April 20, 2022 – The Homeschooler, Plenty Socialized

Mercy Every Minute

Deborah Wuehler, TOS Senior Editor

Building a Better Society

In all of my experience with school-aged children, I have found that homeschooled children are the most positively socialized children of all—hands down. In fact, it was the influence of positively socialized homeschooled children that convinced us to home educate over thirty years ago. It’s no surprise that homeschooled children are different in the best way. Looking at the culture around us today, gladly so. This has not just been my own experience; there is also current research that confirms the existence of this phenomenon (National Home Education Research Institute, www.NHERI.org).

Still today, some ask me what we are going to do about socializing our children. That is, until they get to know our children. The naysayers and skeptics hear about all the things our children are doing and see what they are good at—their art and music, their entrepreneurship, and their community service. Suddenly, the socialization question goes away . . . until we meet the next stranger.

I have watched homeschooled children grow into young people who are able to hold a meaningful conversation with adults; they are respectful and engaged. They ask good questions. They become good neighbors, good citizens, and are kind and compassionate.

Homeschool families seem to be masters of socialization, as they are very active in their communities and have a wide range of people with whom they interact. The children are also able to interact comfortably with every age group in a variety of settings, instead of only age-grade peer levels. The myth of lack of socialization has been debunked time and again. Dr. Brian Ray tells us more here: Scholars Still Want to Know: What About Socialization?

And these articles from The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine discuss why homeschoolers have even better socialization than their traditionally educated peers:

Socialized or Civilized? by Robert Bortins
Homeschooling, Socialization and the College Environment by Tim Rice
Inveterate Ironies of Socialization by Emily Hoffhines

Some may still misunderstand what home-educated children do all day, and think we are bringing the public-school idea of education home. Parent-teachers seek out opportunities of all kinds for their children: educational, mental, physical, social, and spiritual. They enjoy museums, co-ops, park days, field trips, elective classes, community events, and other learning experiences outside the home on a regular basis. Many homeschoolers practice their socialization skills outside the home almost nonstop and have to guard their time so that they do not become over-committed.

Socialization is not just about social activities but rather positive social development. And home is a safe place from which our children learn to impact their world. We teach our kids to give of themselves, love their God, and serve their community. We are building a better society for our future in the process as we keep them Home. Where They Belong.

~Deborah

Looking to purchase a complete curriculum package? Consider Homeschool Supercenter. Your one-stop curriculum shop! www.homeschoolsupercenter.com to shop now or learn more!

Todd Wilson

Familyman Ministries

Your Kids ARE Socialized

I can’t believe I even need to say anything about socialization. I mean, we all KNOW that the old, “What about lack of socialization?” question just doesn’t hold water. I mean none—not even a teaspoonful of it.

You know that; I know that; we all know that. BUT when the question comes, we still find ourselves thinking, “Well, maybe they’ve got a point . . . maybe they do need to be around other kids more.”

Mom and Dad, stop it! Don’t fall for that old lie. Your kids are fine; they certainly don’t need to be around kids all day long to be socialized. You know it. Don’t waiver. Don’t get weak in the knees. Stand firm, not only in your response to the “questioner,” but even more importantly, in your own mind and convictions.

Now Dad, here’s where you are vital, because sometimes dads fall for the lie even more than moms. Oftentimes, it’s the dad who hears one of the “questioners,” and then all of a sudden, he becomes a “questioner” too.

“You know, maybe it would be good for Josh to take a couple of classes just so he can be around other kids and learn how to interact,” a dad might say to his wife.

NO! Dad, don’t go there. If you do, you’ll only increase the uncertainty in your wife’s mind, and you need to be the one who stands firm and leads the way.

Now hear this! There is no uncertainty! Your kids are perfectly socialized, and they don’t need other kids to be better socialized. It’s the TRUTH. Believe it; cling to it; and don’t make me come over there and write another article about it!

Be real,
Todd

Need more convincing? Check out the classic homeschool book Lies Homeschooling Moms Believe. You’ll be glad you did.

About the author

Todd Wilson is a husband, dad, grandpa, writer, homeschool conference speaker, and former pastor. Todd’s humor and down to earth realness have made him a favorite speaker all across the country and a guest on Focus on the Family. As founder of The Familyman and The Smiling Homeschooler, his passion and mission are to remind moms and dads of what’s most important through weekly emails, podcasts, seminars, and books that encourage parents. Todd, and his wife Debbie, homeschool four of their eight children (the other four are homeschool graduates) in northern Indiana and travel America in the Familyman Mobile. You can read more at www.familymanweb.com.

Dara Halydier

Pillar of Hope
Dara Halydier – Socialization Begins at Home

According to Open Education Sociology Dictionary, socialization is “The lifelong process of an individual or group learning the expected norms and customs of a group or society through social interaction.” Like most skills in life, socialization needs to be practiced, and there is no safer place to practice than the home with loving parents and siblings. Would you rather your child be taught proper table manners at home or in a cafeteria with three hundred other second graders?

Homeschooled kids are, in fact, very well socialized through their interactions with adults and children of different ages vs. the peer socialization of public and private schooling. The average homeschooled student has three activities outside of the home each week. These include sports, music, crafts, extracurricular classes, church and religious activities, and volunteer work.

Parents being available to teach their children proper social skills begins with the parents having proper social skills. There is no list of what these skills are; however, this author would include:

• Meal-time social norms
• Work-place social norms
• Communication with various groups including parents, elderly people, teachers or supervisors, siblings, and age equivalent friends.
• Cultural habits defined by your area of the world (Taking shoes off at front door, how to address adults, etc.)

Learn more at https://www.theetiquettefactory.com/

About the author

Dara Halydier is an author, speaker, and mom of five grown boys! She homeschooled for twenty-one wonderful years and is now encouraging other homeschooling families. She is the executive director of Abiding Truth Ministry and the author of the Practical Proverbs series and other books. Dara has learned life’s lessons the hard way—experience! The lessons she shares come from truths that she has learned from dealing with chronic pain, having moved thirty-three times, having four boys with learning disabilities, and having overcome a past of abuse to proclaim God’s grace, forgiveness, and freedom. Find out more at  www.abidingtruthministry.com .

Am I doing the right thing? Is there a better way? How do I know if it’s working? These questions are asked by beginner homeschoolers as well as those who have been homeschooling for a while. Find answers and encouragement with the Growing in Homeschool Confidence course for parents on SchoolhouseTeachers.com. Topics include starting or improving your homeschool, socialization, child development stages, and more!