The idea of homeschooling and being educated at home rather than in a traditional educational setting has been around for a long time and is becoming increasingly popular in recent years. With the rise in households homeschooling their children, one of the many questions that comes up is this: Are homeschooled kids more social than their peers in traditional educational settings?
Is it possible for homeschoolers to have the same level of socialization and gain the same social skills that their counterparts in traditional settings get? This article aims to answer these questions by examining the social benefits that homeschooled children can receive through their homeschooling experience, as well as considering other factors that can impact their social capability and potential.
1: Advantages of Homeschooling
Homeschooling provides its students with many advantages that can help them develop into socially capable individuals if given the right environment. The lack of a set schedule or restrictions on the type of material that can be taught can provide students with plenty of opportunities to engage in activities that suit their interests and help them hone their individual talents. Homeschoolers are also provided with the opportunity to join social activities and clubs with other homeschoolers that can give them the chance to meet other kids in the homeschooling community, helping them to develop social skills while doing something they love.
On top of that, parental involvement in the homeschooling process is a major advantage. Parents can dialogue directly with their children and help them practice important social skills like making small talk and forming connections.
This gives homeschoolers the chance to gain real-life social skills that traditional classroom settings cannot provide.
2: Potential Disadvantages
Although there are social benefits to homeschooling, some potential disadvantages should be considered. Without the structure of an educational setting, it can be difficult for homeschooled children to learn important social skills such as working well with others and following rules.
Being away from other children their own age can also lead to homeschoolers feeling isolated and lacking the peer connections they need to practice interacting and building relationships with others. There is also the potential for parental bias when it comes to homeschooling. Without an external voice or opinion in the homeschooling process, parents can unintentionally push their kids into activities that the parents view as sociable or “correct,” or that the parents are familiar with.
This could leave the kids feeling forced into activities and lead them to form negative feelings about socializing.
3: Homeschoolers Vs Traditional Peers
A comparison of homeschoolers to kids in traditional educational settings can help reveal how social homeschoolers are compared to their peers. Studies on the topic from 2007 and 2013 have shown that homeschoolers face social challenges that their peers in traditional schools do not.
Although homeschoolers may have the same number of friends, those friendships tend to be more distant and less meaningful than those of the traditional school peers. Homeschoolers also tend to have less contact with other kids and less experience with teamwork when compared to traditional educational settings. On the other hand, homeschoolers have been found to have higher levels of academic achievement and, in some cases, even higher levels of self-esteem.
This is likely due to the fact that homeschoolers have more control over their academic materials and learning experience, as well as less pressure to conform to social circles, which could be beneficial in giving them the confidence they need to make friends.
4: The Importance of Community
It’s important to note that the success of a homeschool child’s social development largely hinges on the homeschooling community or surrounding community that they are a part of. Kids who are in homeschooling communities that provide adequate resources and opportunities for them to engage with other kids their age and learn how to socialize are much more likely to develop socially and benefit from the homeschooling experience. Homeschool communities can take many forms, such as co-op groups where homeschool families exchange teaching duties and organize activities and field trips, or even just informal gatherings of homeschoolers who meet up to play sports and engage in activities together.
It is important for kids to be part of some type of community setting so that they can gain the necessary social skills.
5: Homeschoolers and Extracurricular Activities
Homeschoolers, just like traditional school peers, should still have the opportunity to take part in extracurricular activities. These activities provide an ideal opportunity for homeschoolers to gain social skills and make social connections while doing something they are interested in.
For example, playing on sports teams or joining clubs provides a great way for homeschoolers to engage in activities with other kids in a setting that is more relaxed than that of a traditional education. In addition to sports and clubs, homeschoolers can also join after school programs and tutoring centers that provide a safe and supportive environment for them to practice their social skills and make new friends.
6: Understanding People’s View of Homeschooling
It’s important for homeschoolers to understand how people perceive homeschooling, as this can impact their ability to socialize. Generally, people tend to view homeschooling as an isolating practice that takes away from group activities and socialization.
