You may have noticed I have not been blogging as much as usual, but I have been distracted. That distraction will end this weekend. Right now, I am at a pageant competition with my daughter who is competing in several areas including photogenic, talent, and overall queen crown. She did excellent playing piano yesterday and people have been complementing us all day on her performance. She also completed her interview this morning, and I am waiting to hear the preliminary results.
So what does this have to do with homeschooling? Lots! By finding an interesting hobby or activity for our child to participate in, we are fulfilling many homeschooling “requirements”. Actually, what we are fulfilling are life requirements.
This weekend, my child has had hands on experience in:
Making new friends: She has collected many phone numbers and initiated conversations with other girls. These are girls she will see a few times a year, so they keep in touch by phone and email.
Performing and in public: How many adults fear public speaking and performances? By starting at a relatively early age, we are ensured that my child will be able to speak easily and naturally in public as well as being able to perform is she so chooses.
Interview Skills: For me, this is not something that can be taught, but rather needs to be experienced repeatedly to get satisfactory results. Each time my daughter does a pageant interview (which by the way, accounts for 2/3 of her score) we receive a scorecard that says what her strong and weak points are. By the time she has to interview for a job, her interview skills will be unbeatable.
The Importance of Practice: By competing in the talent competition, she is forced to practice in order to do her best.
So what do Children’s Pageants and Homeschooling Have in Common?
Both activities are considered controversial, and many people vehemently disapprove of them. However, by reading the list above you will see why I do not let other people’s opinions of how I raise my children bother me.
You may also want to read:
Fulfilling Homeschool Requirements through Hobbies
Beating a Dead Horse (more on Socialization)