Homeschool socialization does not lead to social skill deficiencies.
Contrary to popular belief, homeschooling and socialization reinforce each other.
The problem is that few people understand socialization, interpersonal skills, intrapersonal skills, and their overlap. The overlap is how a person actually functions every day.
I am sick of hearing that homeschool kids have social difficulties. They don’t. You can’t even tell my kids are homeschooled until we talk about it.
I am tired of hearing how well they play together. Despite spending a large chunk of their time together, we don’t have the scale of sibling fights that other parents deal with.
So if you are afraid of homeschool socialization, don’t be. Below, I explain why the homeschool setting is a great place for kids to learn social skills.
What is Socialization and Why I prefer Homeschool Socialization
Socialization, from a social science standpoint, is actually the process by which we learn our culture.
Everything from learning to say please and thank you to Christmas traditions and what foods we eat is socialization.
To clarify, socialization is a never-ending process, dependent upon our age, roles, expectations, experiences, and place.
Schools absolutely socialize our children, and our homeschooled kids will miss out on that! I want them to miss out on it.
Why? I don’t want them to learn clique behavior, hate, or feel the pressure to try drugs or alcohol. Additionally, I don’t want them to feel like learning is a passive experience.
With homeschool socialization, I get to guide their interactions. That means I get to choose what they are exposed to and when they are exposed to ideas I love like doing good audaciously.
What are Interpersonal Skills?
Interpersonal skills are the skills we use to play, resolve conflict, and interact every day.
For example, they include sharing, manners, clear communication, and more.
Personally, I believe these skills are more important of the 3 when it comes to becoming a productive member of society.
What are intrapersonal skills?
Intrapersonal skills are things like being able to recognize your own emotions and separating them from your reactions. Additionally, it’s being able to recognize when you need to say no and things like being aware that you are tired or hungry.
The Overlap
The overlap between socialization, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills is what prepares our kids to be happy, healthy, productive members of our society.
It’s really the overlap that people are concerned that homeschool kids can’t learn at home.
What a silly idea.
Why Homeschool Socialization is Better
My kids practice these skills for much of the day, every day.
Their time to socialize is not cut short by a rigorous schedule or spent behind a desk, expected to be quiet.
They have the opportunity to struggle.
For example, they get to interact with people of all ages so they have the opportunity to interact with more diverse people than those in school.
This means they get to practice a broader range of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.
If you would like to see how my kids socialize, follow me on Instagram! So, embedded below is a trip to our local park with another large, homeschooling family.
