Special Replay: Homeschooler, What About Socialization? How to Answer!

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

This week on Homeschool Highschool Podcast a Special Replay: Homeschooler, What About Socialization? How to Answer!

Homeschooler, What About Socialization? How to Answer!

Homeschooler, What About Socialization? How to Answer!

Do you ever get tired of the question about socialization? Homeschool high schoolers and their parents hear it all the time!

“Homeschooler, what about socialization?” is THE most often-asked annoying question that we homeschooling parents get. However, you do not worry about it, though. We have got some great information to equip you to help your teens to handle it graciously.

So, let’s teach teens how to answer this annoying question!

First off, people do not even know what socialization means. Therefore, you should start off clarifying the definition!

Definition of socialization: Passing on the norms, customs, ideologies and skills from one generation to the next.

Then, remind them to answer the question with this question:

Isn’t homeschooling the BEST way to accomplish socialization??

However, when your homeschool high schoolers encounter someone who asks the annoying question: “Homeschooler: What About Socialization?”

  • Ask them put themselves in the questioner’s shoes.
  • Then think about what they are worried about.
  • After that, answer

Definition of socialization: Passing on the norms, customs, ideologies and skills from one generation to the next.

Here are a few common worries, along with good answers

Often, your teens will find that their “What about socialization?” question is really about something else. With that in mind, here are some things they actually might be worried about:

People are often worried our teens will not learn how to interact with peers

Therefore, help your teens answer back:

  • You only learn how to communicate with peers from other peers?
  • Our teens are not isolated. Homeschool parents very intentionally exposing their kids to different social situations such as:
    • church
    • sports
    • homeschool groups
    • service
    • drama productions
    • community classes
    • dual enrollment classes
    • Civil Air Patrol
    • dance programs
  • Our teens are usually well trained in:
  • manners
  • communication and
  • social intelligence

We make these part of our life skills curriculum (in other words, we practice socialization in real life).

People are often worried our kids will not learn how to communicate with anyone who is not an adult

Therefore, ask them back, do kids learn to communicate with all kinds of people in:

  • Age segregated classrooms
  • Classrooms who aren’t allow to experience discipline, thus are often chaotic

Rather, they learn the skills best in a loving, supportive, age-integrated atmosphere where communication skills and politeness are modeled and practiced.

People are often worried our kids will not learn to have self-esteem because they are not around peers in a classroom

The truth is, homeschoolers score better on tests of socialization and self-esteem. (Check out Vicki’s graduate research publish in National Home Education Research Institute.)

Remember: There’s not ONE right way to socialize our kids. You handle socializing your family in the way that meets YOUR family’s goals.

Sometimes, though rarely, someone worries that homeschooling is actually a dangerous setting for children and teens.

This, we know, is ridiculous! However, several years ago, a Harvard professor wrote an article with unfounded concerns of the safety of homeschooling. For an intelligent answer to her article, check out 7Sisters Response to Harvard Magazine’s Risks of Homeschooling.

However, we should be sure to cover a few socialization tasks with our teens, so they are well prepared for life

This is because there are certain settings our teens are going to encounter without us as they grow through adolescence that they will need specific, intentional training! Therefore, these are some good socialization tips for your teens.

Teach your teens:

  • Not to ask questions to people who are not interested or qualified, teach them to ask who to ask.
    • Just think visiting your local Motor Vehicle Administration building.
  • To handle crowds going through college tours and the mall at Christmas,
    • As in: teach them to line up or walk on the “driving lane” as they navigate mall foot traffic
  • How to follow directions.
  • Tips to help form a circle.
    • This is  a tough one for homeschoolers, sometimes!
  • How to take one paper and pass the rest.
    • Really, if they are not in a co-op or group classes, you can practice this important skill with them at home!
  • To laugh at themselves (not take themselves too seriously).
  • VERY important: how to be gracious to people who have other ideologies.
  • To be curious and how to ask questions about all kinds of things.
  • Teach them the 10 basic social skills.
  • Teach them to model the walk of grace (and model it ourselves).
  • For more ideas on socialization, check out our interview with Dr. Rachel van der Merve on how to be ready for college.

What about socialization? Here’s a simple answer to that annoying question:

“Homeschoolers are socialized and successful, now tell me all about your kids.”

For more ideas for homeschooling and socialization, check out this episode of Finish Well podcast.

Join Sabrina, Vicki and Kym for an intelligent and FUN discussion on the answers to the annoying question: What about socialization?

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Homeschooler, What About Socialization?

