising Entrepreneurs.

Some helpful tips to help your kids experience the real world:

• Open a bank account for them and make them do the deposit regularly.  Lessons on savings are never too early.
• Bring them to your grocery shopping and let them pick the products and compare prices.  Let them experience budgeting.
• If you have a business, expose them to the people and to the business process.
• If you are into stock investing, open another account for them. Educate them how investing works.
• Give them chores.  Small kids can start putting their toys away.  Big kids can help wash the baby’s potty, wash the dishes, sweep the floor, mop the floor, clean their bedroom, watch their baby sister/brother, etc.
• Visit museums and art galleries.  They can relate to their music and art lessons more if you bring them to galleries where those pieces of artworks are featured.
• If you are into fitness.  Let them join fun runs and other sports activities with you.
• Travel with your kids.  Traveling is one of the lasting ways to learn.  Start with our own country, the Philippines.  Schedule quarterly or bi-annual vacations to provinces and tourist destinations.
• Join an outreach program.  Kids will be aware of the plight of other less fortunate kids.  It will also stop them from complaining about what they don’t have, guaranteed.
• If you’re looking for another location or scouting for houses, bring them to tripping with you.  Let them express their thoughts about how they feel about the place, the location, and the model houses.
• If you’re into blogging, let them read your blog and input some ideas.  They might even suggest a topic that they want to see written.

Activities and travels need not be expensive.  The most important thing is, you relate their academic lesson to practical application.  Homeschooling or not, your kids should be educated in the real world.  They should be given a chance to study and explore their area of interest.

Destinations where the kids had fun time learning:

• Mind Museum in Taguig
• Museo Pambata in Manila
• Manila Zoo
• Ocean Park in Manila
• Rizal Park in Manila
• Ayala Museum in Manila
• Paradizoo in Tagaytay
• Puzzle Mansion in Tagaytay
• Picnic Grove in Tagaytay
• Club Manila East in Taytay, Rizal
• Pasig Museum