ACTIVEO

Whatever prompted a family to home educate, they can usually find sufficient in common with other home-educators to make coming to events worthwhile. The family’s particular needs and perspective will determine how involved they become. No one is excluded on the basis of difference in approach, but it follows that families with a lot in common tend to meet more frequently.

Once established as home educators, families find their own way of doing things. There is a continous debate between those taking a structured approach and those who favour non-structure. Even defining the two approaches is fraught with difficulties because it is not easy to state where structure begins. Maybe attending a horse riding lesson once a week constitutes  structured education activity in one family’s mind whereas it only rates as a hobby or pastime in another family’s view. It may be easier to think in terms of a structure continuum along which families travel, sometimes favouring a relaxed, as hoc approach with few solid commitments to do anything or attend anything; at other times, embarking on courses, projects or activities that require regular commitment. Some families find that they have a natural tendency towards one end of the continuum structure but most families probably have a mixed approach.

There are a range of parenting styles in the group but again, a continuum exists and most families attending our events find a way of getting along that is acceptable to all. However, smacking or threats to smack are not acceptable. Extreme behaviour, either from adults or children, that threatens the harmony of the group has to be resolved even though this is sometimes difficult and painful. Unresolvable situations may result in discontinuing membership.  Fortunately, bad incidents are rare and there are far more happy experiences and good relationships that last way beyond the home-educating years.