Just marking my spot here as I am interested in this subject.
Honestly, you don't think homeschooled children miss out on the socialization with other kids? Athletics and friendships are important, I'm not sure how this can be compensated for when homeschooling young children.
Honestly, you don't think homeschooled children miss out on the socialization with other kids? Athletics and friendships are important, I'm not sure how this can be compensated for when homeschooling young children.
I used to be a leader in the Jr. Hi ministry at my old church. I had many students through my group that were homeschooled. I found some interesting things that were pretty consistent throughout. My guys were generally more confident or more self sure. I'm not talking cocky. I mean they were confident in who they were. They knew they were loved. They didn't feel the need to attack others, or compete negatively. There input was primarily positive, so they had little negative output.
Because of there self confidence, they seemed to have stronger leadership qualities. But because of the lack of negative input, their leadership qualities weren't as self absorbed as others.
Parents of homeschoolers have a tendency to be extremely aware of their childrens needs. Which means they also make sure they are socially interacted with others. Between church groups, sports leagues, music classes, homeschooling groups, and other activities. The one social area homeschoolers seems to be deficint in is delinquency. By this I mean their not involved with wearing all the right things to school. They don't get involved with bullying on the school bus. They act up less or are less disruptive.
Since most homeschooling parents homeschool for reasons other than strictly education, by principles and/or religious, homeschool kids have a tendency to be more courteous and better behaved. Again, if you limit the negative input of society, you have a better chance of positive output.
As far as friends go, unless a child is homeschooled out in the country, he/she will have other kids in the neighborhood to develope friendships with. But once again, because of the values that homeschool parents are generally trying to instill in their kids, and because of the association with primarily church kids or other homeschooled kids, chances are, they will develope their relationships with other like minded people.
Do I think ALL homeschool kids or parents are perfect? Not a chance. But I see homeschool parents desiring a higher standard for their kids. If you set your standards high you might not reach them, but you'll reach higher than you would if you didn't aim high.
Imagine a high jumper who continually tried to reach the 7' height, but only accomplished 6'. Compare that to a high jumper who only jumped 3' because they knew they could do that.
Keep up your interest in the subject. Research the subject like crazy. But make sure you listen to facts not opinions. Or at least not opinions based in ignorance, but opinions based on experience. I have presented you with my "opinions". My opinions are just my opinions, but I base them on 18 years of youth group experience, and dozens of kids who I had who were homeschooled, or kids in our group who were homeschooled. I also have a few friends who homeschool. Between them they have 16 kids who are homeschooled or recently (last 3 yrs) homeschooled.
"Honestly, you don't think homeschooled children miss out on the socialization with other kids? Athletics and friendships are important, I'm not sure how this can be compensated for when homeschooling young children."
Your concern is legitimate, but it's based on outdated information. Homeschooling no longer means a parent confining the child to the home teaching out of textbooks. There are now homeschooling associations and cooperatives which sponsor athletic events and field trips for its members. And new technology (the internet & educational software, for example) are far more stimulating intellectually than the dull school textbooks. And homeschooled children do miss out on bullying, bad teachers, bleak classrooms, and homework.
Today's homeschooling isn't your grandparents' homeschooling. It's good that you've taken an interest in the topic, as you get to see the advances made in homeschooling.
My girls are typical. They play with the neighborhood kids every day. They play in town sports. They're in the church choir.
They're only missing out on bad "socialization," i.e., bullies and harmful peer influences. And they're comfortable speaking with people of all ages, since they're constantly interacting with people of various ages.
They're also missing out on staring out the window watching the gym class doing jumping jacks. What I wouldn't give to have those countless hours back...
"Honestly, you don't think homeschooled children miss out on the socialization with other kids? Athletics and friendships are important, I'm not sure how this can be compensated for when homeschooling young children."
My kneejerk reaction is to wonder how someone can be so uninformed, a simple google search will show that there are an amazing number of homeschool opportunities in sports and other areas. It is only when I slow down, that I remember that I had the exact same question 4 years ago when my family started homeschooling.
When my family started homeschooling, my oldest daughter was about to go into the 7th grade. Her love of basketball was a big concern for us. It took very little effort to find out that a nationally ranked homeschool basketball program was less than 30 minutes from our house. In the state of texas basketball rankings, the #12 and #75th ranked high school girls in the state are homeschooled (and in that program). Earlier this year, I coached my two youngest daughters in the 10 and under bracket at the national christian homeschool basketball championships. Though some lucky bracket pairings, a couple of nail biting wins (one was tied with 10 seconds left, the other we were down with one minute left), we took second place.
My children also compete in volleyball, speech & debate and math club. Additional social opportunities happen at the one day a week coop, youth group, puppet ministries and church.
Athletics and friendships are not homeschool losses... Homeschooling means that you can find an athletic program at the right level for your child's abilities. Homeschooling means that the parents can select the pool of kids that their child chooses their friends from.
Athletics and friendships are two of the reasons why I'm glad my family homeschools.
Craig