Any Homeschooling Parents?

I've been homeschooling my children for 7 years now. We take an eclectic and laid-back approach, but 11-year-old consistently scores very well on the standardized tests--we have to take the same ones public-schooled kids take. The 8yo will start taking them this coming spring.
My 11yo has also become self-directed and motivated with her learning. She is reading at an 11th grade level, so I don't have to "spoon feed" her. When she asks me questions, I dont answer them for her. I point her in the direction to find her own answers. She decides what she wants to learn, and she takes charge of seeking out learning experiences for things that interest her. And that, my friends, is the goal I had in mind when I decided to homeschool.
My children often go visit the retired school teacher who lives across the street, and she is always complimenting me on their manners and how much they seem to know. She tells me that she looks forward to their visits. And she is not the only adult who has complimented them in this way.
We get *more* socialization than public-schooled kids do, IMO. I don't count sitting in a class room with 30 other children of the same age for 7.5 hours a day, with a 30-minute lunch and a 15-minute recess as "socialization." We are usually done with our work by lunchtime. After that, our day is spent playing with friends, at the library, outdoors, and activities. We are involved in homeschool groups, martial arts, church groups, and basketball. We have more time to socialize than my older public-schooled daughter did, and our evenings are not as crazy with homework and projects. More family time.
I'm typing this from my phone, so excuse any typos, and feel free to ask any questions.

"I have a theory that homeschooling can somewhat limit a childs ability to interact with others...? "

Actually, this is a myth based on a misconception that being in public schools teaches social interaction.

I was homeschooled all the way through high-school. Then I went to college and obtained two undergraduate degrees at once, and a Master's degree two years after that...and every single one of my jobs has required me to not only interact with people of all age groups, but to teach them a great many things.

Oh, and technically it is a "hypothesis," not a "theory." :-)

I was homeschooled k-12, then went to a top university and got my degree in three years. I currently teach public high school. So I have seen the nitty-gritty of both sides. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me too

Regarding socialization... I was a gymnast for a few years, played soccer for 10 years growing up and played in college as well, and never understood why some people thought homeschooled students might be under-socialized, as none of the ones I knew were anything like that. Then I got to college and realized that a few bad apples gave some of us a bad name.

I'd never change my upbringing; it completely shaped the person I am today, who is a pretty damn awesome one, from what I hear.

Good morning! I am brand new here as of last night, and this is the first thread I've read and post I am going to make because I am a homeschooling mommy and love it! This is our second full year (we started in Kindergarten, but circumstances with our second child had us place our oldest child in the public school down the street - it was okay, but my heart was to homeschool, and when my husband volunteered in the class at the end of the year because I had just given birth to our third child, he came home and said, "We need to talk. She's not going back there. We are going to homeschool, and I will do whatever I need to do to help make that happen." I was so happy!) So, I schooled her last year (1st grade) and now this year (2nd grade), and now our second child who is three is doing light preschool work. We love homeschooling, and this will be the way we go for the years ahead! And I agree with all the homeschooling mommies who are posting about socialization and how homeschool days look and all of it. And it is wonderful to hear from those who have been homeschooled! Blessings to all of you on your journeys in homeschooling, in losing weight and getting healthy, and in life!

Me! Our oldest is K-aged and we're on the unschooling side.. or as I call it, structured play, lol. Reading is our big thing too. My guy also loves math and anything to do with maps/geography so we spend some time on that. We're using K to get into the habit of school work but seriously learning right now, imo, is silliness. They're such a little sponges, you don't have to press them that hard.

I am a home schooling mom to an only child second grader who is extremely strong willed and dedicated to his interests in drawing, superheroes, and Halloween costumes. Everyday with him is like a roller coaster ride that begins at at 7:30 A.M. and shuts down at 9:15 P.M. I read lots of homeschooling books before he was even born, and my husband and I were hooked on the idea. My visions were of perfect manners, discipline, and early reading. My reality is yelling, back talk, struggling reading, advanced math skills, begging to learn off the wall topics, sometimes nonstop silliness, extreme extroversion and excitement about meeting new people, a little dog that wants to sit with someone at all times, flexible scheduling, and the craziest, happiest time of my life.

I have a theory that homeschooling can somewhat limit a childs ability to interact with others...?

But also think it's genius, not having to be taught useless crap that schools teach.

