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Part II will look further into some things the parent/educator can do to maximize the home school environment. In part I we examined the need of global- and peer-socialization: learning about societal expectations and expectations in personal circles. Lastly discussed was the benefit of learning outside of the house, getting out of the known and into the unknown environment.

There is no weakness in admitting limits to ones ability. In fact, it can be argued he/she who recognizes their own weakness can become stronger by knowing where and when to look for help. This is most important when it comes to educating one’s own child. Perhaps one can teach science but is not a scientist, thus, a science club the home school child can attend to get a deeper level of learning, to be engage in a more significant manner may be a great option. There are many opportunities in our society to augment the home school child’s education, to support the weaker areas of the parent/educator.

Even still, the parent/educator may be able to teach the fundamentals or the concept of a subject but may choose to enroll the child in a class, club or camp simply to change up the learning environment, the voice of authority. This has been alluded to a couple of times in the article. This is not an indictment of the parent/educator it’s simple human nature: the child is going to tune you out. Heck, most parents who aren’t teaching their children find the children will tune them out. Add to the normal job of parent, teacher, and your opportunity to be tuned out increases exponentially. So, be aware, look for safe opportunities to switch it up.

If one is willing to acknowledge limitations decision can be made that will greatly enhance the home school experience for both parent/educator and child/student.

Many kids today simply aren’t physical enough, home schoolers and school attendees alike; however, in school there are required physical activities, namely physical education. There are more opportunities to be physical as well. There is recess and team sports. Physicality is good for mental and physical health. Elements improved by moving and being physically active are balance, spacial awareness, balance, coordination and muscle development to name a few.

Fortunately opportunities to get the home schooler active are plenty. Look to your local park and recreation department, community service district, boy and girl club. Boy and Girl Scouts do different outings. There are more individual type activities like biking, hiking, walking, skipping rope. Outdoor oriented adventure camps are excellent for movement, self awareness and introducing children to physical challenge, success and subsequently self confidence. Look to local club type teams or rec department teams in your area. These are seasonal and your child will be able to sample a variety of sports.

Often the result of challenging oneself physically and succeeding in that challenge creates a sense of self confidence that cannot be created otherwise. For some people they may challenge their fear of heights or on television lose the weight they never thought they could, climb Kilimanjaro, swim with sharks, sky dive, swim the English Channel, etc. This is ever so empowering. This leads to a self-awareness we cannot get from a computer, there is a discovery of self that cannot be found otherwise. This makes us better people, stronger people, more confident people. In the home school environment and in any environment, as parents, we want to give our children this gift, this strength to deny negative peer pressures, to make the right decision.

Often the greatest growth comes when students are engaged in a new environment without the parent/educator around, when everything is new, including the instructors. This newness removes old habits of quitting or turning for help prematurely. The student asks for help and the parent has anticipated this need and is there to help. In a new environment the student relies more on his or herself before turning for help. This allows a stretching of one’s personal boundaries, creating a new territory of self definition, allowing for growth and greater self confidence, greater self awareness.

An excellent source of all of these aspects of learning: socialization, peer-socialization, experiential education, new voices of teaching, physicality and self-discovery, are outdoor adventure camps. We specifically suggest an outdoor camp because these are most often going to have a focus on physical/engaged learning with ropes or hikes, whitewater rafting, camping etc. These camps provide a whole host of learning experiences. If you choose a resident style the learning in magnified exponentially. The concentrated experiences lend themselves to tremendous growth and prove extremely healthy to the home schooler who not only finds new confidence but friends to keep in touch throughout the year.