With our oldest going into Kindergarten this fall, I'm finding myself beginning to panic. All the bad stuff that could happen to him while being under someone else's care is just a huge nightmare for me. The fact that one teacher is solely responsible for 25+ kids, means that it's not very realistic to think that my son's safety would be her main concern.

With all the talk about what I call, "blue dots", (sexual predators that have been mapped online and have been given a dot to their location) it just makes me so fearful that something bad could happen. I'm sure the odds are in his favor that he'll be safe, and my husband always is quick to remind me that I'm behaving like Nemo's dad from the movie Finding Nemo.

I just want to protect my son and he is so willing to talk to strangers. We've had the "stranger danger" talk, but I honestly don't think he understands the ramifications of what could happen if he were to talk to a "bad stranger".

I do want him to become his own person and allow him to experience school, but I'm just thinking that for the first few years, maybe he should stay home? I know I'm being paranoid, but better to be safe than sorry is my philosophy. He'll have the rest of his adolescence to experience school and have those social bonds. I'm not too worried about the first few years of "experiences" that he would be missing out on.

Okay, now please chime in with what cons I have overlooked that could possibly change my mind on homeschooling him through at least second grade...

I can understand your concern. However there is a lot of new research out there that tells us that teaching our kids not to talk to strangers is ineffective. If you google "kids talking to strangers" you can find a lot of good information on how to deal with this.

Personally (I'm not judging just stating my opinion) I think it's irrational and irresponsible to raise my child using fear. Education, and teaching him to be aware is much more affective. I talk to strangers all the time as an adult, it would be hypocritical for me to teach him not to. I would be sending mixed messages. After all, the bank teller, the grocery store cashier... these are all strangers. Teaching him the signs and how to keep himself safe are much more affective ways keeping your child safe.

There are a lot of great resources on child abuse, sexual abuse, and how to stop it online. Also interesting statistic that are helpful to be aware of.

Aside from my idea's regarding that, Home schooling can have some negative aspects. For instancing being difficult to measure your child's progress. No social interactions with other children. These are just a few things I read about online.

I have had some friends who were home school.. all of which had difficulty in social situations. Also, they didn't learn to develop trust in themselves over others ( or strangers ) because they never learned that the world is full of liars, cheaters, and people who aren't nice. It creates a naivety that they have to learn later in life, when most children have already learned it. The shelter that home school provides if not balanced with social interaction can lead to more issues down the road. Which might be the same issues you are trying to avoid with being afraid of strangers.

Personally I think public school is safe, and you have to teach your child how to be aware for their OWN safety. If anything it's just as safe as anywhere else, because you are more likely to get molested or abused by someone you know than a stranger.

My two cents. GOOD LUCK!

Andy brings up fantastic points about abuse usually comes from someone known (not a stranger) AND the social interaction of a 'school' environment. (Though I will say, talking to strangers as an adult, you usually have the advantage of experience AND size. Not as easy to abduct an adult. Not that I've tried either... yea, I'm gonna stop there, if I continue, I could end up needin' a lawyer... ) Statistics show that child abductions have decreased significantly over the past 10 years or so... but they're more dramatized, because of the immediate news feeds and constant barrage of such stories.

The kid is gonna 'fall down' Mom. Didn't you? You turned out ok, so it seems. RIght?

My son has fallen, gotten bit/smacked/pushed(and done a bit of that himself), got paint in his hair, scratches on his face, etc. while at "daycare." And that's just with 12 kids in his room.

And it's not like your son will be walking a mile all alone through a dodgy neighborhood... right?

Here's just a couple of good posts regarding some of what you're experiencing:
teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2011/02/bei...parent-in-world.html

teachertomsblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/dangerism.html

I suggest a healthy dose of TeacherTom's blog, if you're not already reading it. I REALLY REALLY wish theBoy could attend his school. It seems simply AMAZING!

But I will also say, that I sometimes wish we could homeschool, but simply because of stupidity reported in various administrations... bussing kids over an hour across the county, when there's a school 4 blocks away(or closer-this IS happening here)... 'banning' home made lunches (seriously, wtf?)... things like that.

So suck it up Mommy! He'll be fine. You'll be scared, sure. But he'll be fine. Boys are tough.

I dunno, I don't feel I, or my wife could give my son the same direction, skills, or social interaction that he gets at his school. But he's in French Immersion, and was in a preschool 2 half days a week for a year before Kindergarten.

He has ADHD (managed without the use of drugs) so we were concerned about how he would do in the kindergarten environment but we've had no issues outside the norm. We decided he would get the bus so he could have the experience of dealing with others on his own and that's worked out great too.

Sounds like the OP is more about letting go and letting your kid grow up a bit. Yep, it can be scary at times, but you have to let it happen.

I live in a sort of rural area on an acre of land. Behind my house is about 10 acres of field and the ocean. I've always encouraged my oldest to go off and have his adventures and explore. With the condition that he must stay within earshot of me. Its worked out pretty well now that we have his ADHD under control. He used to be a runner and would just take off. Now that was scary.

Bottom line is you can't live your life in fear, and imo teaching your kids to live in fear isn't good for them. Things are going to happen in his life that are beyond your control, you just have to accept it.

Homeschooling could be a viable option, but I'd not use safety as the primary reason. Look at it this way. Those blue dots are required to stay away from schools. They have no such restrictions concerning your kids. Is your home or the school safer in your mind?

The people I know really well who want to homeschool go through fits of anxiety when their child is away from them for more than a few minutes. Those people and their kids need to get some separation. People I don't know so well who homeschool have all sorts of reasons that are well reasoned and insightful. Things like better interactions with other homeschooled kids, advancement beyond what "the system" allows, or the impending collapse of their local school district.

I do think that social skills are developed early and delaying that could compound itself later on, but that's not scientific, just opinion.

I've taken comfort from the stats that concretin referenced many times -- the incidence of crimes against kids is down across the board.

I've sent 3 to kindergarten, and it is a very tough transition, for kids and parents alike. Granted. But our kids have all thrived at the public kinder they attended.

Homeschooling seems like a step not to be taken lightly -- anxiety about safety is legit, but there are a number of other factors to consider.

Maybe as shock therapy you should read "Free Range Kids" -- either the blog of the book. She makes a pretty convincing case for giving kids room to grow (and I have to say that I've been on the "free range" side of parenting).