Homeschool Myths: Kids Who Home School Have Poor Social Skills
Personal Experience and Research on Homeschooling and Socialization
One myth that is very often assumed of home schooled kids is that they do not have proper social skills or don't interact with others. If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me about my children or home school in general in relation to socialization, I'd likely be rich. Unfortunately for my wallet, that isn't the case.
While at first thought, considering the fact that school is often assumed to be done only inside the home, it seems that a social environment may be unavailable. However, a homeschooled child may actually have more opportunity than others to gain positive social skills and interact with people. One reason for this is that because of the flexibility in class scheduling, as well as the unique opportunity to learn whenever or wherever desired, homeschoolers are often around a variety of people during the day.
In fact, in a study published by the NHERI (National Home Education Research Institute), home school students had scores in social skills that were higher than those of kids in public schools. As a home school parent, this study doesn't surprise me at all, as I continue to see positive social results from home school in my children who previously attended public school.
One way children who attend a home school can interact is through activities such as dance classes, Bible study (if they're Christians), Girl Scouts, 4H, sports, extra classes, and much more. Any activity available to a public or private school student is also available to a home school student. However, homeschooled students have an advantage in this area because they can join activities that public schooled children also have available, as well as join homeschool-specific activities. These activities can be utilized at any time of the day because of the versatility of rearranging the academic schedule around them.
Some home schooled kids also take academic and elective classes outside of the home. This gives them the chance to be around their peers and if the classes are taken in addition to classes they learn at home, it also gives them an academic boost.
Many homeschool families also plan a good amount of field trips. When homeschooling, there is the versatility of being able to plan a field trip for every unit of study, if desired. Field trips will generally involve a diverse public scene, which is great for socialization, as this is how the real world is. A good number of homeschooling families opt for yearly passes or membership to museums, zoos, and other educational places. In some states, like Texas, home schools who are members of a home school group, association, or organization can get a teacher or educator discount at many of the field trip locations.
Speaking of home school groups, that's another way homeschooled children can interact with peers. These groups, associations, and organizations often plan parties, book sales, curriculum exchanges, field trips, play dates, fairs, and other social events where the children will interact with each other. According to the HSLDA, the average home schooled child is involved in about 5.2 social activities. 98% are involved in at least 2 activities.
Many homeschooling families also get active in library events, such as story time, craft classes, and educational classes. A day time trip to the grocery store where a homeschooled child uses math to purchase groceries and communicates with the cashier can be a mini social event as well. There are many events like these in a homeschooler's life, as many of them believe in using every opportunity possible to learn lessons and to communicate with others. Because of this, a child in home school is likely to possess excellent teamwork skills, which are very necessary in college and in the workforce.
As you can see, homeschooled children will be exposed to many social environments throughout their homeschooling experience. Because of the flexibility in home schooling and the availability of so many activities and opportunities, homeschooled children will be around a variety of age groups, races, and other socioeconomic backgrounds, possibly more so than children in a traditional school setting. Even the ones who do the majority of their schooling in the home are likely still involved in activities, as well as playing and interacting with friends and relatives, which still gives them social experience.
From all of the information above, as well as personal experience and study, I would have to conclude that homeschooled children actually have a social advantage over those in public or private school, not a disadvantage, as is often mistakenly assumed.
For those interested in homeschooling or just interested in finding out more information and research on homeschooling, I recommend that you visit the following links, as well as the source links. Also, be sure to do your own research as well.
NHERI (National Home Education Research Institute) - http://www.nheri.org
NHELD (National Home Education Legal Defense) - http://www.nheld.com
HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association) - http://www.hslda.org
I am also available for many homeschooling questions. Please message me through AC.
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Published by Lyn Lomasi - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Lyn's the Community Advocate at Yahoo! Contributor Network. Contact her with community issues & ideas. She's been contributing since 2007 and previously acted as a Community Guide. Read her tips for success... View profile
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- Home school students score higher in social skills than kids in public school.
- Field trips are great for socialization, due to the diverse public scene.
- Homeschooled kids could have an advantage over others in social skills.
45 Comments
Post a CommentI'd have to argue all of the statistic sited here, as the research is fairly biased. I have homeschooled and public schooled at various times, my three children, and my social network is largely homeschooled, as well as we belong to a local homeschooling chapter, and i'd have to say that the majority of children were difficult to deal with, isolated and largely receiving little education. In that group, we had one family (with four children) who were the example of successful homeschooling, but both parents had a great curriculum that they followed and had a very structured program for their kids. So much of what we have seen go on in "homeschooling" has been a result of parents heaping their own insecurities on their kids in a misguided attempt at "protecting" their children from what schools have to offer. If primary education has anything to offer, we've personally seen it be a means for children to learn to share, learn empathy on a grander level, gain independance and self confide
I love the concept of homeschooling, but my personal experiences have shown me that it is something that needs to be stringently regulated. I work with emotionally disturbed kids, most of whom have abuse or neglect in their background. One little girl I work with just switched to homeschooling this year, and I am terrified for her. First off, the mom (who is a single parent) doesn't actually teach her kids anything. Every time I come over (keep in mind I spend ten hours a week with this girl and pick her up and drop her off at her house often) the mother is asleep, the kids are watching TV, and the house is a pit. Almost every time that I ask this girl about what she has learned her answer is "We haven't done home school today." When they actually do home school and I ask her what she learned she just says that she did reading... What did she read? Comic books. To make it worse, this poor kid has awful social skills. She has no friends, and the mom does nothing to get the kid
Excellent article! You took the words right out of my mouth.
on to serve in the ministry through medicine as a doctor some day. Our third daughter is an excellent stay at home mom of 2.5 children.. and her and her husband went to CFNI.. You see... I want to encourage you.. God is so faithful and you'll be amazed at what your children /young adults can do when they are supported and given opportunities to flurish..
I've homeschooled our four children for over 11 years. I'm not the most discipled teacher out there. However, the love and the compassion and understanding that has been developed between us all an others outside our family has been HUGE! I personally got very involved in our Cities programs. I was on the Park Board and Keep America Beautiful as well as our local towns clean up programs. Every time I was involved they were involved. It taught them so much. Today all accept for one is either in college or out of college. The one who is not in college yet is 14. Our daughters serve actively in ministry and have an amazing reputation an attitude where ever they go. Just to say.. inspite of me not being terribly organized.. our children still learned and are intelligent.. They just didn't learn in the typical fashion.. One of our children today, is about to graduate and is going on to Occupational Therapy School and another one of children is a Biochemistry Major and will conti
Very good info! I have to say that one of the aspects I love MOST about homeschooling, is that our academic life is TOTALLY separate from our social life.
I felt the need to comment about a comment Heather made below mine about cursing and that is good luck trying to stop that one.
socialization occurs in many forms, chuch, sports, classes, and school is not the end all and be all of teaching our children to socialize, as a matter of fact anyone who has every taught in a public middle school will tell you it teaches just the opposite. At least with homeschooling parents can determine what level of social skills their children will have and how they will act not only in public but with others.
Great article! This is the biggest complaint we have with family members. They insist my daughter must go to public school to learn how to socialize with other kids. They also insist she needs to be around them to learn how to act. I am sorry if I don't want my daughter learning how to curse and be disrespectful to others.
Another one I will forward to my in-laws...sometimes it helps when my husband and I are not the only ones doing the explaining :)