What About Socialization?

Socialization is a hot topic when it comes to homeschooling.  People against homeschooling, and those who know very little about it, insist kids need to be in a school setting to learn socialization skills.  In reality, though, there is little positive socialization in a public school. First, a classroom full of children, all the same age, get to sit quietly at their desks for hours on end while being inundated with standardized practice tests. Then there is recess in which there is almost always a fight from some kid bullying some other kid. Next, they get to march to the lunchroom where the "popular" kids sit together in one group and the "unpopular" kids sit by themselves wishing they could look, dress, and be like their peers. What's more, they get to do this all over again the following year with the same group of kids.  What socialization skills are these children learning?

Homeschooled children, however, are continually exposed to different environments with children (and adults) of ALL ages.   Whether it's a weekly park day, a planned field trip, or a group activity, they learn to cooperate together and respect each other.   Between sports programs at the YMCA, volunteer work at the library, 4-H club meetings, and Scouts outings, homeschoolers learn to interact with adults and children of all ages, all walks of life, in all different surroundings. Homeschoolers aren't afraid to think for themselves, and they beam with self-confidence and self-worth.  Now that's positive socialization!