The first question asked by many people who do not homeschool their children is, “What about socialization?” Homeschool children are probably more adept in social situations than the majority of their peers in public schools. Homeschoolers are not walking around with signs declaring themselves to be social misfits. On the contrary, they are the ones that can carry on a conversation in any social situation. They can actually communicate with adults as well as with their peers.

Children in a regular school setting spend seven hours a day with children their own age. Very rarely do they interact with people other than those in their own classes. Does this actually prepare them for the “real world?” Generally, the effect of peer pressure on youths is negative. Homeschool children, on the other hand, spend much of their day with people of different age groups. This has a very positive effect on their interaction with others in the “real world.” After schooling is completed, the “real world” consists of home and work environments. Where in this world does one only interact with people their own age? In this respect it would seem that the homeschool child would be better able to adapt to the “real world” environment.

At a homeschool conference a speaker was commenting on homeschooling and socialization. He said, “Just so my kids feel they are getting the proper socialization, I take them into the bathroom and tell them to hand over their lunch money.” Though it is a ludicrous statement, this is the type of socialization many kids receive in public schools.

In actuality, homeschool children experience a variety of forms of socialization. They still play with the other kids in the neighborhood. They attend church functions with other kids. They go on field trips with other homeschool families. There are even group classes in science, choir and other class endeavors that are more suited as a group activity. Homeschool children are also involved in baseball, hockey, basketball and other extra curricular activities just like their public school counterparts. Sometimes it even appears that homeschool kids can be over socialized. Just ask their mothers who are driving them all over town.

In 1992, Dr. Larry Shyers, did a study comparing social development and behaviors of two groups of students ages eight to ten. One group was homeschooled while the other group consisted of public and private school children. His results showed that homeschooled children had fewer behavioral problems than the schooled children. He also noted that the schooled children more often modeled themselves after their peers while the homeschool children imitated the behavior of their parents.

Dr. Brian Ray of the National Home Education Research Institute conducted the largest survey of homeschoolers to date in 2003. The study surveyed 7300 adults who had been homeschooled. His study covered getting into college, getting jobs, community involvement and enjoyment of life. His conclusion was that homeschooling actually created more enjoyment in life in the “real world.” Read the rest of this entry »

More and more parents are taking the role of instructor in their children’s lives and teaching them at home. The increase in popularity in homeschooling is at an all time high at this time. Why are so many people turning to a non-traditional way of schooling their children?

One of the reasons that many people opt to home school their children is safety. Parents want to make sure that their children are safe, and some of us just don’t feel like its safe enough for our children. So they will teach their children at home, giving them peace of mind that their children are safe and are learning values that are important to the parents and not that of a stranger.

Being home schooled gives the children options to learn at their own pace and not be held back waiting on other students who are trying to grasp the material. Students that work one on one with their teachers learn faster, and better than in a larger classroom setting.  Teaching at home will give the parent the option to take additional time that may be needed on certain subjects while moving faster on others. This allows the student to be more alert and not bored while learning subjects. Children will learn better and faster if they aren’t bored and have someone giving them one on one attention.

These are just two of the reasons that students are home schooled and why parents are choosing this option to school their children at home. While there are many other reasons that parents choose to home school it’s a personal decision that should never be taken lightly.

Are you looking for worksheets and other down loadable tests and other free material needed so you can inexpensively home school children? This site has links and resources that you can use to inexpensively home school your children. Read the rest of this entry »