Considering some of the kids that are in public schools, I don't see how not interacting with them is a problem. That's more of an incentive than anything to homeschool.

I LOL'd

I have a theory that homeschooling can somewhat limit a childs ability to interact with others...?

But also think it's genius, not having to be taught useless crap that schools teach.

^^ This. I remember homeschool kids starting high school and they just didn't have the social skills that other children had. You can almost always tell when a person was homeschooled. That said, however, I think public schools are limiting. The teachers have to teach for the entire class, which leaves some children behind and leaves others bored.

My only concern would be, am I limiting my child by homeschooling? I was great in some subjects, okay in others. Shouldn't my child have the ability to learn from someone who actually understands the subjects fully? Because I think that way, I think homeschool is fine for younger children (K-3), but after that, I think school is necessary. How can you teach your child AP Physics, if you didn't even take high school physics?

I wouldn't teach AP physics, either. I would ask my other homeschooling mama friend, who has degrees in physics and math, what she would recommend. I expect that she would point me to her favorite online course with a virtual classroom, a solid curriculum, and awesome teacher. Or perhaps a co-op class offered through a college. There are all sorts of resources available to us. We are not limited by our own knowledge, a classroom, or a one-size-fits-all curriculum.

As for social skills, some kids have them naturally, some need a little coaching, and some never do "get it". I've seen plenty of "weird" kids, social misfits, and trouble makers who have attended public school their whole lives--did public schooling cause them to be that way? How much of a child's personality is nature, and how much is nurture?
If I had to choose between one or the other, I would rather my kids learn to function in the REAL world and socialize well with adults of all different ages and abilities than to fit into the typical jr. high or high school environment.
We have experience with both here at my house; my oldest daughter was public-schooled and graduated from high school this past spring. Public school isn't for everyone, and homeschooling isn't for everyone. I'm just glad we have different choices.

How do your kids make friends and socialize with other children if they are homeschooled? I'm not criticizing, I'm just wondering

How so?

i feel homeschooling makes children socially inept...

We unschool. I have 7 kids and they will never go public school.

Good for you?

I dont know why people are so against public school. I went to public school my whole life and I turned out fine. I was never bullied, I have never drank or smoked.. Most of the stereotypes about public schools arent even true

My sister is home schooled.

I was NOT. I was salutatorian at my high school and went on to a university.

I was VERY against her being home schooled at first. I thought it would make her into an unsocial freak to be honest.

all i can say is....


I was WRONG. She learns more and has more time to hang out with children and has wayyy more opportunities. She does field trips 3-4 times a week and meets so many people.

I do believe it is something you have to see to believe.

Home school children have a certain stereotype. And that is exactly what it is... a stereotype. Do not buy into the bull. They are not freaks. They are not weird. They do interact with other kids, way more than I did in school. Public school worked for me perfectly fine, but I wish I would have been home schooled.

Kind of like the public school sterotype.

See what I did there?

Homeschooled, Private School, Public Schooling....It doesn't matter how you were educated. There needs to be a good balance in teaching and parental involvement.

I would put a Public School kid (who's parents are egaged in their kids education) up against a homeschool or private school kid any day of the week.

Just sayn'

My sister is home schooled.

I was NOT. I was salutatorian at my high school and went on to a university.

I was VERY against her being home schooled at first. I thought it would make her into an unsocial freak to be honest.

all i can say is....


I was WRONG. She learns more and has more time to hang out with children and has wayyy more opportunities. She does field trips 3-4 times a week and meets so many people.

I do believe it is something you have to see to believe.

Home school children have a certain stereotype. And that is exactly what it is... a stereotype. Do not buy into the bull. They are not freaks. They are not weird. They do interact with other kids, way more than I did in school. Public school worked for me perfectly fine, but I wish I would have been home schooled.

Kind of like the public school sterotype.

See what I did there?

Exactly. It is just a stereotype, but like I said. I was in public school my whole life. My brother is a sophomore in public schools. It works fine. I see both sides. I did not mind my experience. I would not change it. I did AFJROTC, marching band, pep band. volleyball, etc. I do not believe public schools are all bad.

I really hate seeing how home school kids are "socially inept." I wish I could have done the field trips they do, or the book clubs, or the museum days, etc. My education was based off being in a room all day, everyday because there were no funds to do such things. She has so much fun and learns so much more.