Socilization in homeschoolers? ALL PEOPLE ANSWER!?

Question

What is YOUR opinion on this topic!?

I will probably contradict some opinions but that is just me!

Answer 1

Well, I just don't get people's point when they say "homeschooler's don't get enough social life."  SO ARE YOU BASICALLY CONCEDING THAT THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS NOT ABOUT EDUCATING OUR CHILDREN, BUT SOCIALIZING THEM WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER CHILDREN IN AN UNNATURAL ATMOSPHERE FULL OF CLIQUES AND BULLIES?  I accept all forms of education, but would like to say that homeschooling has been around since the world began while public schooling has just become big in the last couple centuries.  In my opinion homeschoolers get the most real-life form of socialization- they learn how to be a part of a family unit: the basic foundation of society.  Also, just because you don't go to school and sit in a classroom with the same ppl each day doesn't mean you can't make friends.  There are countless sports, clubs and activities homeschoolers can and do participate in.  Studies show that because homeschoolers are exposed to more real-world situations and not stuck in a room with 30 other kids all their same age, they are more accepting of ppl of other ages, genders, and races.  Also, homeschoolers are usually more self-motivated and learn because they want to, not because an overbearing teacher is constantly on their butt.  Because of less busy work homeschoolers have more time to learn what they love and are more likely to know what they want to do with their lives once they reach college.  I'm not saying homeschoolers are better or smarter than public schoolers, I'm only saying that they get MORE opportunities to reach their full potential and become useful individuals in society.

Answer 2

My brothers and I were homeschooled by our Mom from kindergarten through high school graduation. We had friends who were homeschooled and who we did things with. There are homsechool groups out there who plan field trips and field days. I regularly played with the kids in my neighborhood. Luckily, we went to a church that had a huge number of activities for kids to be involved in - even had a marching band that all of us played in. We sang in the youth choir, took music lessons, went on youth retreats, were involved in Sunday and Wednesday church activities, and played sports through church recreational and competitive teams. Our city has a sports league for homeschoolers and I played varsity basketball in high school. We traveled all over the country playing in tournaments, and it felt like a genuine school team. We practiced/played 4-5 days a week and played in a league with other private schools around the city. Get plugged into a good church, homeschool group, and find out what sports programs might be in your area for homeschoolers.

I have to say that sometimes I wish I had gone to school because you are forced into more social interaction by default. I'm a introverted person who might have benefitted from that situation. My brothers, though, were always out doing things like any other kid who goes to school and they have no trouble at all socializing or making friends. Homeschooling did nothing to hold them back socially. I feel a little different about myself. BUT I do think that I received a superior education and absolutely hate having to "go to school" in college. But I do fine with it.  

Answer 3

I just answered a very similar question for someone else. Here is what I said to them:

I am home schooled, although this is just my first year, so I probably do not have personal experience with being home schooled all of my life. I do,however, go to a home school co-op. There are field days, proms, field trips, and everything you do at school. I have the chance to interact with lots of home schooled kids, and trust me.......they are not unsociable. It is common to think of a homeschooler as a shy, unsociable, awkward kind of person. But just because they go to school at home instead of a big building does not make them some type of freak. They are completely normal. Trust me :)

Answer 4

Socialization in a fancy word for "WHO do you know and can you get along with them!     It's the " getting along" with others that is the question. Most 'homeschool parents' are very active in the Community..they have other contacts that involve their children with neighbors, friends and Church.. IF you feel CUT OFF....see someone ELSE.... the Police are good.... and say what you feel. That you have internet accesses says WONDERFUL things about your parents! TELL them how you are feeling. You may be pleasantly surprised!

Answer 5

Home school offers real socialization, where public school does not.  In real life do you only socialize with 25 other people your own age who live in your neighborhood?  I know I don't .  Also anti-home school people think public school is the only place where kids can socialize, but think about it, you are stuck in a room with these kids you are not allowed to talk to.  Home schooled children get to socialize with all types of people from all walks of life.  Contrary to popular belief we do not chain our kids to a table or lock them in closets all day long.  We are involved in sports teams, dance, music, art gymnastics, church groups, and community groups, just like real people.  Our kids learn confidence and self esteem because their lives are not dictated by whatever the in crowd thinks is cool.  Anyone who thinks home schooled kids are unsocial needs to spend any given evening at my house, which is full of kids of all age groups.  Do you think they are here to see my husband or myself?  No, they are here to hang out with our son.  Isn't that kind of a "social" thing?  

Answer 6

It's probably the most tired old red herring we ever have to debunk because not only do most HS kids get plenty of opportunities to socialize, the people who go on about 'Socialization' don't even know what the word means.

"The term socialization is used by sociologists, social psychologists and educationalists to refer to the process of learning one’s culture and how to live within it. For the individual it provides the skills and habits necessary for acting and participating within their society. For the society, inducting all individual members into its moral norms, attitudes, values, motives, social roles, language and symbols is the ‘means by which social and cultural continuity are attained’"

As you can see from this definition the last thing you want is children to get their socialization from other children!  

Answer 7

Homeschooling has given us more time for being socially active.  We have time to make friends and enjoy friends.

  

We are not under the dictatorship of hours of homework after hours of classwork.

We began homeschool when son was in 8th grade.

Answer 8

This is a great article on this topic:

http://learninfreedom.org/socialization....

As for my own experience, I see my kids interacting with all types and ages of people. THAT is the real world. Not the subculture of public school where you are pretty much stuck with a group of kids within maybe 2 or so years of your age and from the same zip code. I love this quote as well.

The only other place you will be:

A) put in a totally supervised facility

B) Subjected to a preplanned routine and a largely

unchanging environment that you are more or less

powerless to change or escape.

C) you are surrounded by people your own age all day long

----Is a NURSING HOME!

Answer 9

I think home schooling done right includes all kinds of socialization for our kids. The biggest complaint I hear from other home school moms is "We're NEVER at home!" Just glancing at my calendar for the next week I can see four items planned for just the kids to hang out with other kids their age. That's nothing compared to some other weeks. For the next week we have planned club 456, girl scouts, and a swim meet at a local gym. We also have planned a trip to the zoo for a birthday celebration.

I also think some people place to much emphasize on home schoolers getting socialization. Some truly seem to think that all home schoolers are sheltered little kids that never get out into society.

I ran into a lady at my brothers graduation party that told me she didn't like the idea of home schooling because she thinks home schoolers are sheltered. My sister and I just started laughing. You see she loved my brother and thought we was a smart polite young man who had lots of friends from his public school. The problem with her thinking was that EVERY person at that party that was in school is a home school student (even my brother). When we told her this she was shocked! Her opinion was immediately changed when she realized home schoolers are just as social and a heck of a lot more polite than public schooled students. If we hadn't said anything would her opinion have changed that day? Not likely. After all how often is it that a person is invited to a party where everyone there is involved with home schooling?

I think kids need other kids but they also need adult examples. Where can kids learn from adults in an everyday environment that isn't forced? In the real world! Where do most people send there kids to learn socialization? In a school where they are age and zip code segregated and forced to be in a room with 30 other kids (not all of whom get along). Is the real world age and zip code segregated? Uh NO! I am not working with 30 year olds who all come from the same city. In home school my kids work with various ages. The kids can volunteer in an old folks home, a soup kitchen, and a library. They can work with kids there age in co-ops and other classes.

You can contradict all you want fact is that most home schoolers are better educated and better socialized than their counterparts who are forced into a false socialization world.

Remember what our teachers used to say! "Your here to learn not socialize!"