Quote:
Originally Posted by OnTheFritz
Duly noted 
On a another note, how do you feel about the importance of socialization and how that fits in with the homeschooling alternative? Do you think it's a non-issue, or do you have other opportunities for the kids to socialize (church, local sports, etc). Just curious. Not a loaded question, just honestly want to know. |
I don't think it's a
non-issue, but it's not as big an issue as public/private school proponents like to make it.
First of all, homeschooled children are interacting on a regular basis with adults, peers and children younger than they are. Ergo, they have more practice (generally) at real-world socialization than publicly schooled children who spend more time with their peers.
Secondly, I do believe being around people is important, and the more people the better.
It just doesn't matter to me whether those people are
peers. That said, I think children should have opportunities to forge friendships, and we try to enable our children in that area as much as possible.
*They have friends at church.
*They have friends they met at school last year (they attended a charter school last year).
*We try to help them stay in contact with friends both past and present with frequent sleepovers and letting their friends tag along to basketball events, etc.
*They're allowed frequent phone time and limited email/Facebook privileges.
*They attend camp in the summer, and occasional youth revivals/events with their class (from church)
*Both of the girls play basketball and have friends in that program, who they see 2-3 times per week (this time of year)
*Hannah just started taking riding lessons
*They're all on a first name basis with our local librarians.
*We have neighbor kids their age, and they play with them several times a week.
Wow! When I think about it, I think they have more of a social life than I do!
I will say that SOME homeschools DO isolate themselves for various reasons, and SOME parents do not allow their children to just be children. For that reason, our kids aren't allowed more than one extra-curricular activity at a time, and all of them have alone/personal time for at least an hour a day. (Well, Hannah is getting to do b-ball and her riding lessons, but until b-ball is over, she only gets 2 riding lessons per month) I really think that kids need time to build forts out of pillows and blankets, to play with sticks, make mud pies, ride their bikes, climb trees, chase the dog, or whatever else they can come up with on their own.
Education in our home
includes preparing them to relate to people--not just relate to a petri dish or classical music.
Overall, though, many publicly schooled children are NOT well-socialized, but instead have learned disrespect, bad manners, bad habits and immaturity from their peers.
Interestingly enough, I also notice these same behaviors when I allow my children to be over-exposed to television programs aimed at their age groups.
In our house, I'd say Jeffrey (age 6) is the one with the least outside "socialization", but for the moment he seems very content to play with his older sisters, Grandma or parents. He does play with the younger children who come to b-ball practices, and he sees his church friends at least twice a week.
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