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coping with age difference and ensure social skills develop.

5 replies

wintersdawn · 18/07/2013 07:50

hi I have a 2 yo and a newborn so any form of education is a long way off but I know it'll come round quickly and with everything that's happening with the education system at the moment my dh and I have serious thoughts about home ed.
my first thoughts are how do you cope with the different ages and needs of children as I'd have one starting at 4 and one who would still only be 2.
also how do you ensure your kids remain socially active? in my mind one of the key benefits of primary school is the development of social skills.

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ommmward · 19/07/2013 08:29

Different ages and needs of children: you're doing it already!!! Just carry on. By the time your oldest is 4 you'll look back on this question and realise you've become utterly competent at juggling the different needs of your two children. Don't panic!

Being socially active: maintain the friendships you have. Make new ones based on the things you enjoy doing. Remember that people who use schools are often up for socialising at weekends and in holidays. Remember that "socialising" as something which happens among a group of 30 children all within a calendar year, with minimal adult supervision is a pretty weird model - children learn a LOT more from adults, children rather older than them (who act as models) and children rather younger (who help our children develop the caring, nurturing bit). Nothing wrong with peers, but spending 6 hours a day with them isn't the most efficient way of learning to navigate social norms IMO. Again, relax and don't panic!

We built up good friends very gradually over time - some were people HEing or thinking of it; some are people we know through work or are neighbours. Almost all of our current active friends use schools - it just means that our weekends and school holidays are quite ridiculously crowded, and the school days tend to be quieter, family activity days. You'll find what works for you.