The buzz word that is most often brought up against homeschooling is socialization. “But how will your children socialize?” What is the link between socialization and homeschooling? What does socialization mean?
Definition of socialization
Most people mistake homeschooling for children learning while shut up from the rest of the world. Nothing could be further from the truth. The homeschool classroom is everywhere and anywhere, sometimes with more time spent outdoors with different people!
Searching for the definition of socialization led me to the Merriam-Webster dictionary Two definitions, which I both liked, popped up. The first one is given as “the process beginning during childhood by which individuals acquire the values, habits, and attitudes of a society.”
The second one that applies in this context is “social interaction with others.”
How big a factor is it?
Socialization is a big factor, and it is certainly one major thing that led us to consider homeschooling as a family. In fact, the decision to homeschool came before we even had kids!
The biggest bonus in educating our kids is that we can impart our values to them. For me, home education is the best place where socialization takes place. Children learn by observing, and the family set up allows ample opportunity for that. The little ones look up to their older siblings, who in turn are influenced by parents or guardians. If the environment is warm and positive, what a sweet outcome that would be!
Most people erringly distill ‘socialization’ to simply mean ‘play’ or ‘association’, that makes it too narrow a definition. I don’t dispute that children need to play with their peers, it’s always so much fun. And because your peers understand the world the same and are most likely going through the same things, it creates a special bond. However, in the natural world, age mixing is the norm. There is no place where 8-year olds JUST associate with their peers, except in the classroom. If taken to mean play, then there isn’t any formal schooled child who can play as much as home educated children, hands down!
But I always wonder what the link is between socialization and homeschooling that people often bring up. If anything, the home set-up most resembles real life situation. Because where else would you find people of the same age in one room except at school? Certainly not in the workplace or in business either. I do understand the need to segregate by age in schools: theoretically they have similar needs, interests and abilities.
Why I am unfazed
Socially awkward people can be found everywhere, including home educated children and those who attend school. Experts in the field would be better placed to expand on the reasons why this happens.
Homeschooling provides ample opportunities for socialization, if not intentionally so. Meet ups can be arranged with a child’s peers and other kids. It’s interesting how bonding will result from common interests rather than just age.
If you are a homeschooling parent get ready for this conversation, it will come your way a LOT. But if you are concerned by it, here are a few suggestions on how to overcome:
- Be comfortable socializing in your family, for that is the fabric of society. Build up your child the best way you can and you won’t regret it.
- Join other groups such as sports teams, homeschooling families, scouts – Adventurer and Pathfinder clubs are the equivalent of scouts in a religious setting.
- Volunteering in the community or in religious institutions.
- Taking non-academic classes such as cooking, drama, pottery or foreign languages.
- Play dates with other children.
- Attending local events, workshops or museums.
Certainly there is a link between socialization and homeschooling. Rather than it being a problem let’s treat it as an opportunity to be intentional about our children’s education. In the end we want well-rounded children who aren’t intimidated by challenges or easily swayed by public opinion.
