do homeschooled kids feel like they have missed alot and having alot of friendsfrom not going to public school

Question

or are they just better off

Answer 1

If you choose to home school your children, you just have to make sure that they have plenty of other forms of interaction with children in other ways and with other activities: church groups, sports, play groups, family, neighborhood kids, etc. I know many kids who were homeschooled and turned out as great and sometimes better than public schooled children! A friend of mine homeschooled her children up til this year, when they begged to try a regular school, and they fit in perfectly when they started. they are both the most popular kids in their classes, one is 8 and one is 16, both girls! It's all in how you handle the homeschooling education.
also, for some of the other posters, homeschool isn't always about keeping your children away from people, it's often about giving them a better education, and many parents are willing to make sure they have enough social interaction to make up the difference!
Congrats for taking an interest in your childs educational needs!

Answer 2

I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything. I don't lack socialization either. I participate in a lot of activities, like the thearter in my town. As a homeschooler I get to plan my days. For instance, I get up at 7am and do school work until 10am, eat, shower, and dress. Some days I work until 5pm if I don't work, then I do some more school work, depends on the subject material. At 6:30pm I go to the theater and either watch or take part in whatever is going on at that time. Since I'm homeschooled I have a lot more time to do things that I wish to do. For me it was my own choice to not go to public school. Teachers were not teaching and helping me. Since I am not in a classroom I don't have to worry about being interrupted by other kids, that's why it only takes me 3 hours to get done what I need to do. If I have nothing else scheduled I spend some time on the next day's work load.

Answer 3

Personally, no, I don't.

Just today there was a report issued here in the UK that said 83% of 16 - 25 years old are suffering from loneliness, so, given that they can't have all been home educated, it seems the issue is FAR more complicated than homeschool vs public school (what about kids at private schools where do they fit in to your worldview?!?).

Answer 4

To all the people who say that "homeschoolers lack maturity" should wake up. I'm homeschooled and I find that very offensive. There have been many homeschooled children that have won national spelling and geography bees. As for the famous socialization question, I have plenty of friends that I met from sports and clubs that I participate in. I do my best to be considerate to others. I hold doors for mothers with little children, give up my seats in doctors' waiting rooms for elderly people. Homeschoolers are just as mature as public school children, if not more!

Answer 5

Well, all of the homeschooled kids I met were intellegent. However, my gal friend was very active in other activities and attended public school off and on. She was very popular, but she had a little rough start because she wasn't really used to it. But she fit in fine.
Sadly, ALL of the homeschooled guys I knew were immature and socially inept. But, they were homeschooled their whole lives and came from strict Christian families, and they really didn't have an open relationship with their parents (which was because they had poor parenting skills, not because the kids were home schooled.)
I agree that home schooled children can develop social skills, but it's up to the parents to help them. The key is to get them involved in plently of fun, social activities starting while they're young, and have an open relationship with them.

Answer 6

I have met 3 sets homeschooled kids. When I was in grade 7 a girl and her brother came to our school. They were raised in a VERY christian household and had very little socialization because the world was "evil". They were sent to a public school when they father lost his job and couldn't find a new one so the mother was forced to work. They were very socially inept and couldn't handle the public school.

The other sets of homeschooled kids I met were both really popular and very normal kids. Their parents had them play on lots of teams, one went to girl guides, and both sets had taken some sort of music lessons. Overall they were smart, socially able kids.

It really depends on who is homeschooling, how well it is done and how well their parents socialize them.

Answer 7

Not the one's I've met...and they do have a lot of friends who go to public school...they live in the same neighborhood as kids who go to public schools...they see them outside every day...they hang out with them all the time...Being homeschooled doesn't mean being behind locked doors 24/7, it just means that their educational needs are provided at home.

Answer 8

I homeschooled for 2 years and my 2 kids had a very active social life. they not only had friends in the neighborhood, but my daughter played on 3 softball teams, and my son played soccer and baseball. They were not socially inept whatsoever. There are lots of places to socialize and make friends besides school.

Answer 9

it really depends are the being home schooled to keep them from growing up? if so they are more than likely not going to have a great social life and when they go to school its going to be so much worse. its hard enough to make friends and not be bullied anyway.

if its due to other things like finance, distance etc then make sure they keep in regular contact with friends and others to keep them socially and emotionally healthy.

Answer 10

YES! i was homeschooled frm gr3 to gr7 and i missed out on ALOT. i barely had any friends! school is soo much better than being homeschooled!