Does homeschooling kids impact the way they deal with things in the 'normal' world?

Question

In doing this does it put those children at a disadvantage later on since they don't get exposed on a daily basis with those that are different? Does it not allow them the preparedness to cope with some things once they go to college or leave home? Is it doing them a disservice?

Answer 1

In higher education, in my experience first as an academic mentor, as an advisor, and now as a program coordinator, I would say that "Results vary WIDELY." As with many things, the starting point and logistics are critical. A parent with lots of time to burn, a great educational background, access to excellent community resources, and lots of money can potentially provide a superior education to the most expensive private school. On the opposite end of the quality spectrum, some parents use homeschooling as a cover for their ongoing sexual abuse. A neglected homeschooler is probably better off in a regular school. My first experience with a homeschooled boy reflected this case: he was behind in every subject but religious dogma. He could recall and recite Bible verses, but had trouble with simple algebra and composition. His parents were nice enough people, but not very good teachers. He was also feeling very socially isolated and had trouble making friends even though there were Christian groups he could have joined. He did not last one year in college before panic set in and he dropped out.
On the other hand, I have met popular 4.0 students that were also homeschooled.
Now I say results vary, but usually the results were extreme one way or another, like the student that confided in me that her father was outraged that she would dare attend college and that her proper place was back in the home doing the cooking and cleaning - and not any home or a husband's home, but HIS home. The fact that he was divorced apparently didn't dissaude him from the idea that he was the paragon of "family values." I'm not sure his "family values" would actually sit well with most Christians, but when "homeschool" becomes prison, who can know or argue it?
Homeschool works wonderfully for the wealthy. They can make a lesson plan that includes a trip to the Great Wall of China or take the time to visit NASA. They might even have access to people in power for high level mentoring that poor kids simply don't get access to... I'm pretty sure you can still go to the Debutante's Ball even if you're homeschooled. You could buy the chemstry and biology equipment and supplies for home labwork in a space you can afford to devote to such study. A top-notch education doesn't come cheap.

This is not to say that a cheap homeschool education can't be good, but sacrifices will certainly have to be made unless the student gets access to something like a community college or university. School vouchers and waivers may make this more convenient, however, such children also tend to be somewhat isolated from their peers on account of ageism. Other resources, however, might out-perform regular schools and most certainly - in some locations - it is possible to access arts and crafts and opportunities that are simply not available in the structured public school environment.

All that said, homeschool experience may range from outstanding to horrific based on location, teacher skill, and available resources, and motives for homeschooling.

Answer 2

What usually is considered to be lacking in a homeschool environment is a larger interaction and so often some of the social skills appear to be lacking.

I know numerous people that have been homeschooled and show no effects of this because they were active in other programs that got the interacting. The real problem is not the homeschooling, but the idea that in so doing you are protecting them from the big bad world. Many times you have to let children out into the world and learn how to stand up for what they believe.

I am a product of the public school system and I turned out alright. My wife was home schooled for most of her schooling and she is not having any trouble in the "real world".

Answer 3

Actually, it's quite the opposite. Many home-schooled children are exposed to activities and situations they would not encounter in the traditional (not "normal") school environment. Further, home-school children are not required to go at a pace set by the teacher who is considering ALL the children in the class versus a a customized curriculum for their personalized needs and interests. Finally, homeschool children are typically in an environment where they are loved and nurtured. Children in a school environment can and are bullied everyday which causes low self-esteem, sense of failure and fear of new situations because of unrelenting stress. A self-assured child with good boundaries and sense of self is very important when facing the world, probably moreso than an intelligent child who is too afraid to try because of a horrible school experience.

BTW, there are MANY discussions on homeschooling on this site and the Internet. Check them out.

Answer 4

Well, great question and difficult to answer!
People get social going to school, playing in the yards, work illegally (since kids should not work, by law, etc.), communicate by any means, with others and so on!
Having a good educator, homeschooling will build greater characters and brighter people, and nothing will be lost from socializing, except, that the young person will be more free, will not get all the lies of the system, etc.
If the educator is not proper, then it is the same like getting to school!

Answer 5

Homeschool all depends on the amount of time and effort the parent puts into contacting the child with the outside world. There are many ways kids can get involved with other people - there are often support groups, they can take classes at things like the YMCA, they can get involved in church groups, local theater groups, sports teams, etc.

Answer 6

A friend of mine home schooled her son for a nice while. a few years. He didnt have contact with other children and situations that children who go to school get. She then went back to work and put him in school and he had a few problems. he didnt know what to do with the other children, there was one who couldnt hear and he didnt know anything about that. He was lost for a nice while and is still adjusting a year later.

Answer 7

i considered homeschooling my son,then decided that this would not be ideal because this would not truly be fair to him,he needs to learn about life situations that he could only learn from being around other children and adults other than his own family members.it is very important that he learns these social skills,weather or not if i agree how other children act or weather i agree with the criterion that is being taught,i still believe that this experience of going to school is an important lesion in its self.

Answer 8

yes.... it makes them not as social, they are unable to learn at a young age how to fit in and socialize well with others, i believe that this makes them feel more uncomfortable as adults ( this is not true in all home schooled children) but i think you can always tell if they have been home schooled