What makes you think that our children don't learn social skills in homeschooling?

Question

The people who say that our children dont learn the social skill that it takes to become a productive member of society doesnt even understand what goes on in our home or our schedule. Home school children for the most part are very busy. They have more opportunities then children who are stuck in a class room for 8 hours. Most home schooled children have weekly outings (field trips), dance, art class's, music class, theater, sports, sleep over just like other children, I would bet more trips to the library, skating rinks, movies, lunch dates all the children meet at the same place for lunch, they meet children from all over our state. They aren't stuck with whom ever is in their school..And they even have gym class..well most of them, Dont forget the ymca.Why do you people seem to think that we dont let our children out of the home? thats is just rediculous! We dont shelter our children we just give them a better education with more opportunities!!

Bomb threats, drug dealers, gangs and gang fights..kids in trailers...is this what you want for your children..dont you want them to live to become adults..what about all the school shootings..your child doesnt have to spend 8 hours a day in a class room to learn social skills.my child spent 9 years in a public school..he's doing so much better in his charter school..the poor learning alone is enough to take them out of public school...

Yes a persentage of parents do teach their children, but a persentage like me dones't teach their children..my son is enrolled in a chareter school, i dont teach him nothing. he has 7 teachers encluding a homeroom teacher..and yes he does take a gym class..he has any where from 17 students in his class to 40 and yes he has became friends with most of them..He doenst take any of this class tests at home he meets his class mates at the library and that where they take all their tests..imagine learning how bottled water is made and going to the factories to see it done or learning how paper is made then going to the factories to see it made..every week they have a field trip to look forward too.instead of sitting in a class room where the teacher could careless if they are their..

nido..my son has 7 teachers..two principals councolers..class mates..recess..class field trips..your children go to school to learn and to worry about bullies..when they are no longer learning then its time to take them out...

Terri, thank you..my sons school offers a real diploma..even prom night..they offer scholerships to collage but like any other school they have to have an outstanding record...He still has to earn credits to graduate high school..people just dont take the time to learn about home school

Melissa..thank you..that is so funny..they teach them to have sex, that it is ok to sale and take drugs to carry guns and knives to school, that it is ok to make fun of the kid that cant buy the cool clothes..i think that it scares ps parent to have to teach their child so they are so against hs and what it takes to better your child education..,NOT ALL PS PARENTS DO THIS..

Tehabwa, my son is home schooled its a online charter school, its ran by the state of ohio and yes it is concidered a public school but he does most of his work on his computer and his teacher can see his every move and so can i. The school is closely watch by the state. This school has everything that a ps has but sports.Just the teachers are their for the students not the other way around..He still has 6 class's plus a home room class..its a cam school he can see and hear his teachers and they can see and hear him..

Nicky..thank you ...most school districts will allow home school children to attend all afterschool functions..dances, sports,Im not sure if all of the home schools have graduation ceremonies but my sons home school program has a graduation ceremonie with diploma..

annie, you asked me if i have ever meet a home schooled child...that just goes to show us what children are learning in a ps. lol...Please read the whole question before answering it..it will make you look some what inteligent...

Answer 1

It is wildy hilarious that someone answered your question by asking if you had ever met a homeschooled child.
Since you worded your question "our children" and since this is the homeschool section, it's pretty safe to assume you are a homeschool mom.
That was rich.
But I will answer her question and your question.
Have I ever met a homeschool child. I am in two groups that meet weekly. Combined, I see over 150 homeschool families representing close to 300 children.
Not cumulatively over my lifetime. this is EVERY week.
This does not include aquaintences in my community that belong to other groups. That bumps the number up to close to 200 and possibly 400 students.
Does that qualify me to speak on socialization with authority.
I think so.
Now, as for your question (lest I forget and get reported, lol) why do "people" think this about our kiddos?
They let one or possibly two situations that they may or may not have been directly involved in taint their view of the millions of homeschool children in this country. Usually it is a situation where someone says "I think, it must be, I heard once, a neighbor had a cousin that had a friend that lived by some people that knew someone that used to homeschool."
It is like saying the outbreak of violence in our schools in recent weeks is how it is for all schools, all the time in all states.
Not fair is it?
I do not put any stock in any opinions about homeschooling unless it comes from someone that has several years of experience and did not just pull their kids due to emotion. I do however use their stereotypical viewpoints as a springboard to speak the truth about the homeschool community. Not only here on this forum but every chance I get.
and to the better education? You should read my reply to an answer a few down. universities across the nation are finally realizing that homeschooling actually is a better preparation for college life than public schools and some are even beginning to not only actively recruit our kiddos, but are creating incentives like special hs scholarships, grants so on and so forth. I do yet have to meet a homeschool parent with a child in college right now that was not offered multiple scholarships.
It is really funny, but some ps parents and educators are beginning to complain that homeschool children have an "unfair advantage" over public school children when it comes to competing for college admissions.
Something to think about.
May have to ask for opinions on that.

