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How to prepare a homeschooled child for public school

by CT

I've homeschooled our 11-year-old daughter since kindergarten, but we can no longer live on my husband's income alone anymore and I need to go back to work.

We live in a rural area where we have no access to tutors or in-home teachers, and we couldn't afford that even if they were available. We have looked into all the options. Our only choice is to enroll her in public school starting next year (7th grade).

My concern is that our daughter is socially very young for her age. The only Middle School we have can send her to is in an urban area. I am afraid she is going to have a difficult time integrating.

The students who attend that school are far more worldly and socially competitive than anyone our daughter has been exposed to. They all wear the latest clothes, have the latest gadgets, and seem extremely status conscious. Even worse, the girls are dressing suggestively and dating at what I consider to be a shockingly young age.

My daughter is already showing anxiety about mixing with this group of kids, and it isn't unfounded concern. Compared to them she is quite obviously still a child. We are trying not to reinforce her anxiety, but we know enough about schools to see that she's likely to have a tough time being accepted because of how she looks and acts. There seems to be a lot of peer pressure among these students. Even the counselors have warned us about that.

I don't anticipate this will be an easy adjustment for our daughter. Is there anything we can we do to make it less difficult?

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How to prepare a homeschooled child for public school

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Prepare a homeschooled child for public school
by: Anonymous

Hi,
I'm sorry you will have to give up homeschooling, that probably feels like a huge loss to you.
I hope I can help a little.

My daughter was homeschooled until she was 11 and then returned to school. She also was young for her age socially and I was concerned.
However, she adjusted really well, and has a few really good friends.

i understand your fears, however as this has to happen the best thing you can do is listen to your daughter and support her.
Can you get to know any of the girls who will be in her class, If you can why not ask them over for tea or an afternon.

Another option is to see if the primary school will take your daughter for a short time, this would help your daughter get to know kids she will be in school with, and to get to know the school routine.

Could you look at part-time work and flexi-school or do you have family nearby that she could stay with while you work? You could then homeschool evenings and weekends.