Hello from Ireland

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Hi all. I'm new to this site. I have logged on a few times,but today i decided..what the heck, i'll join!! I haven't got Asperger's, but my 14yr old son has. The last few weeks have been quite though for him. He's back at school...which he hates. He feels so isolated and hates the routine of school. I have been (FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS) thinking of homeschooling him. I'm getting different views from people, the majority of them saying it's a bad idea, he needs social interaction. It will do him more harm than good. From my view i think it will do him more good than harm. At home he doesn't have to feel different, he won't be called names and be picked on. He won't feel isolated. He has three younger siblings and a lot of cousins, so there is the social interaction. He will be happier being homeschooled. That what i think. Has anyone here with Aspergers been homeschooled. Or is there a parent here who homeschools their child. I would love to hear from anyone in this situation. Any advice is great to hear.
Ruth

Welcome to WP!

Hi there,

Welcome on the Planet.

Is home-schooling possible in Ireland? Probably yes, you are talking about. Could be a good thing, I suppose when you also pay attention to learning social skills.

Good luck to you and your son,
C.

hello bebe.

I think about homeschooling mine too sometimes. But i have to work so it would not be possible. I don't envy your decision though. Good luck.

Hi and welcome to the forums.

I was both a mixture of homeschooled and 'normal' schooled.
As to wether it is "better" or not.

That is not an easy question.
In terms of academic knowledge and learning, I found homeschooling FAR superior.

In terms of socialisation, it depends on precisely what's happening to him at school. Homeschooling isn't the most social atmosphere. But then neither are some schools.

I do think it's good for him to have social interaction beyond his immediate family, so if you choose the homeschool route, try and find some clubs for him.

L.

I never could remember what the school timetable was for lessons. I just asked around everyday, which lessons they had if I knew they were in one of my classes. I did this for the remaining 2 years... I think public school will be OK. You may need to teach him about the world itself and how things work and why people would respond in a way he doesn't expect. So, I would disagree on home-schooling

oh, Welcome to WP

To WrongPlanet!! !

Follow your gut and your son's interest. If he thinks he'll be happy at home, he probably will, and a happy child learns much better. I think you are right that he'll get plenty of socialization.

You might check out the book The Well Adjusted Child by Rachel Gathercole.

The book gives many reasons why homeschooling can be *better* for socialization.

Welcome. I'm new as well.

Hello, bebe098, and welcome to Wrong Planet. All the best to both you and to your son. You may wish to surf over to the "Haven" forum of Wrong Planet and make a similar post there. A lot of good folks at the Haven are always making great suggestions.

Nice to meet you, Ruth.

Welcome to Wrong Planet!

Hello


Welcome to the Wrong Planet Forums.

Welcome bebe098!

I'm an adult with AS and I'd have LOVED to have been homeschooled. (If only I'd had a sane compassionate parent to provide it). If the kid has bad social interaction now, odds are it will only get worse through high school. Children can be beasts. Give him the freedom and opportunity to focus on the things he's great at. Home schooling can build his self-confidence which can only serve to improve social skills. And he'll likely have an educational/intellectual advantage, as well. I've always done so much better with independent study opportunities than classroom situations.

Hi welcome from the other side of the Planet.... I also have a 14 year old son and am diagnosed with aspergers and many neurological differences myself.

As for school " I sat paralyzed throughout most of my school life, not daring to look let alone be noticed....." about sums it up...

So as a parent now if felt my child was suffering would take him out of school and home school, do not know alot about, but know many parents who do.... luckly school wise for my boys (14 and 10) so far things are ok and feel this has a lot to do with the fact that my sons have a great set of friends (peers)... I went out of my way to help this happen, open home to any friends they made, but also monitored the sort of friends they made when younger....