| If you have thought about or already are home | | | | does not allow for much outside interaction. |
| schooling your children then the issue of | | | | Students rarely get a chance to work with |
| socialization might be something that you struggle | | | | anyone that is older or younger then themselves. |
| with. For many contemplating home schooling this | | | | Talking with the teacher would be about the only |
| can be a big hurdle in actually making the move to | | | | interaction with someone that is older then |
| home school. The argument and fear is since | | | | themselves. |
| home schooled children are not with their peers | | | | On the flipside however, children that are home |
| on a daily basis in a large classroom then they | | | | schooled often get to interact with a wide variety |
| might not be as social adept. | | | | of adults and children younger then themselves. |
| The issue essentially comes from the belief that | | | | Since the time is not a rigid and more open |
| your child ability to interact with others his/her | | | | children have many more opportunities to work |
| age will be greatly hampered by home schooling. | | | | with a wide range of other people. |
| This could potentially lead to anti social behavior | | | | In fact there are numerous studies that have |
| that will affect your child's success in life and the | | | | been completed that would support this claim. |
| community at large. | | | | They have repeatedly found that home schooled |
| However, this is not entirely true. Many people | | | | children perform as well or even better at relating |
| use the term socialization in a very lose way and | | | | to adults and younger children. |
| often the true definition of the word socialization | | | | This should help allay any fears about socialization |
| is not looked at. This lead many people to draw | | | | alone. However there are many other reasons |
| incorrect conclusions, these are often false or at | | | | why home schooled children will be far better |
| least not based on fact. | | | | socialized then their peers. |
| Socialization in its truest form is the process of | | | | For example home school is often on a very small |
| teaching a uninitiated member of a community to | | | | teacher or adult to student ratio and their give |
| the norms and cultural or shared understanding | | | | more flexibility in their time. Which allows for |
| that the person is a member of. For example, | | | | active home schooling parents to sit down and |
| people living in a foreign country would have to go | | | | work with the children on specific communication |
| through a similar process if they wanted to fit in | | | | skills? |
| at all. Learning the cultural norms of a society | | | | Also since there is more time available to home |
| helps the person to fit in socially and feel | | | | schooled children they often start taking lessons in |
| comfortable functioning in the culture. | | | | art, music, and even sports. In the end this is one |
| In the case of a home school situation then the | | | | of the best ways to socialize a child. |
| child is a young member that is beginning to learn | | | | It is important to remember that home school is |
| the norms and shared understandings of a society | | | | not a fix all solution for everything. Since the |
| you already effectively function within. Therefore | | | | children will miss out on some of the more social |
| one of your responsibilities as a home school | | | | aspects of school like field trips, recess and lunch |
| teacher is to help your child learn acceptable and | | | | times it is beneficial to involve your child in some |
| unacceptable behavior and norms of society. | | | | outside activities. There are many home school |
| So how is this socialization taught in our public | | | | groups that will do field trips and other social |
| education system? Typically students are grouped | | | | event together and if you do choose to home |
| with others their same age. They spend 7 hours | | | | school your child it might be a good thing to look |
| a day with these same students. However the | | | | into. |
| classroom is a very competitive environment and | | | | |