Group adds fun to homeschooled children

Some parents opt to homeschool their children because it gives them the ability to control what their kids learn and provide a personal and attentive atmospheres.

But making friends can sometimes be hard for homeschooled kids and that’s why Karen Rodriguez helped create the Bonita-Estero Homeschool group.

“We get all the kids together and they get to know each other and make friends,” said Rodriguez, who has been in the group since its inception a year ago. “They get to be with one another and that’s something they don’t get at home.”

Rodriguez has two children of her own that she homeschools but works to keep them involved and in contact with others, which is the premise of the group that includes about ten families.

“There weren’t any homeschool groups happening in the Bonita and Estero area so we started it to give kids an outlet,” said Eileen Boswell, who homeschools her children and co-founded the group.

She got interested in the group with Rodriguez after she kept seeing the same parents and children at difference activities throughout the area.

“It was just time to start our own since we kept seeing each other everywhere. We are always looking for programs that are happening in the community and we take our kids,” said Rodriguez, of Bonita Springs.

The homeschool group is simply an outlet for kids to have fun and doesn’t specialize in helping others become homeschooler parents.

“We let our members know what is happening in the community and let each other know what is going on,” said Rodriguez who is the outgoing director of the group. “We don’t do legal issues but focus on getting the kids together.”

Keeping the children involved has proved a challenge for the group at times but they have been able to visit local attractions like the estuary, science camp and the Nina Ship at Tin City in Naples.

“We try to get the kids together for extra curricular activities and this year we are running a music program for the kids,” Rodriguez. “It’s a great way to get the kids involved outside of what they learn at home.”

The programs the group participates in are decided by the members at monthly meetings where everyone is invited to attend.

“On Monday we will have a meeting and figure out what we are going to do for the year,” said Boswell, who added that parents bring ideas for outings based on things the children would find interesting.

The group meets every third Monday of the month at the Hope Lutheran Church in Bonita Springs at 4:30 p.m.

“We don’t focus a whole bunch on educating the kids,” Boswell said. “Our focus is on socialization and this group is more about having fun with the kids.”