somehow he needs socialization with children his own age. that is the most important part about school – interacting with people and learning how.

generally in kindergarten a child learns social skills, colors, shapes, how to write numbers and letters, and basic phonics. also, most schools require that in order to pass kindergarten, students must be able to cut with scissors, tie their shoes… things like that. all of these things can be taught at home. i have heard of children being having to repeat kindergarten because his social skills were not good enough.

i would call the child’s district and ask what they require students to know in order to enter kindergarten. some districts actually have like a placement test for first grade.

also, go to the isbe website and look at the illinois state standards… here you can find what kids learn in early elementary school (generally first through third grade). a student entering first grade will need skills that have prepared him/her for these things… such as the things i mentioned above.

hope this has helped some. i’ll provide the isbe state standard link and i found a first grade study website that i will also include.

Socially he’ll be fine. Educationally he’ll probably be fine too, some homeschoolers put off formal schooling until 7 or 8 and their kids catch up really fast once they start. If they want to make sure he learns “what he should”, they should purchase some homeschool books on basic subjects like math and Language Arts and have him do a few pages a day in each subject. Reading out loud to him will help a lot too, as will educational games. If he has Internet access while he is traveling, these sites might be helpful:

(I like the first one the best)

http://www.starfall.com

http://www.handwritingforkids.com

http://www.enchantedlearning.com

http://www.abcteach.com

http://www.homeschooldiscount.com

http://www.sonlight.com

http://www.abeka.com

http://www.homeschoolstockroom.com

http://www.rocksolidinc.com

http://www.christianbook.com

http://www.earlychildhoodlinks.com

http://www.kn.att.com

http://www.first-school.ws

http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/star

http://www.freeworksheets.com

http://teacher.scholastic.com

http://www.tlsbooks.com

http://www.mathsisfun.com

http://www.coolmath.com

http://www.dltk-kids.com

http://www.funbrain.com

http://www.brainpopjr.com

http://www.iknowthat.com

http://kidsites.com

http://www.eclectichomeschool.org

http://www.rainbowresource.com

http://www.donnayoung.org

http://alphaphonics.com

http://www.triviumpursuit.com

http://themathworksheetsite.com

http://startwrite.com

The child will be completely fine. If he is not legally required to be in school until age 7, then the mom and bf would do well to work gently on phonics and math, but do try to avoid the online stuff–kids are better off without any computer time at that age. Also, they won’t legally be required to have him registered or anything like that, but they could if they wanted for homeschooling when they feel he’s at a gr. 1 level. I don’t know the laws in Ill., though.

Nothing, he will learn much on their travels.

This is a wonderful chance to learn how to interact with other people, and the places he will visit can provide many educational opportunities.

They can talk to him about all kinds of things, they can still read to him in the evenings, visit museums, and so on.

Most of the time young children benefit, and especially young boys, from starting a bit later with formal academics.

We have home schooled for several years, and my husband holds a Masters in Education as well; he feels it would be better if all children started around age 7, or 8.

(Better Late Than Early, by Dr. Raymond Moore & Dorothy Moore).

If you’d like to be of help, just have him be your pen pal for the time that they are traveling.

He can write you about what he has seen, and done, this would help him tremendously in his writing, and communication skills, as well as keep you both connected.

First of all, traveling can be an excellent educational opportunity for the child and I would encourage the mother to make the most of the learning opportunities of their destination (zoos, museums, concerts, and activities) as well as the journey (looking at maps and discussing modes of transportation).

Children do not need school or playgroups in order to “be socialized”. Children should learn social skills from the adults in their lives, not other children. Now children should be given the opportunity to play with other children from time to time just for the fun of it. Trips to the playground would give him a chance to meet other kids and play.

As for educating him, it depends on if they plan to have him start first grade or second grade when he returns. (It is believed that since boys are usually developmentally behind girls it may be in their best interest to start them a year later than the norm.) If they want him to be able to enter second grade they may need to do more rigorous structured learning.

There are many different types of complete curriculum packages. You or his mother can review them at this website: http://www.cathyduffyreviews.com/index.html

He would mainly need to focus on the three R’s, though, since reading and math levels are the way kids are usually divided and tracked in schools. There are many reading programs such as Hooked on Phonics which you can check out at the above website. I personally recommend Singapore math to get him above and beyond ready for a return to school (http://www.singaporemath.com/Default.asp). And his mother should read to him as much as possible. And she might want to pick up some vocabulary workbooks (Singapore makes some too) and have him practice writing skills by writing letters to family and friends back home. Kumon has a good line of workbooks available at most major booksellers that go up to age six.