But, when done the right way, homeschooling can actually provide the space and opportunity needed to cultivate strong social skills. It is important for homeschoolers to be aware of what people think of their educational setup, as this can give them the confidence they need to engage with other people and make social connections. Homeschoolers should also work to educate those around them about homeschooling as much as possible so that they can hopefully have a better understanding and appreciation for it.
7: Relationship With Technology
Technology plays a huge role in the social lives of homeschoolers, as it can provide access to a world of networking opportunities and platforms to learn and interact with people from all over the world. Technology can provide the space for homeschoolers to not only connect with their peers and teachers, but also to engage in virtual learning opportunities that could simulate the classroom setting. Use of technology should be encouraged in moderate amounts, as excessive use can lead to increased isolation and the lack of the real-life experiences needed to develop social skills.
Online interactions should be monitored and regulated by parents so that the child is provided with a safe and supportive online environment.
8: Positive Impact of Academic Performance
Homeschooling provides its students with the potential to excel academically, which could be beneficial in a number of ways. Higher academic performance boosts self-confidence, which could be beneficial in making social connections.
In addition, higher academic achievement gives homeschoolers the opportunity to apply for academic honors in high school or even college, or make connections with other students through academic or extra-curricular competitions. These are all positive activities that could give homeschoolers the opportunity to practice social skills and build relationships.
9: Keeping Open Minds
It is also important for homeschoolers to have an open mind when it comes to social interaction. People tend to have preconceived notions about homeschoolers and their lack of socialization, and this can have an impact on homeschoolers’ ability to socialize. Homeschoolers should take the time to understand and respect that everyone has different opinions and approaches to socialization and be open to learning and engaging with all different types of people.
Being comfortable with one’s own individuality and having a positive attitude is essential for homeschoolers to successfully engage with others and make friends. Allowing for a certain level of vulnerability is important for developing meaningful relationships, and it’s important for homeschoolers to not be discouraged by people’s initial reactions and instead use those situations to further practice their social skills.
10: Conversing With Strangers
It is important for homeschoolers to learn how to talk and be comfortable conversing with strangers. An important part of socialization is the ability to make small talk and form connections with people that you might not otherwise encounter.
Homeschoolers should take the time to learn the basics of having a good conversation and practice it in situations where they are not being judged. For example, they can talk to store clerks, waiters, or even people they meet while engaging in community activities. This type of interaction helps to make homeschoolers more comfortable and confident in conversing with strangers, which is a key part of socializing.
11: Connecting With Family
Homeschoolers are often part of close-knit homeschooling families, which means that socializing with family members is an important part of their lives. It’s important for homeschoolers to take the time to build relationships with family members, as this can help them learn how to communicate effectively, solve problems, and express themselves in a constructive way.
These skills are all essential for socializing and making meaningful connections with others. Parents should also take the time to provide their homeschooled children with opportunities to gain the necessary social skills, such as taking trips to places where the child can interact with a variety of people and learning how to respect and appreciate differences.
12: Gaining Workplace Skills
While homeschooling may limit the types of work experience homeschoolers are exposed to, they still need to gain important workplace skills that will help them in their future careers. Homeschoolers should take advantage of job shadowing and internships whenever possible, as these programs provide a unique opportunity to gain the skills needed to succeed in the workplace. Internships should also be supplemented with activities that provide the chance to network.
These can include attending professional conventions and conferences, joining professional associations, participating in student groups, and building professional relationships.
13: Benefits of Homeschooling
In conclusion, there are clear benefits to homeschooling that can help children develop important social skills. With the individual attention of a parent or teacher and the freedom to explore activities that align with their interests, homeschoolers can develop the necessary social skills to be successful in both their personal and professional lives. As long as the homeschooling community provides ample opportunities for social interaction and families take the time to expose their kids to different people and experiences, homeschooled kids can still gain all the same social benefits as their peers in traditional educational settings.
Conclusion
Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to homeschooling and socialization. Every homeschooling family must find what works best for them and their children, with some requiring more structure, extra-curricular activities, or direct parental involvement than others. But, it is also important for homeschoolers to remember that, with the right approach, they can gain the same social benefits as traditional school peers and, if given the opportunity, even exceed them.