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I think the social aspect will be extremely dependent on how much the parents put into that part. The majority of home-schooled kids (now adults) I know, were s

by kohanz 8y ago

I think the social aspect will be extremely dependent on how much the parents put into that part. The majority of home-schooled kids (now adults) I know, were socially stunted because of it, but I don't believe this is as much a fault of homeschooling as it is a symptom of those particular families not putting enough effort into integrating social environments into part of the routine. That part comes for "free" in classroom-based education, but it doesn't meant they have a monopoly on it.

flukus 8y ago
As a somewhat socially stunted adult that went to public school I've wondered if the parents having somewhat active social lives (mine didn't) was more important than socializing at school. Amongst friends that I know the parents of and that I went to school with there is a high correlation between their social skills and the time their parents spend socializing.
DoreenMichele 8y ago
It's substantially more complicated than that. I homeschooled my Twice Exceptional sons. They are both socially awkward and probably qualify for a diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum, though they don't have a formal diagnosis. They did much better socially and were much happier with being removed from an environment that was very stressful for them. However, if you met them now and only knew that they were homeschooled and are obviously socially awkward, you could easily leap to the conclusion that they are socially awkward because they were homeschooled. Additionally, there is a cultural element to any social outcome. There is a certain amount of being inculcated with the right behaviors for the setting. Being homeschooled means you lack some of the same context as the majority of people who attended school. So it's easy to read as socially awkward because you don't readily fit in, even if your social skills are actually better in some important ways. Think of how immigrants tend to seem awkward and don't readily fit it. It has nothing to do with whether or not they have good social skills. They are just strangers in a strange land.
sotojuan 8y ago
In my experience growing up the homeschooled kids were usually from very religious families who did not want their kids being social with the general population, so you have a point there. I wonder how a "regular" family that happens to homeschool their kid would differ.
- tathougies 8y ago
  But I mean, if their kids found spouses in the religious group, and had families, I find it difficult to classify them as socially stunted. Perhaps they would be socially stunted in mainstream culture, but one is forced to think they did just fine in their own.
  - sotojuan 8y ago
    I guess my point is that in my anecdotal experience, parents homeschooled kids to "protect" them from regular society. Ergo, they were very sheltered and only able to socialize within the church. If it works for them, great, not hating - but I doubt that's what people in this thread mean when they talk about homeschooled kids having a normal, social life.
xupybd 8y ago
I know a few home schooled kids that are now adults. They're so far from being socially stunted. The social aspects of school aren't always positive. Most adults that have difficulty interacting with other people tend to have had a bad time in school. I've seen a little bit of naivety from home schooled people but I've never seen someone full of hurt like I have from people from public school.
PhaedrusV 8y ago
It's partly whether the parents take the time to make sure the kids are socialized, and partly selection bias. A lot of parents decide to homeschool their kids precisely because the kids are having a tough time in school socially, whether it's from bullying or from mild or severe developmental disorders. In my experience, a much higher percentage of homeschoolers enter homeschooling with dyslexia or autism than you see in the typical public school classroom. A lot of parents choose to homeschool specifically because they don't want their child pidgeonholed and pipelined into special needs classrooms.
potta_coffee 8y ago
I was exposed to hardcore pornography and drugs in school, before I was ten, by other kids. I was beaten up lots of times and bullied and I lived in fear. Eventually I ended up being more of a fighter out of necessity. I guess that could be considered "free" integration into the social environment.

by kohanz 8y ago

flukus 8y ago

As a somewhat socially stunted adult that went to public school I've wondered if the parents having somewhat active social lives (mine didn't) was more important than socializing at school. Amongst friends that I know the parents of and that I went to school with there is a high correlation between their social skills and the time their parents spend socializing.

DoreenMichele 8y ago

It's substantially more complicated than that. I homeschooled my Twice Exceptional sons. They are both socially awkward and probably qualify for a diagnosis on the Autism Spectrum, though they don't have a formal diagnosis. They did much better socially and were much happier with being removed from an environment that was very stressful for them. However, if you met them now and only knew that they were homeschooled and are obviously socially awkward, you could easily leap to the conclusion that they are socially awkward because they were homeschooled. Additionally, there is a cultural element to any social outcome. There is a certain amount of being inculcated with the right behaviors for the setting. Being homeschooled means you lack some of the same context as the majority of people who attended school. So it's easy to read as socially awkward because you don't readily fit in, even if your social skills are actually better in some important ways. Think of how immigrants tend to seem awkward and don't readily fit it. It has nothing to do with whether or not they have good social skills. They are just strangers in a strange land.

sotojuan 8y ago

In my experience growing up the homeschooled kids were usually from very religious families who did not want their kids being social with the general population, so you have a point there. I wonder how a "regular" family that happens to homeschool their kid would differ.

tathougies 8y ago
But I mean, if their kids found spouses in the religious group, and had families, I find it difficult to classify them as socially stunted. Perhaps they would be socially stunted in mainstream culture, but one is forced to think they did just fine in their own.
- sotojuan 8y ago
  I guess my point is that in my anecdotal experience, parents homeschooled kids to "protect" them from regular society. Ergo, they were very sheltered and only able to socialize within the church. If it works for them, great, not hating - but I doubt that's what people in this thread mean when they talk about homeschooled kids having a normal, social life.

xupybd 8y ago

I know a few home schooled kids that are now adults. They're so far from being socially stunted. The social aspects of school aren't always positive. Most adults that have difficulty interacting with other people tend to have had a bad time in school. I've seen a little bit of naivety from home schooled people but I've never seen someone full of hurt like I have from people from public school.

PhaedrusV 8y ago

It's partly whether the parents take the time to make sure the kids are socialized, and partly selection bias. A lot of parents decide to homeschool their kids precisely because the kids are having a tough time in school socially, whether it's from bullying or from mild or severe developmental disorders. In my experience, a much higher percentage of homeschoolers enter homeschooling with dyslexia or autism than you see in the typical public school classroom. A lot of parents choose to homeschool specifically because they don't want their child pidgeonholed and pipelined into special needs classrooms.

potta_coffee 8y ago

I was exposed to hardcore pornography and drugs in school, before I was ten, by other kids. I was beaten up lots of times and bullied and I lived in fear. Eventually I ended up being more of a fighter out of necessity. I guess that could be considered "free" integration into the social environment.