Oh, and World Book lists a typical course of study for each grade at this website: http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum

If someone reads to him–not just kiddie books, but everything, it will help more than anything else you could possibly do. If he learns to read, that’s great. If he doesn’t, he will learn it so fast when he needs to it will be as if he had read all his life. As long as he has a close relationship with his family and settles down after the trip, he will be fine, in fact he’ll be better off than if he had never gone. I homeschooled my 7 children–they are all brilliant and well-adjusted! Just remember, there is NO HURRY to fill a kid’s mind with a bunch of facts.

Why is socialization the first thing off most people’s lips? (Not yours, but many of the above posters.) Not trying to be antagonistic, but it baffles me. The child is probably not going to be locked in a cave while away…

Sorry. But unless a child is purposely kept away from all forms of life – which 99.9% of people would never do – they can’t help but socialize. It’s really built into how they are wired, how they discover the world. School is not the only place a person can learn to work and play well with others!

I understand your concern, but there really are many resources out there to help home schooling parents teach children of all ages. Your help will be welcomed, as long as it is given in a non-judgmental way, when things come up such as questions about writing development. If there is a library nearby, she can read to him often; if she doesn’t already know how, you can show her how to point, word by word, as she reads until he starts to pick it up and wants to try to do it himself.

I know when I first started homeschooling my son – then 6 – my main questions were about his writing and reading development. He didn’t follow the exact timeline about what he should do at what age, and I tried to force him, on the (very) judgmental advice of a teacher who didn’t agree with homeschooling. When I found out that young boys don’t always develop at the same rate, I backed off. Within a year, he was working at and above grade level in all subjects. Now, at 9, he’s far above grade level in many subjects, because he enjoys doing the work.

Wherever they’re going, I’m sure there will be some sort of societal structure; he can learn who does what, and why, to help make their society work. Police help keep us safe, doctors and nurses help keep us healthy, farmers grow our food, shopkeepers sell us what we need. This is a 5-6yo’s concept of social studies.

Math is all around us – how many blocks do you have? Can you put 3 cups of flour in the cookies? Show mommy how to make a 3. If I take two of the apples and put them over here, how many do you have left? She can make him a life-size number line on vinyl or fabric and have him walk on it to learn order; he can practice addition and subtraction, as well as skip-counting on it as well. For place value, there are many manipulatives that are available that will make abstract concepts become concrete. As long as he has a grasp of the concept of numbers, along with addition and subtraction, he won’t have a problem in 1st grade when he comes back.

I have friends who traveled the world for a year, taking their 5 children with them. The kids homeschooled while they were traveling, and didn’t skip a beat. They were ages 2-16. They learned tons about world geography, culture, world religions, and history. They played with children wherever they went, and learned basic conversation in various languages. When they got back to the states, they were actually ahead of their classmates.

If she’s at all conscientious about her child’s education – which, if she’s got the above planned, she is – they’ll be fine. I know that going outside the status quo can be scary, but it really can have good results. I really wouldn’t worry; if for some reason he is behind when he gets back, which he probably won’t be, he’ll be young enough to catch up. Kids at that age, especially boys, tend to need an extra year or two to be developmentally ready for structured, written schoolwork anyway. Waiting until age 7 could actually be good for him.

It’s good that you’re concerned for your friend and her son, and that you’re willing to help. A suggestion from experience – please make sure to keep your help supportive. Even if you may not agree with homeschooling – and I have no idea if you do or not – she’s doing what she thinks is best for her and her son, and it really is her decision. If you are supportive, she will most likely welcome your help; if you appear judgmental, she will avoid it at all costs.

Hope that helps!

i don’t think of toddlers could learn intercourse ed as youthful as 5! I recommend, there have been circumstances of young toddlers walking in on mom and dad or viewing person fabric, and wanting to be defined at a youthful age, yet i think of high-quality around puberty could toddlers initiate researching. I understand there is not something incorrect with intercourse ed, that is an portion of all and sundry’s lives, yet enable toddlers be toddlers, and not be slowed down with person tips. i don’t think of it’s going to inspire toddlers to do something. the two way they’ll stumble on their bodies or a chum’s at the same time as enjoying surgeon or in the event that they take swim instructions at the same time, yet enable or not that is harmless without the recommendations of intercourse or what adults do while they’re bare. that is harmless interest.

Sesame Street is an awesome kid show … and very educational. They r so many educational toys as well as household items.. The basic can be taught in everyday routine.. From colors to counting…

He will be benefiting from the travel but I think he should also attend playgroups whilst away…to socialise him…his parents should set up basic reading writing lessons and also numeral skill….as well as art.