Yes, But are They Socialized??
Hi, Friends!
Honestly, I can hardly talk about this topic without feeling some heat rise into my face. Socialization.
I will attempt to maintain composure. 
I find that home schooled children tend to be more mature, sensitive to others, caring and ministry oriented. For people who question the socialization aspect of home schooling- socialization is not taught at school. There may be character curriculum in a public school, but its teaching comprises a tiny part of the child’s week. Character isn’t integrated into life as it can be in a home setting – it’s just presented as another lesson.
As a public school teacher for 16 years, I depended on parents to teach kindness self control, caring for others, manners, and appropriate behavior. In order for my classroom to be effective, those social skills already needed to be learned at home. Bottom line - moms and dads are the molders of social skills.
Homeschooled children are among the most considerate, sensitive, mannerly children I have ever come in contact with. Someone asked me if not sending a child to public school would be detrimental. I replied, “Imagine never having to deal with being pushed into your place in the hierarchy based on what clothes you wear, what you look like, and how much of a clone of your peers you become.
Imagine never having to worry about being bullied, not having to hear obscenities or witness fist fights. I know many people who have gone through years of therapy to try to get beyond ways they were treated as children in public school. Imagine being so free that that whole “you don’t belong here” worry is like a foreign land.”
Do I think the public school has a place in educating our children? Yes, but I believe it is primarily for those children whose home life is abusive –horrible things are witnessed at home, and their only way of escape is coming to school. Many children live in these situations and, for them, school is a godsend. No, it’s not the very best educationally and emotionally, but it’s far better than what they could have at home. So while the public school has its place, I believe it’s secondary in quality to the type of education that can occur in the home.
Take care, and thanks for reading!
Lisa
Socialization can be a challenge with homeschooled children. That being said, because of the nature of the homeschool environment - a lot of one on one adult input, the general behavior is these students is more advanced. They learn to communicate on an adult level and are of necessity challenged to behave on one too.
There are also many opportunites for them to relate to students of their own age through various homeschool groups and even church relationships. One of the reasons we homeschool is to monitor and encourage healthy play and learning environments with children whose parents share our values.
It can require a little more work on the parent’s part to ensure that there is a healthy mix of play with other children. The benefits are worth the effort.
Children don’t need to be around their peers all day to be socialized. In fact, this can cause more damage in their ability to relate to others in the long run. It also engenders a feeling of having to be like others your own age instead of becoming the grand person God created you to be.
Just my two cents!
I believe the definition of socialization is the main issue. Many people, once they realize what we mean by socialization, do realize that it can be best fostered at home in a loving environment.