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avatar Anonymous

What should I do about socializing my home schooled child?

should I be concerned that he doesn't have any play friends?

Question applies to ages: 6, 7

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avatarJenny.eduguide
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Top 5 in: Discipline, Families and Relationships, Family Activities, Financial Aid for College, Growth and Development, Health and Wellness, Parenting Support, Parents and Schools, School Policy and Education Issues, Study Skills and Academics, Transitions and Readiness, Study Skills and Academic StrategiesTop 5 in 12 Topics		 This is purely my opinion that I am giving here, but I would say yes, you should be concerned that your son doesn't have friends to play with. I'm sure there is no doubt that your child is loved and happy, but there is always something our peers give us that our parents can't.

It is very important that your child learn how to interact with other children his age now, as it will only get harder for him to do so as he ages. As parents, we tend to make more of an effort to get along with our children than their friends would. We overlook their faults and there is nothing wrong with that. However, friends don't treat each other that way and it is important for your child to learn that.

When my children were young, I worked part time and so they had to attend daycare for about 2-3 hours a day. As they entered preschool, I realized how much that helped them socially. They knew how to react to other children, they adapted well. They weren't easily upset when things didn't go their way or became out of the ordinary.

I'm sure you will do whatever is best for your son, but my advice is to search online for other home schooled children in your area whose parents have started playgroups or other social activities and sign him up.
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avatarJudy
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Bullying and Violence # of Thumbs Up Received (2)		 I only disagree with the previous post on one of her points.

Don't limit yourself to homeschooled friends. My children do have friends from homeschool activiites and my middle son married a young women he met through our homeschool co-op -- but not until they'd gotten to know each other better by carpooling to the local community college.

My sons also participated in Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Soccer, Karate, Sunday School, the band at our parish elementary school and a wide variety of other local activities. In fact, someone once asked what I did about socializing my homeschooled kids and I listed their activities, then said "They were involved in so much that something had to go, so I took them out of school."

A joke, of course. Our reasons for homeschooling had nothing to do with their social calendar, but there are so many opportunities besides those planned specifically for homeschoolers. Don't overlook those!

References:
Mother of 3 with 18 years of homeschooling experience.
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