Co-operative: Home Options In Childhood Education

Homeschoolers' play and socializing: C:HOICE playgroup, teen scene, and parents connecting.

A playgroup like the one scheduled for CHOICE members is the perfect complement to family-based socialization. It allows for the positive aspects of extending social contact without the negative influences of an overly peer-intensive environment such as the large classes and even larger playground crowds of most schools.

Play and socializing

It's nice to have a regular get-together to meet other homeschoolers, make new friends, and play with them (or hang out with them, as the case may be).

The homeschoolers' group provides a common ground environment where families with kids of all ages can get acquainted. At the least, it provides social contact and activities, while at its best it can lead to deep and enriching friendships.

Playgroups:

From a developmental point of view, a playgroup is an opportunity to experience and learn more about interaction with others. From a kid's point of view, it's just plain fun!

The C:HOICE palygroup is currently scheduled to meet every Tuesday morning, starting around 10am, for the kids to play freely. Come join us! We'd love to meet you!

During the summer we meet at Thames Park, just south of the river off of Ridout St (also accessible by foot from Wortley Road). We might also sometimes meet at the splashpads at the Forks of the Thames.

During the winter and cold, rainy or smoggy weather we meet at the London Regional Children's Museum, 21 Wharncliffe Rd. S.

There is no playgroup meeting during the winter/spring vacation times of school children (their Christmas vacation and March break) since the museum is too crowded at that time.

Call Marian at 680 75 90 or email homelearning@ (add rogers.com to complete the email address) for further details.

 

We don't have a group membership to the Children's Museum this year (2005/2006). Members can participate instead in the group pass of A Different Drum.

Pre-teen and Teen Scenes

Pre-teens and teens are welcome to mingle with younger kids and parents at playgroups, or meet their peers through the group and take it from there. We're here to help you when you want help, but we know you might have your own ideas, and we invite you to take them and create your own scene. If you're dropping in without knowing who else your age might be there, you might want to bring a book to keep you busy while you wait for your peers, as the museum is geared toward younger ages.

You can post your ideas on the support page to get started and then to keep networking. Go for it!

Parents connecting:

The playgroup allows parents to connect while the children play. It provides an informal support setting, with plenty of opportunity to chat, exchange ideas and information, and build friendships.

For a more focussed discussion of issues, or for getting to know other members better, come to the support meetings; or you can join or start a support sub-group.

• an overview
• contact

• playgroup
• teen scene
• parents connecting

• group rates and field trips
• celebrations
• calendar of events

• sharing of skills and equipment (want and offer ads)
• articles and essays
• bibliography
• organizations
• curriculum and materials
• other websites of interest
• laws and regulations

• support group meetings
• online support

• C:HOICE's mandate and guiding principles
• guidelines for Effective Group Work
• Members' Agreement
• Event-Planning Agreement

• homeschooling news
• non-C:HOICE homeschooling events
• community news

• FAQ about homeschooling
• FAQ about C:HOICE

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