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My main concern is whether the homeschooled kids are disadvantaged by the lack of the vital social component of school. I’ve met a number of homeschooled kids

My main concern is whether the homeschooled kids are disadvantaged by the lack of the vital social component of school. I’ve met a number of homeschooled kids but they always seem to have limited socialization opportunities.

rosiesherry 4y ago
I'm concerned about schooled kids not socializing outside of their direct age group :) There's been plenty written about how unhealthy and damaging it can be to only be in a peer group of people your own age. Honestly, the socialization is a myth. Homeschoolers socialize with all ages, that's healthy and educational from a huge amount of perspectives. e.g: kids can be become leaders by supporting younger or less able kids.
- nickpsecurity 4y ago
  This topic has come up repeatedly in my circles in the past few months. When I asked people, they noticed at least these benefits of each: 1. Mixed-age groups let you hear perspectives across age groups. You might also have one group helping another in their weak areas. That didn't happen as much in same-age groups I saw. 2. Same-age groups give you people who can relate to you and your life. That might not exist at all in mixed-age groups depending on the age distribution. Some people in mixed-age groups told me they switched to same-age groups for that reason. I'd be interested in looking at any studies on this topic. Since you mentioned "plenty written," do you have any links we can look at?
nraf 4y ago
Just an anecdote so take it for what it is. Sharing as this is something that used to concern me. We home school our 9 year (autistic) child and he's more socialable than I am (I was schooled prep to 12 at a relatively expensive private school). Just the other we were at a wildlife sanctuary and he ran off in the bird enclosure. I went to check up on him and found with one of the keepers feeding live worms to the birds (one of a number of interactions he had). Whereever we go, he has a tendency to walk up to workers and start conversations. I'm not sure how much his autism diagnosis is at play, but he does seem to lack a lot of the inhibition and intimidation in interacting that a lot of other students his age display.
freehorse 4y ago
I am wondering if there is a selection bias in this that has to do with either the kids that get homeschooled or the parents who take that decision. Like if a parent homeschools their kids because they are afraid of certain external social influences, that would probably imply that they restrict the social life of their kids in different contexts to prevent potential negatively perceived social influence. In the example stated in the article, the kids seem to do a lot of group activities and in general activities that involve other kids or adults than the parents, so I cannot see why such an issue would occur. My suspicion though (and similar anecdotal experience) is that a lot of parents that homeschool their kids are more reclusive, or they are not encouraging socialisation as much for reasons that have to do with that choice.

rosiesherry 4y ago

I'm concerned about schooled kids not socializing outside of their direct age group :) There's been plenty written about how unhealthy and damaging it can be to only be in a peer group of people your own age. Honestly, the socialization is a myth. Homeschoolers socialize with all ages, that's healthy and educational from a huge amount of perspectives. e.g: kids can be become leaders by supporting younger or less able kids.

nickpsecurity 4y ago
This topic has come up repeatedly in my circles in the past few months. When I asked people, they noticed at least these benefits of each: 1. Mixed-age groups let you hear perspectives across age groups. You might also have one group helping another in their weak areas. That didn't happen as much in same-age groups I saw. 2. Same-age groups give you people who can relate to you and your life. That might not exist at all in mixed-age groups depending on the age distribution. Some people in mixed-age groups told me they switched to same-age groups for that reason. I'd be interested in looking at any studies on this topic. Since you mentioned "plenty written," do you have any links we can look at?

nraf 4y ago

Just an anecdote so take it for what it is. Sharing as this is something that used to concern me. We home school our 9 year (autistic) child and he's more socialable than I am (I was schooled prep to 12 at a relatively expensive private school). Just the other we were at a wildlife sanctuary and he ran off in the bird enclosure. I went to check up on him and found with one of the keepers feeding live worms to the birds (one of a number of interactions he had). Whereever we go, he has a tendency to walk up to workers and start conversations. I'm not sure how much his autism diagnosis is at play, but he does seem to lack a lot of the inhibition and intimidation in interacting that a lot of other students his age display.

freehorse 4y ago

I am wondering if there is a selection bias in this that has to do with either the kids that get homeschooled or the parents who take that decision. Like if a parent homeschools their kids because they are afraid of certain external social influences, that would probably imply that they restrict the social life of their kids in different contexts to prevent potential negatively perceived social influence. In the example stated in the article, the kids seem to do a lot of group activities and in general activities that involve other kids or adults than the parents, so I cannot see why such an issue would occur. My suspicion though (and similar anecdotal experience) is that a lot of parents that homeschool their kids are more reclusive, or they are not encouraging socialisation as much for reasons that have to do with that choice.