One of the reasons I started homeschooling was socialization.  As a child, I was labeled “shy”.  School exacerbated the problem for me. I was a friendly, social child with my family and friends, but the school situation felt unsafe and I felt very insecure about my place within it.

When I had a child, she was very fun, funny and a joy to be around…until we tried putting her in “socialization” situations.  All of sudden, she would be clingy and lack confidence.  It was like 20 years of therapy watching her replay my childhood.  What I learned, was that artificial situations (such as a class of 15 toddlers or a classroom of 28 third graders or a school of 200 hormone-raging teens) don’t encourage a well-socialized child.  They create a situation ripe for maladjustment of many types; shy, bully, class clown, queen bee, etc.

We decided early on to homeschool our children. And I watched as my shy child became a social butterfly.  She can enjoy time with her little brother.   She can thrive with her ‘gang’ of friends.  She can fit in when she’s in mixed groups of ages, stages and ‘cliques’.  These lessons came with time and with the knowledge that she was free to succeed without pressure.  They came on her terms with my support.

ARTICLES about Homeschool Socialization

Homeschoolers and Socialization

Homeschooling and Socialization - clarification and thoughts on socialization and socializing.

The Valedictorian Who Failed Socialization

Older Kids: The “S” Word by Cafi Cohen