a question about homeschool (not a which is better post)

[kitty8199]

Where do they get social interaction? We just had a conversation about it today. My cousin decided to drop out and do a home study school. She's 16.
I know she already has her friends, but made me wonder how homeschool kids socialize? I don't live in a neighborhood, neither do my cousins.
It is a question to be taken for what I asked. Don't be offended like this is a bash post.

[kiwilime]

Where I live there are home school groups you can become a part of. They have gym class together and go on field trips.  Also if the parents enroll them in any classes like swimming, dance, etc. they have it there too.

[EireLass]

We were active in our church, and met many families through that that were homeschooling. That led to a large group forming, and just word of mouth, it was loaded with people who were doing it for a lot of different reasons. And we lived in areas that had lots of kids. They were also active in town sports and activities, Brosnies, Boy Scouts, Library, etc. The Y. The big benefit to all that was their constant exposure to kids of all ages, not just those the exact age as them.

[kitty8199]

Are homeschool groups new? I never heard of that when I was school age. I met a few homeschool kids at the neighborhood pool, when I lived in a neighborhood.

Quoting auroragold:

We are members of quite a few homeschool groups. We gather routinely for group learning, outings, social events.

And if we didn't, we surely don't sit inside the house, just the 2 of us, all day every day; there is plenty of interaction when we are out and about.

My dd - age 10 - has always been homeschooled and has ZERO problem with "social interactions" - - yes, among children her own age. She can go into a playground or beach not knowing anyone and make friends.

[auroragold]

I don't know how "new" they are. I imagine they've always been there but now that more people are homeschooling there are more groups and more advertising.  We've been involved with groups since DD was 3 - she is just about 11 now.

Quoting kitty8199:

Are homeschool groups new? I never heard of that when I was school age. I met a few homeschool kids at the neighborhood pool, when I lived in a neighborhood.

Quoting auroragold:

We are members of quite a few homeschool groups. We gather routinely for group learning, outings, social events.

And if we didn't, we surely don't sit inside the house, just the 2 of us, all day every day; there is plenty of interaction when we are out and about.

My dd - age 10 - has always been homeschooled and has ZERO problem with "social interactions" - - yes, among children her own age. She can go into a playground or beach not knowing anyone and make friends.

[sweettigeress]

You can still put your child in sports through the school. But you can put her in dance, gymnastics...things like that.

[2metalbabies]

I was going to say that there are quite a few kids who are home schooled in our school district and are allowed to participate in school sports and attend dances and such.

Quoting sweettigeress:

You can still put your child in sports through the school. But you can put her in dance, gymnastics...things like that.

[Arianna]

We are members of several homeschool groups that organize activities all week long.  (sometimes too many activities, LOL)  He also participates in homeschool gym, classes at the library, and classes at the YMCA.

We also go to a Unitarian Universalist church on Sundays where he gets together with like minded peers.

When public school students get out of school, they all congregate at my house.

My son has plenty of opportunities to socialize...but then, I have to be proactive and get him out into the world, each day.

[bee81]

my kids were part of a homeschool group and got to know the kids there. We also volunteer at the local youth community center and we go to the library a lot. And then of course they have the neighborhood kids too.

[sha_lyn68]

Not in most states. Only 19 currently allow it without being partially enrolled in public school.

Quoting sweettigeress:

You can still put your child in sports through the school. But you can put her in dance, gymnastics...things like that.

[sha_lyn68]

 

All research indicates that not only are homeschoolers generally just as well socialized and well adjusted, but that they also participate in more social activities as children and adults. Research also shows that public schools are very often harmful to social skills and the ability to socialize. Homeschooling gives the chance to be around a wider variety of people. Homeschoolers are not limited to being around only those who live in the same school district and who were born in the same 12 month period. Instead, homeschoolers are free to be around people of all ages and who live within a larger area. There are so many ways to socialize beyond the box that is public school. Statistics show that the average homeschooler participates in 3x the number of extracurricular activities over their public school counterparts. Studies also show that homeschoolers are more active in their community not only when they are homeschooling but also once they enter college and/or the workforce.

Students in traditional school settings are confined to a building/campus an average of 7.5 hrs a day 180 days a year with the same people day in and day out (often the same people for most of their years in school). In public schools they are segregated into groups by geographical area (with the exception of areas that have magnet schools, open enrollment etc but that is a minority of areas). In both public and private schools, students are then further segregated into groups by age, and often times into smaller groups according to ability. Such segregation greatly limits the number of and types of people that those in traditional school can socialize with on a regular basis.  Also, so much time is spent in school or involved in its activities (especially homework) that public and private school students spend the majority of their waking hours either n school or doing homework. Many don't experience socialization outside of public school because they do not have the time.

There are many ways to meet friends and to be active while homeschooling such as:
Take up a new hobby or expand on a current one
Volunteering
Join a homeschool co-op
Join a homeschool social group
Join the YMCA, YWCA, Boys Club/Girls Club
Take classes through the local recreation center or private studio such as: sports, dancing, martial arts, art etc
Learn to play a musical instrument
Book Clubs
Scouts
Activities through  church/synagogue/mosque/coven etc

 

STUDIES AND STATISTICS

Cites statistical information from several studies: http://www.homeschool-by-design.com/homeschooling-statistics.html 

Study on Canadian adults who were homeschooled:  http://www.naturalchild.org/research/fifteen_years_later.html

http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/weblinks/research.htm

 

Evidence for Homeschooling: Constitutional Analysis in Light of Social Science Research:

 http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1317439

 

Socialization: http://learninfreedom.org/socialization.html

 

List of several studies: http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/weblinks/research.htm

 

Cases against public school: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/200909/seven-sins-our-system-forced-education

 

List of various articles:  http://www.ontariohomeschool.org/socialization.shtml#research