Metmom +1!
Homeschooled three here, and not only did they socialize with kids their own age better, they socialized with people of all ages better.
My kids went on to West Point, Drexel and Virginia Tech. Now in the reserves (a Captain and the youngest a 2nd Lt, while the middle kid is working on her PHd in biomedical engineering after 2 years at a research lab).
Best decision we ever made.
I don’t know why this idea of homescoolers live in a bubble won’t die it’s death, but nobody does.
And besides, there’s always the unspoken presumption that homemeschool parents are not being good parents because ALLEGEDLY their kids don’t socialize with other kids their own age and *won’t learn to get along with other kids their own age* as if the public school parents are better parents for sending their kids to public schools to be socially handicapped from being able to relate to ALL people of ALL age groups as virtually ALL homeschoolers I know can do.
Like how is learning to socialize with one narrowly defined age group going to be a necessary life skill as an adult? Or even useful?
Honestly, do ADULTS only socialize with people their exact own age?
Shortly before she passed away, my grandmother (not a particularly affectionate woman) told me she appreciated how my kids were not “afraid of old people.” She liked that whenever we saw her, my kids could have conversations with her and didn’t act uncomfortable or afraid.
When I carefully mentioned that homeschooling helps in that regard, she waved her hand and dismissed the idea. Oh well, at least I knew that despite other great grandchildren being her favorites, she recognized that my kids were good pretty cool and well socialized ;-).