If you are a homeschooler then there is no doubt in my mind you have gotten THE question at least once.
“How will they learn to Socialize?”
This has always been a funny question to me.
I think the better question would be how don’t we socialize.
One of the reasons we need to homeschool is because we are so actively busy socializing that we could never take 7 hours out of our day for school.
It has always been funny to me how this is the number one question I get from those who aren’t really familiar with homeschooling. “What about Socialization?”
What about it? I am sure that my children are learning how to interact with other people by doing just that. We don’t keep them locked up at home like some people may think. In fact I am often looking for a way to spend some time at home because we are so busy socializing.
We do different activities with different church groups. Lots of outreaches. I want my children to learn how to “socialize” with all different types of people. Not just the ones in their classroom or immediate sphere. They are able to converse with people of all ages and styles. And I love that about homeschooling. I don’t want their world to be so small.
There are always sports and classes. But we also spend time together talking and just getting to know one anothers hopes and dreams more and more each day. I give them opportunities to deal with real life issue like making business calls all the way down to asking for help at the grocery store. I don’t want my children to grow up and be afraid of the world they live in.
One last thing on the topic of socialization. My daughter was in public school until 4th grade. Every report card she would get all perfect grades. We would go to the parent teacher conferences and it was always the same.
“Kalene is a wonderful student, but she socializes way too much!”
Year after year we heard the same thing. So apparently there is a place where you aren’t allowed to socialize. And that is at school.
Socialization is just another reason to homeschool in my book!
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I am blessed to homeschool my seven children:)
Me!
& I have 7 children also
)
I homeschooled my oldest grandson til March of 2011 and now I am homeschooling his younger brother in Kindergarten. Socialization has never been a problem with church, homeschool groups, cub scouts, dance lessons, community plays, sports, storytime at the library and many other activities.
Homeschool for 3 years now….We belong to a local Homeschool group and participate in Co-op classes. Also, our library host a Homeschool program once a week. Boyscouts and Church. Lots of things going on!
My daughter is 4 years old and we are plannig on homeschooling. Well we already do homeschool but of course its not formal yet since she would t be able to even start public school here until she is 6… Its a very scary amd exciting adventure
I don’t homeschool but admire and envy those who do. It’s such a wonderful thing for kids and it seems to open so many more learning opportunities. Thumbs up to you that do!
Have 5 kids..3 home educated and a 2 yr and 1 yr old learning all the fun they learn! We have many homeschooled and public/private schooled friends we see regularly. Sports, dance, scouts, co-ops, church, library, parks, nursing homes,…..endless places to socialize AND not just w/ 30 other 6 yr olds or 30 8 or 11 yr olds! Also, the young ones are getting the benefit of making ‘baby’ friends as well as entertaining the older ones! I love watching the various age groups interact!
My son just turned 9, and he’s more social, polite and mannered than most adults. He has no problem carrying a conversation with any age range. Homeschooled from get go.
We have always trailrode, shown, rodeo’d, etc. He now has been attending martial arts class for a year, and his instructor announced to entire audience during test that our son was the easiest student he has ever taught. Made for two very proud parents!
I am homeschooling my 3 girls: ages 12, 7 and 5. This is my first year. They have more friends now than they ever had before!!
our oldest will be starting school in the fall. my other two will be 1 and 3 when he starts school. they are all smart, and our family is pressuring us to home school. my husband and i both work full time, although my job is a stay-at-home online position. i’m afraid we can’t do it, even though i’m really nervous that public school will take the enthusiasm out of learning. he already knows more than the kids in his preschool class (at 4 1/2, he can add and subtract, read simple words, etc.). do any of the homeschoolers out there also have two parents working full time? i’m kind of curious to know whether or not we could do it…
Funny how the “socialization” of homeschoolers is a huge concern for those who don’t homeschool!! In my opinion, it’s a non-issue for those of us who choose to educate our children at home because we have to turn down more opportunities to socialize than we search for.
We have homeschooled for years and have had that question asked many times! Funny thing about it is that our girls were more socialized then anyone we knew! Church, youth group, youth worship band, karate and tornaments(daughter is working on her second degree black belt, plus teaches the little guys class and she is only 16 years old!), 4-H, and working part time at a golf course since she was 14! Now she has just started her own photography business ( http://www.facebook.com/bellamiaphotos/ ) and just shot her first wedding last weekend! Geez… I do believe that she knows what being social is all about;) lol
we started our 4 yr old in preschool this year for the “socialization” while we decide whether or not to homeschool. socially, he does seem a bit shy and reserved, and he is desperate for friends and will latch on to any child he meets. we just wanted to observe him in that kind of environment for a year and see what happens. what we’ve discovered is that some of the parents (not all) seem to be leaving everything regarding the education of their children to someone else. there are 4 yr olds in there who don’t even know their colors, and he’s known colors since he was 2! if public school is like that, i’d rather have a shy kid who is ahead of the grade than an outgoing kid who is bored at school because he’s not able to excel. even our preschool teacher has told us to homeschool.
I have homeschooled my two boys since they were 2 years old (pre-school), they are now 5 and 6.
WE have homeschooled for 19 years now(9 kids) and my kids have never had a problem with “socialization”. They were always around people of all ages at church, in sports and different lessons that they took. 5 of them are adults now and I see no problems with them getting along with people of all ages. If they have siblings, that is the first area of socialization and then we just watch it branch out into other areas.
Last year – our first year out of the public school – it was hard. I had no idea where to go or what there was to do outside of school. This year, let’s see – Monday is dance, Tuesday is art for 2 of them at the public school and cub scouts, Wednesday is homeschool gymnastics and church kids’ clubs, Thursday is back to the school for art for the 3rd kid, Friday is homeschool swim lessons… then there’s also 4-H and season sports and church and… I think we’ve cought on to the socialization. Now if we could just make more time for science lessons!
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