Homeschool: “What about socialization?”

I’m not sure I trust the current status of government run schools to teach my kids positive socialization skills.

[ruthlewis]

Over several years I have had the pleasure of meeting home schooled children. Every time I came away with the thought that these kids are awesome. They leave everybody else in the dust. As an elderly person I am very comforted to know the world will be just fine with those kids out there.

[mwaynem]

We home schooled our kids. Our son was at the county fair and was seeing greeting alot of his friend's from around the county when a local friend asked how he knows all these people, after all your home schooled. Most home schoolers are part of county wide networking and the kids end up having friends from a larger area than public school students do. We don't lock our kids up. Caring about our kids education also means caring about keeping them active in our community and broadening their experiences with their community. The best thing you can do for your children is to be involved in their lives. Don't let strangers raise your children. You don't have to home school, get to know their teachers and coaches.

[CrankyBarista]

I was homeschooled and never had friends in public school but made more than ever outside of school because i was able to enroll in extracurricular classes where other kids WANTED to be and were interested in similar things as me because of the classes.
If course, not all parents can homeschool, but if your child is in a curriculum you dont agree with or they are simply miserable... find another option when possible.

[Rootsofgrace]

We homeschool and our kids may not have “best friends” just yet but they socialize in sports and scouts, and with our neighborhood. They regularly pick up trash on our main road (they’ll be in the paper tomorrow to be recognized) and they are constantly stopped by peoples of all ages. It’s so nice to see! Our oldest who is 9 has a friendship with an elderly man who lives down the street… he brings over his War magazine subscription after he’s read it and is always bringing over new war books. The man is amazed our son has the reading capability and also the social skills to hold a conversation with him. When I’m asked how we do it? I reply that we are always together. Most people get a confused look because they can’t see how a mothers influence 100% of the time can be a good thing.

[lauriestlyon]

My oldest son and daughter were homeschooled from 6/7 yrs old. Both went on to college (16-18) and then University. (We are in UK) Both have degrees, on has a Masters, are married and have their own homes.

I used to say "What social skills does a 7 year old have to teach another? None! They learn it from their parents.

[dljones]

Both my daughters were home-schooled by my wife, which was a sacrifice financially, but they both went to college. The youngest double majored and the other got her Ph.D. in biology.
They are sweet, courteous, and respectful of their seniors but have a fierce fight in them when needed when they see injustices happening around them. I give all credit to my wife, she is amazing.

[o]

I was homeschooled since 6th grade. my husband was homeschooled all his life. while I was shy, it wasn't because I was homeschooled, we had a church community where I participated in choir and alot of other youth activities. now I am homeschooling our boys. we started kindergarten this school year. my 6 and 4 year olds are SMART, well mannered, polite to others, friendly, creative, and people are always saying what sweet boys they are, so no, they are not the stereotypical socially awkard homeschoolers (and so what if they are!!). there are other homeschool families in our area, there are co-ops, and tons of family for them to socialize. the biggest thing I'm grateful for is that homeschool is an option in this country and for our family.

[meretriciousinsolent]

Ha. Yup. I'm in the UK. deregistered my kid after lockdowns, when we saw him miraculously put weight on and grow a bunch once the stress of school was taken off him. We gradually rebuilt the confidence they eroded, his amazing forest school and his sports activities have given him the opportunity to make friends and allowed me to know who he's with too. We're about to embark on sleepovers. There's no way school would have allowed him to do that. He is highly academic, he was being held back both by the work level and the fact that he was so anxious there he couldn't focus. They'll tell you you're making a bad choice, though. Even teachers I know who have left the profession still say kids should be in school. It's wired in so hard!

[welredd]

Homeschooler here, currently a sophomore in High school, I have no lack of socialization. I do a bunch of extracurriculars and meet a lot of people that way, Socialization doesn't have to be a problem for homeschoolers

[davidrn]

From scouts, town sports, library programs, local museums, homeschool proms and dances, there are many options if the school refuses to allow homeschooled kids to participate in school extra curriculum activities.

[heatherjohnson]

I homeschool and this whole socialization thing is a myth or super rare. Every homeschooler I know has their kids participating in so many different things and interacting with so many people. My 4 year old can hold a thoughtful conversation with a grown adult and also fit in and hang out with all the kids. We have a strong and large homeschooling community here. As public schools get worse, more and more families join our community. There are so many things going on within our community it is impossible to do it all which is super awesome. I love seeing all the parents taking back control and parenting.

[lpsjewel]

Homeschooled Kid here, I can confirmed as long as there's Co-ops and activities for us to do. We're much happier. Plus, some kids (like myself) don't do well in large classrooms where our needs might be overlooked.

[RR]

We homeschooled our son (only child) second grade through graduation.
Socialization within the homeschool community is often a much broader experience than in public school.
Public school divides students by age, K-12. They spend their lives with others students born within the same 12 period.
As homeschoolers, our children experienced a wider age range. This is much closer to the workplace and social lives of adults.

[elianaslivia]

I couldn’t be homeschooled, but when I wanted to move schools for my senior years I did all the paperwork. I was so determined to move schools and my mum let me because she knew that that was what I wanted.
I graduated last year and I am so thankful for that choice.

[eam.]

Yes, agreed... I homeschool, and I hear all the time... Wow, I would have never guessed they were homeschooled, except that they are very polite.

[davec.]

I was home schooled. BSME and MBA from great schools. We make a great living. Married a nurse who is a stay at home mom.
More importantly, we have 3 great kids and homeschool.

[hackysac]

Homeschool and socialize them in a sport or church sounds like a good idea for when I have kids in a few years.

[bionicsjw]

We used to have a “Caution Unsocialized Children on Board “ placard on our vehicles. My response was actually to ask the misinformed person :Just what skills do you want them to know? Was it gang culture, sexual promiscuity of bullying? That usually shut them up. FYI, my kids are now grown, one has a master’s degree and teaches public school, one is an employed Actor and the 3rd graduated Cum Laud from a university.

[southernlady]

I’ve watched quite a few of your videos. I just want to commend you on your candid, morally correct speaking on different topics. We need more MEN like you to step up.

[MajorMonkeytoes]

How many times did our teachers tell us, "You're not here to socialize!!!"