Editor’s note: When I mention home education as an option some in the education world who are in my PLN have brought up socialization being an issue. Heather DeGeorge has wonderful feedback on the Homeschooling, Unschooling, Uncollege, Opt Out, DIY, Hack Your Education group. I asked her to share her insights here and she said yes! This is part 1 of her insights. Part 2 will address homeschooling and socialization with children on the Autism spectrum. Thank you Heather.
It’s such a hot-button issue, isn’t it?
I’m the mother of a 7-1/2 year old social BEAST. My kid has spent (literally) EIGHT hours playing with the THIRTEEN kids on our block and come in at night crying that he barely got to play with his friends. So please—I’ve been there if you have one of those. It’s misery.
But I’m also a very fervent believer that children need to learn how to work with others in joint decision-making, on a team, taking direction from other figures of authority, and just understanding basic, NORMAL, day-to-day social interactions. And really, I think this is what people are thinking that homeschoolers just toss to the wind “in exchange” for the academic benefits.SO not so.
I want more »