Introduction to the Decompression Period - The "Why" Behind It

Almost every homeschooling parent has told me about the decompression period . That strange and magical time when you and your child transition from "regular school" to homeschool. You get to downshift a few gears. In the homeschooling articles and books that I've been reading, it is emphasized that this period is essential to help the transition for your child into the homeschool way of life. Decompression gives kids the chance to slowly release the stress that they have endured in most of their student lives. I knew my kid was overwhelmed, frustrated and struggling (you've probably heard me say that before) by regular school. However, I didn't realize to what extent until this week. Then I thought (and thought) and realized this decompression period has been a long time coming...and here is why!

Think about it. Babies play and interact with the world around them in silly and fun ways. Toddlers and preschoolers make play as their "work", such as going to the playground, building forts with blocks or going to different stations of their classroom. That is how they learn and explore the world around them. If you've been blessed enough to spend enough time with younger children, you're able to experience their excitement when they learn and discover new things. When children are very young, their work is very hands on and, for the most part, learning is still very fun for them. Perhaps, the most exciting part about being in a preschool or kindergarten class is the emphasis on creativity.

However, as that child grows and becomes school age- school work, sitting still and listening to the teacher becomes his or her work. This work becomes more and more behavior and direction focused. The shift from the multi sensory learning, that kids experience in preschool and kindergarten, decreases as the child advances in elementary school.  Slowly, the child must make the change from  hands-on work to more and more left-brain thinking. Much emphasis is placed on skills, such as being still, test taking and meeting classroom expectations. If you're a child who learns differently or who requires a multi sensory approach to learning, this shift can be delayed...or worst, never happen.

As a student in the upper grades of elementary school, you work 6 or so hours at school and then you get homework. As you get older, your homework increases exponentially each year.  I'm finally realizing how stressful must it be, for a child, to be told what to do all day, how to do it, when to do it and then do more of it at home. Day in and day out. After a long day of classwork, a child then has to come home to homework, extra-curricular activities and a super-busy schedule. 

It is no wonder why children who go from "regular school" need this decompression period into homeschool.   Tune in next time to the nuts and bolts of Decompression Period and what it looks like in our home.