Why Are School-Age Boys Struggling? | Newsweek Education | Newsweek.com

http://www.newsweek.com/id/157898/output/comments This is what I have been saying for a long time.   They say one out of five parents are concerned enough about their behavioral or emotional health that they take them to see a doctor or health professional.  But they also say one out of ten girls.  To me that number is still high for girls.  So I really don't think it's just a boy thing.  What I have been saying about schools is they don't let the kids be kids.  They are too worried about test scores that it is no longer about the children. 

More and more schools are now not only getting rid of P.E., Art and Music classes but also getting rid of recess or limiting the games they can play on the playground.  Games like Tag and Dodge Ball are no longer allowed because of fear of being sued.

My personal belief has been that schools don't let the kids be kids.  I know not all schools are like this but the sad fact is a lot are.  They expect the children to just sit still and learn all day long with hardly any breaks in between.  Then they send them home sometimes with hours worth of homework.  Then you have some parents who have the poor children over scheduled with extra curricular activities.  Now I am not saying they shouldn't have extra curricular activities but (again this is my personal opinion) I don't think they need to have their whole day planned out.  I believe kids need to run around and just be kids.  Children really do learn a lot through play.  Anything from learning how to share to figuring out how to work out a conflict with each other. 

I am not saying children shouldn't be able to sit down quietly and learn but I think they also need time to just run and have fun.  Being in the sun (natural lighting) and getting exercise  is beneficial for learning.

I am by no means an expert and I don't claim to be. This has just been on my mind since I read this article and wanted to put my thoughts down.

Why Are School-Age Boys Struggling? | Newsweek Education | Newsweek.com

Babies and more on Our Homeschool Moments.

The boy's and I ran to Meijer's this morning to pick up a couple of things for Create and Play tomorrow and hurried home because just after ten a.m. my brother brought over his little girl so we could babysit. She has a little bit of separation anxiety but the boy's and I got her to get over it pretty quickly.

I don't want any more babies or kids but I did enjoy having a little one around. Also since I don't have girls I played with her hair LOL. I was really surprised she sat there and let me do it LOL. She has got all these uncontrollable curly hairs LOL. Boy though an almost two year old can wear you out LOL. She wasn't into everything it's just having an almost two year old around I think LOL. The boy's enjoyed playing with her too. Although they didn't like it when she wanted to get into their Lego's LOL. So we had to distract her lol. But all in all the boy's loved having her around and she had fun too. Sometimes I miss my boy's being that little.

Because we had a little one with us today schooling got done a little later than usual but it still got done. Lately Harlow has been helping out with the teaching. Today as I was getting ready to teach Jarod his math he said he wanted daddy to help him because the last couple day's dad has helped him while I was working with Chord. So Jarod is really enjoying time with dad teaching him his math. Its neat because he was fine with me teaching him other things but wanted daddy to help him with his math. It's really nice that Harlow takes the time and enjoys doing this. In the beginning when we started homeschooling I was doing most of it. This is our third year into it and I have notice Harlow helping now without me having to say a word.

Homeschooling the boys really has made our family closer. My hubby works afternoons so he sleeps later than we do but he makes that time count for something and willing to help. I have realized now that our homeschooling isn't so much about academics (of course it has it's place) but it's more about family and getting to know who each other are. We aren't worried about who they are hanging out with or what exactly did they learn in school today. Instead we are talking, reading and playing together as a family. We are watching our boy's blossom into who they are. I am so glad we made the decision to homeschool. It isn't for everyone but it is for us and it's been such a blessing.