Answer 2

Of course kids don't need to be in a public school to be well socialized! But you don't have to be homeschooled to be a success or have good social skills either. Plenty of people who attend public schools go on to university and are successful! - Even straight out of high school. And plenty of homeschooled kids do too. Both homeschooled and schooled kids can get out in the real world. It's all a matter of choices. Of course there are losers and slackers who graduated from both. One person's, or families', success doesn't mean that everyone who does what they do is somehow better than the other group. People from both groups think the others are lacking skills, either academically or socially because they are insecure about their own choices. The angriest people who yell the loudest on either side of this "argument" of which is better are usually defensive for a reason. Educate your children proudly and don't worry about justifying your choices. I don't worry about justifying mine. Success speaks for itself. Defensiveness speaks volumes.

Answer 3

Because people don't know how to think anymore and don't realize that what they're saying doesn't make sense. They only know how to assume. Too many think that homeschooled kids stay home all day and don't meet other people. Of course, because they're not thinking, they aren't realizing that interacting with people at home all day IS learning social skills.

There are numerous people in history who grew up in the boonies and who learned from their parents, involving interaction with their siblings, how to be with others. When they moved to towns or cities, they were fine. They didn't grow up in little rooms, never interacting with others. There was interaction with parents and siblings, all day, every day. Just like homeschoolers now. In fact, homeschooled children probably get more interaction at home--when they are home as many are out a lot of the time--than public schooled students get at school. In school, you're supposed to spend most of your day in your seat, listening to the teacher or working.

The additional problem is that those who harp on homeschoolers' social skills are focused on the skills necessary in a school setting. If a child is not going to school, why do they need skills that are exclusive to a school setting? Again, they're not thinking.

Answer 4

I'm confused by your Additionals, as it sounds as though you son is in a school and not being home-schooled.

Yes, a lot of people hear "home schooling" and assume the child is trapped in the house all the time and never sees other children.

Funny, because, considering how horrible school (especially high school) culture is, and all the damage it does, I'd think it would be a plus for children to NOT be inculcated in it, but have more healthy relationships with others (something that's rare in schools, with their cliques and the God Popularity -- most people shed this culture as soon as they get out, anyway).

Answer 5

I don't really know much about home schooling, its not done much over here in Australia. My kids got to a private school.

From an outsider looking in, Id say Homeschooling has great advantages, the one on one would be awesome. I do alot of one on one with my kids after school too!

The only thing I would have to wonder about, is with home schooled kiddies................would they ever regret not having the lunch time circle of friends....( and by asking that I am not saying they have no social skills or no friends...I'm simply asking), what about other things too, u know the school disco's, graduation with classmates, and just other school day memories?

The description you have written sounds like you guys have great learning experiences.....!!

Answer 6

If you made me choose between being socialized and being intelligent I'd rather be intelligent.

But that is such a silly choice to make because it is 100% possible to have both!

My home-educated students are doing quite well in both arenas. It is our preference that the academic part of life is first priority. But they do very well at keeping up the "friends" side of things. At times it becomes necessary to remind them that they DO have school-work!!!! This isn't really much different than it is for students in other forms of school. I haven't yet met a child that says, "I'd rather study than go out and play." -- it doesn't matter if they are home-schooled or public schooled.

Answer 7

Childrens primary social learning takes place in the home. School is second. Kids are so overscheduled in America, homeschooling is the only way to get it all in the day and still give kids time to be kids.

How much time do kids really spend learning in school once you take out class changes, lunch, pe, nap time, lunch, etc.? My first grader spends just a few hours at school "learning". For two years now she has been "learning" things she already knew before she started school. Hardly makes it worth the commute.

Answer 8

I think that this is a very good idea, when homeschooled you can learn things that are more likely to be used in real life. In high school i took a class called earth science, yea i learned alot, and yea ive forgot alot. Why do i need to know how to identify 37 diffrent rocks? I dont, if i want to become a geologist i will learn all that in college. I think alot of things being taught in schools today are busy work, and why do we need homework, kids are at school 8 hours a day. Plus they have to go home and do homework, for stuff that 99.9 percent of them will never use.
makes no since to me

I wish their were more parents like you, i applaude what you are doing for your son.

Answer 9

LOL I began home-school after entering a public H.S that was so terrible, and so far behind in the learning curve that I dropped out. The same day my mom showed me articles about home-school, and asked if I would give it a shot. I'm happy I did. I have a bunch of friends! I don't sit in my home rocking back, and forth with a tiny crack of sunlight hitting the floor of my room. (It's a shame if people think us home-school kids are isolated in such a way.) Some people come on here claiming they had no friends when they where home-schooled and that's why it was terrible. Well...if you have friends before home-school you will after! That's all!

Answer 10

The PS parents don't care if their children barely get by..They really don't take a great interest in their child's education..as long as they are out of their hair for 8 hours a day..home schooled children can out score a PS child on a state test any day..