Homeschool and socialization is a subject that always comes up when you meet a non-homeschooler. Being a homeschool mom it's an issue that you must think about and define.
Well I've thought about it a lot. We are not hermits. My husband and I are very active politically and with the Cub Scouts. Tanek takes karate and is in Cub Scouts. He will probably be on a little league team this summer and take swimming lessons. Kaia is in the Girl Scouts and takes part in a lot of the Cub Scout activities.
Some might say but those are organized groups and the kids don't have much "play-time" together. Well, that is also the case in a regular school. Those children are seated in desk most of the day so they also don't have much "play time". Plus my children are learning to socialize with children of varied ages and that really isn't the case in most elementary schools.
We are part of a homeschool group that meets once a week. Some of our meetings are two hours of our children just playing and interacting. Our children also have friends that come over to play and they go over to their friends houses.
My husband and I both attended public schools and our ability to deal with social situations is very different. My husband is an extrovert. He can talk to anyone like they are his best friend. I, on the other hand, am an introvert. If you put me in a room full of people I don't know I sort of panic. Did public school make us that way? I'm not really sure. I think Vinson just has a knack for dealing with people. Public school probably didn't help my situation too much. Being an introvert is like having a kick me sign on your back. Some people take that as a sign of weakness. Not a good thing when they are looking for someone to pick on.
So, are my children socialized? I think so. Tanek will walk up to a group of kids he's never met at the playground and just start taking part in whatever game they are playing. I guess he's like his father. Kaia needs more time to get to know people and feel her way around a situation, like her mom. I think that's alright and as long as she can find her comfort level without others making a big deal about it she will probably step out of that shell a little more.
So how do I define my children's socialization? Not a problem, they are normal kids having fun and enjoying life while meeting people from all different walks of life. They seem to be doing a pretty good job of it to.
