by Kathy Hernandez
If you’ve ever wondered what your kid's social life would look like being homeschooled, you are not alone. There are many misconceptions around homeschooling, and socialization is at the top of that list. “How will your children make friends?” they ask. “How will having them home all the time prepare them for the REAL world?” and so on.
Hi, my name is Kathy Hernandez. I am a homeschool mom of two beautiful kids, ages 8 and 10. Our family has homeschooled for almost 6 years in Las Vegas, and I am here to shed some light on the subject. Being a big advocate of homeschooling, I often find myself having conversations with curious strangers everywhere I go.
Just the other day, for example, while getting groceries at Costco, the sample lady asked my children a very typical question from well-meaning adults: “How was your day at school?” My kids replied in a mellow tone, “Good. We’re homeschooled.” After a full day of fun, you’d think they would have more enthusiasm in their voices, but they didn’t.
Regardless, it got a conversation started, and I’m all for it!
One minute, we’re having a sample of chips and salsa, and the next, I’m sharing a list of homeschooling resources with her. “But what about socialization? Do they get to see other kids every day? My daughter is very social, and that’s my biggest concern,” she added, as I moved over to let the sample line flow. As I finished my sample and the last customer left, I was back at it.
“How often your kids socialize and with whom is really up to you. My kiddos just spent 5 hours building Legos with our friends at Lego club. They get a challenge to build, sometimes working in teams, and then present their creations to the group. Once everyone is done, we all clean up, and they run off to play while the moms catch up over coffee. If you compare that to the recess/lunch breaks kids get in school, homeschooled kids are often interacting more in 1 or 2 play dates than most kids do all week at school,” I replied.
“Oh wow, that sounds great. So, do you guys have to plan everything? How often do you meet?” she asked, intrigued. “Lego club is once a month,” I replied, “but we have events planned every week, like field trips to museums and local attractions, park days, sports days, co-op classes where parents take turns teaching different subjects, and structured sports like gymnastics, jiu-jitsu, and hockey. The library also has events every month, some specifically for homeschoolers. The options are endless.” I could see a look of excitement and relief on her face, but I knew my time was up when a new line started to form.
Homeschooling and Socialization
Over the years, I’ve had possibly hundreds of interactions like this, and one of the biggest concerns for parents is always socialization. So, what exactly is socialization? According to Dictionary.cambridge.org, “Socialization is the process of training people or animals to behave in a way that others in the group think is suitable.”
In today’s world, there’s no lack of opportunities for our homeschool children to socialize. And this leads to a very important question parents should ask themselves: who do I want my kids to socialize with, and how? What values are important to my family? Let’s face it, we’ve all encountered teachers who probably shouldn’t be teaching and kids who are in search of their next victim. I experienced both growing up in the public school system, and it’s not the type of socialization I want for my children or yours.
Is that statement true for every classroom? Of course not. But according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 28-30% of 6th-8th grade students have been bullied during the school year. High school comes in second at 20%, and elementary-aged kids at 18%. It may sound like an exaggerated concern, but I’d prefer to take my chances at raising “weird” kids (I’m a little weird myself) over kids with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, or PTSD.
Shaping Social Experiences
The beauty of homeschooling is that it gives us, as parents, the ability to choose who and how our children interact. This creates positive experiences for them and reinforces the values we uphold. Does that mean they’ll never have a disagreement with another child? No, they still do. But most of the time, a parent is present to help them work through their differences with love and respect.
Ultimately, homeschooling gives us the freedom to shape not only our children’s education but also their social interactions and experiences in a way that aligns with our family’s values. In my experience as a homeschool parent, I believe homeschoolers are the most social of them all. They get to experience socialization as it happens in the real world—with people of various ages and different backgrounds, passions, and interests—while doing so in a loving and accepting environment.
If you’ve been considering homeschooling or are simply curious to learn more, don’t miss the opportunity to dive deeper at the Nevada Homeschool Convention, NEVCON! It’s the perfect place to connect with other parents, find resources, and get inspired by homeschooling experts. Visit the convention’s website today to sign up and discover all that homeschooling can offer for you and your family. Let’s start this journey together!
Ultimately, homeschooling gives us the freedom to shape not only our children’s education but also their social interactions and experiences in a way that aligns with our family’s values. In my experience as a homeschool parent, I believe homeschoolers are the most social of them all. They get to experience socialization as it happens in the real world—with people of various ages and different backgrounds, passions, and interests—while doing so in a loving and accepting environment.
If you’ve been considering homeschooling or are simply curious to learn more, don’t miss the opportunity to dive deeper at the Nevada Homeschool Convention! It’s the perfect place to connect with other parents, find resources, and get inspired by homeschooling experts. Visit the convention’s website today to sign up and discover all that homeschooling can offer for you and your family. Let’s start this journey together!
Sources:
Definition of socialization: “Socialization.” Cambridge Dictionary, Dictionary.cambridge.org, link.
Bullying statistics: “Bullying Statistics.” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, stopbullying.gov, link.
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