. . .please?

I have an almost 4 year old and although he is at a lovely free-play nursery two days per week, we think that we are not going to send him to school.  He loves nursery but it is like being at home in lots of wasy, it is child led and free-play based and, to be honest, if there was a school which was run like his nursery then I would send him there without any concerns.  They really encourage him to be himself and his self confidence is growing by the week.  I worry that school would quash that individuality and confidence in his ability by highlighting his failings rather than encouraging his strengths.

I have been humming and ha-ing about HE for several years now and my husband is in agreement (that we think it is the right thing but not quite sure).  We would like to start the HE journey now so I have almost a year to test the water and to re-assure us all that it is the right thing to do.

There are a couple of HE groups around us but none very close by.  I find it hard to justify travelling by car for almost an hour in order to access them, a part of HE is that we can concentrate on living a greener life.  How do I know if there is anything more local to me?  Do I need to pay to join EO or something similar to find out?  Is it worth it? I know that peoples opinions of EO differ but is it a good way to contact oither HEers?

I know that this subject is gone over everytime someone starts out on the journey but would be keen to have your opinions please.

Thanks for your help

Sarah x

Whereabouts are you?  If you’re in Scotland, don’t bother with EO, I’ll give you contact details for Scottish HE forum.  If you’re in England, then someome here might be willing to look up their EO book for you, perhaps, or may know of a more local group.  EO membership isn’t a huge amount anyway.

Good luck, and remember, HE doesn’t have to be forever.  You can always change your mind or the way you do things as you go on.

Tanya

Do you have a local Yahoo HE group? They circulate emails amongst group members with details of what’s going on locally.  I have found that EO is not half as useful for finding out about the local scene as this is.  My daughter is also four and would have been in reception since September.  This time last year we were still going to Surestart centre activities but now we do two or three HE activities a week and it’s really good.  My family have all come to see that it’s a good thing we have going and are now firmly in support of our decision, which feels good I don’t drive and we have to use trains and buses to get to them, but it’s not been too bad, I just have to be organised.  Good luck!

I have found that although there is stuff going on around us- most of it includes a 30-40 minute drive. I am just coming to accept that this goes with HE (around here anyway). Of course there is always the option that I could start to set things up for myself more locally and maybe in the future when I don’t have a hyperactive (normal!!!!!!) toddler that I have to have eyes in the back of my head for- I will.

I guess you have to give things a try then decide whether things are worth the drive? I have one group that I will go to if they are ‘day’ or certainly a few hours worth activities but I wouldn’t go for just a 2 hour ‘get together’ type session

Thanks all for the help.  I’m in the midlands - Stratford-upon-Avon.  I’ll try to access some of the localish activities and see if there is anyone nearer to us who might want to join in starting activities more locally.  Like you pmm, I have another child who needs my attention too much at the moment to run anything on my own.

XX

i would try and go along to a few of the meet ups just to get your foot in the door, even if its a bit of a drive..try not to think you’re going to driving there forever, just till you find out whats going on a bit nearer to you..i have to drive 1/2 hr to my group and went religiously twice a month for a good 9 months to get to know some people, but i dont go half so often these days as through that group i found people and things going on a little more over my way. our group like to meet people in person just to verify they are who they say they are, before they allow access to the yahoo group. once you get onto an online group you can post a hello and ask if theres anyone over your way and go from there..
I ended up finding a couple of really nice local families and we have done some nice things together..till the other 2 fell out, now i meet up with them separately aaargh!
i think perhaps till you have got yourself a bit more settled with it all you might have to commit to having to make a bit of a trek..and like others have said HEing does unfortunatley involve a little more driving about to access all the fun!
mummyk x