I am interested in homeschooling my child, but i am afraid she will miss interacting w/ kids her age?

Question

How can we keep her involve with other children of her age and still be homeschooled?

Answer 1

Your child will grow up unsocialized and not know how to deal with the world. That is not doing your child any favor. Any bad things they learn in school is overridden by the good and the socialization.

Don't do this to your child.
c

Answer 2

I was homeschooled from day one through the end of high school and never felt that I was missing out socially. I was involved in ballet and swimming lessons and church activities, as well as a homeschool group where there were lots of other kids. There are lots of ways to interact with other kids outside of school, you just have to explore a bit. Check out different sports, music, churches, and girl scout type clubs. I think that homeschool groups are a great thing to join because your daughter will get to interact with kids of all different ages, and you will get a chance to meet some other homeschooling parents who can support you. Find a group in your area and talk to them about what is avaliable.

Answer 3

I don't see why she should miss out on interacting with other kids. You weren't actually planning on staying inside the whole day, each and every day, were you?

As others have said, check out any local homeschooling groups. Some are extremely active and have field trips, park days and other events going on constantly. There are also opportunities to make friends with other families and share play dates, have parties, etc.

If your child were in school, you'd still consider swimming lessons and all kinds of other activities. Homeschooling gives you more time to get her involved in these kinds of activities. There may even be homeschool-specific daytime classes where you live. Again, check with a local homeschooling group.

Let me say that your daughter does not need daily interaction with same-age peers to be socially happy. This is a fallacy. There is nothing in human development that requires it.

I have to say that I don't understand one person's comment about not having other adult interaction. That's one thing I like about homeschooling is that my kids are meeting different adults (and kids) all the time. Plus, if you have your daughter enrolled in swimming lessons or something else, she is being taught something outside the home.

Answer 4

The public schools idead of "social" is totally wrong.
Is being social really about being with kids there own age all the time...NO! When is a child going to be with kids there own age outside of school?
Actually when your child gets homeschooled they develop better social skills; manners, starting conversations with kids younger and older.

There was a experiment done in Colorado where they took 100 public schooled children of all ages and 100 homeschooled children and put them in the same room. Guess what happned?
The public schoolers broke up into age groups but the homescholers got into a group and all talked together.
If you want your child to have friends that are homeschoolers just join a homschooling organization or your local church may have somthing to offer. I was in a homeschool group and we had band and a yearbook,drama, art and all sorts of things.

Answer 5

Why would she miss out in interaction with other kids? Unless you plan on never taking her anywhere she will be fine. Look up your local community fliers..they will have classes for children her age group. Some are especially geared toward homeschooled children and given during normal school hours. There are ice skating, roller blading, bowling, pottery, art, dance, music lessons to be had with other children her own age. If you are religious you can find a great church group with activities for children your daughters age. She can also volunteer for community events..no matter how old she is. If there are none in your community try others or make up your own invite other kids her age to learn how to cook, paint, or whatever you think would be fun for them to learn. The world is endless!!!!! Have fun and remember your doing this because you think your daughter is going to have a better life. Make it a better life for her! Good luck!!!

Answer 6

This is a big misconception that homeschooled kids are kept away from the rest of the world.
The fact is homeschooled kids get to be out in the world and socialized WAY MUCH MORE than public schools!
Find a local homeschool group. They are very active.
My group has 30 different things going on. It is wonderful.
I dont' see why people think public school is better, sitting in rooms with the same people day in and day out, not being out in the rest of the world, like homeschoolers can be.

Answer 7

This is a very common and legitimate concern, but if you have already decided that home education is the best choice for your child there are a number of ways for her to interact with children her age ad not miss out on socialization--which almost everyone you speak to will be concerned over.

First, locate a local homeschooling support group (http://www.homeschool.com/supportgroups/ or http://www.home-school.com/) and join the outings and other activities.

I have found that my homeschooled kids are 'better' (subjective) socialized because they are exposed to a variety of social settings among diverse groups of people and we yet to formally join a group. We just participate in classes, workshops, lectures, and a myriad of other activities within the homeschooling community and outside of the homeschooling community.

Homeschoolers also join Scouts, 4H Club, and interest groups. You can also start your own group; does your daughter knit, like scrapbooking, is she a budding artist or writer? Do you play chess or cook and want to teach your daughter and other kids her age to do the same?

......

The possibilities are endless.

Answer 8

Many communities have sports and things set up that are in leagues that aren't attached to the school itself.
Perhaps you might want to try Virtual School, instead, which is sort of in between homeschooling and brick and mortar schooling. http://www.k12.com/
Remember: The 'socialization' that your child gets in school is to lock them in a room with other kids their own age. Do you want your child to learn to act like other children, or to learn to act like an adult? I am a homeschooler, and I know many homeschool families. All in all, the homeschooled kids are much more intelligent, expressive, and better behaved.
Kids will grow up whether you are there or not. Do you think you can screw them up better than the school screws them up? It's all in how you look at schools, bus rides, drugs, peer pressure and the teachers. Personally, I don't know why it costs so darn much for such poor service. (most of the service being rendered to the teachers' insurance company, apparently)

Answer 9

This is a common concern, but it is one that is easily addressed. It is very rare to find a community that does not have several home schooled students. You can usually contact the parents of these students through the home schooling department of your local school or school board. Quite often, the parents home school on core subjects, but get together on group projects such as field trips to a museum or a science center, or art or music projects. In some cases, local schools will also take home school students into group projects, such as choir, band, etc.
If that isn't the case in your area, or if you can't find enough home schoolers to make this work, you can still ensure that your daughter has the social contact she needs by enrolling her in girl guides, 4H, dance classes, gymnastics classes, swim lessons, and any number of other activities where she can meet and be with children her own age.
Hope this is helpful.

Answer 10

I attempted to home-school my son when he was in 8th grade (4 years ago)due to a broken leg. I had always wanted to try it and my schedule allowed it at that time. I messed up though, I didn't keep him up with math for that age and when he did go back to public school the next year he was very behind and it has hurt him ever since. I love the idea of homeschooling and I would do it if I ever had another child but I would hire someone for the subjects I couldn't handle. To answer your question; your child can have plenty of socialization with other homeschoolers/church/play dates etc... Socialization in public schools isn't all that it's cracked up to be. I think there is more harm than good done there. The main thing is to be knowledgeable in the subjects and if your not, hire someone for those subjects and enjoy all the extra time you have with your child. Unless of course you are easily frustrated and this time together would harm rather than nurture your relationship.

Answer 11

There are plenty of Homeschool groups and you kid could still keep in touch with her school friends. but homeschool groups are cool you meet once or twice a week and do school work together and play games or somthing. I'm homeschooled and have alot of really great frends that are homeschooled too