Social and Political Education

More than any other issue, the socialization question seems to scare away parents from homeschooling. The thought of raising a socially-awkward child is more than most parents can bear, and for good reason. To raise a child without opportunities to socialize with peers is doing children a disservice. The question is: Are homeschooled children given opportunities to socialize, and if so, are they able to assimilate well into adult life as a result?

According to the National Home Education Research Institute, the concern of socialization is mostly unfounded. In areas of emotional, social, and psychological development, homeschool students met or surpassed their public school counterparts. In fact, homeschoolers were found to be more socially comfortable speaking with adults. Peer interaction, self image, leadership skills, family cohesion, and self-esteem are other categories in which homeschool students scored high.

As far as community involvement goes, homeschoolers lead the pack. Whether through athletic groups, scouting groups, 4-H clubs, political activism, volunteer work, or church activity, homeschoolers are showing that the home education experience is more than being cooped up in the house all day.

The HSLDA shows that homeschoolers successfully enter the workplace and become comfortable within their communities in a recent study as well. The idea of the misfit homeschooler that spends the rest of his or her life isolated in mom and dad’s basement is disappearing. Home educated students are able to excel in academics without sacrificing social skills. Parents should stop worrying about the socialization issue because it is an inaccurate stereotype.