Homeschool Socialization

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #144, Homeschool Socialization, with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast NetworkHomeschool Socialization

In “Homeschool Socialization,” Episode, #144, Meredith Curtis shares how homeschooling in her home has included other families. From involvement in homeschool support groups, lessons, sports, and co-ops to History Days and ministry, there have always been other homeschooling families involved in our lives. Meredith gives practical tips and fun ways to spend time with other families and learn at the same time.

 

 

 


Autumn at Powerline Productions

 

Powerline Productions, Inc.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!


Show Notes

People often ask me the famous question: “What about socialization?”

I always laugh! My family has way too much socialization! Just kidding.

Younger Years

Homeschooling at home building memories

Co-ops/support groups we were part of

Ballet, tennis, soccer, basketball

Church

Mixing with all ages

Making friends with peers

Opportunities to learn

Opportunities to serve

Middle School Help with Science

When the children hit middle/high school, we join “Friday classes” for the older kids.

We went as a family. I helped teach classes and later taught on my own

Kids took watercolor, fitness, choir, drama, and sciences

History Days

Friday classes was so big, I wanted something more intimate.

“History Days” was born.

Reading aloud, Listening to Diana Waring audios

Crafts, Sewing, Art Appreciation, Drama, Creating Radio Shows, Models

Timelines, Maps, Cooking & Baking

What we studied over the years: American History, British History, Geography, World History

NO homework—we did history together for the day!

A Co-op Is Born

We added friends

  • The homeschool friend whose mom started working and wanted some time with other people
  • The homeschool friend whose mom couldn’t teach physics
  • The mom who was struggling

Adding more families

  • What didn’t work anymore: Listening to Audios, laid back schedule
  • What continued: reading aloud, hands-on fun, timelines, maps
  • Memories

Which was better?

Not really sure; both were perfect for us in the season we were in.

So Many Options

  • Umbrella Schools records only
  • Umbrella Schools 2-3 days per week (great when both parents work)
  • Online schools
  • Online classes
  • Support groups
  • Co-ops
  • Enrichment Classes
  • Core Classes

Lessons Learned

If you are not careful, other people can be the primary influence in your children. Not everyone agrees with my definition of “wholesome” or “Christian”

Don’t Forget: You can’t HOMEschool is you are never home.

We want to give our children “the best of the best” but what they need most is peaceful days with us.

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100 Homeschool Hacks by Meredith CurtisSign up for our updates and get your copy of 100 Homeschool Hacks FREE. Sign up here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Resources

How-to-Homeschool Books if you want to learn more about homeschooling or plan to homeschool 😊

Joyful and Successful Homeschooling by Meredith Curtis Unlocking the Mystery of Homeschooling High School by Meredith Curtis and Laura Nolette Quick & EZ Unit Study Fun by Meredith Curtis Seven R's of Homeschooling by Meredith Curtis

The following books give detailed instructions so you can have your own History Parties.

Let's Have Our Own Archaeological Dig by Meredith Curtis Let's Have Our Own Luau by Meredith Curtis Let's Have Our Own Medieval Banquet by Meredith Curtis Let's Have Our Own Olympic Games

These are just a few of our many resources that work well for all ages together!

Newspaper Reporting by Meredith Curtis Travel God's World Geography by Meredith Curtis Travel God's World Cookbook by Meredith Curtis HIS Story of the 20th Century by Meredith Curtis

More Podcasts You Might Find Helpful

Finish Well Radio, Podcast #013, Are We There Yet? Teens and Family Vacations with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Radio Network Finish Well Homeschool Podcast, Podcast #036, Freedom from Mean Girls with Meredith Curtis on the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network Learning with Little Ones Around, Podcast #051, with Meredith Curtis Finish Well Radio, Podcast #069, The Kitchen Explosion


 

A Special Thank You to Our Network Sponsor:  Courageous Movie

 

From the Kendrick Brothers, creators of the No. 1 box-office movie WAR ROOM and OVERCOMER, comes the remastered re-release of COURAGEOUS Legacy, in theaters September 24. Celebrating 10 years of impact on families and fathers, this updated version of the film includes new scenes and an enhanced look and sound.

Filled with action-packed drama, COURAGEOUS Legacy will once again have viewers laughing, crying, and cheering as they are challenged and inspired by everyday heroes who long to be the kinds of dads that make a lifelong impact on their children. Protecting the streets is second nature to these men. Raising their children in a God-honoring way? That’s courageous.

Check out the trailer here!


“Potty Mouth” – Big Deal or Not? – MBFLP 267

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

“What should I do about my kids’ ‘potty mouth’?” asked a young father in our church. Learning appropriate behavior and speech patterns is part of socialization, but is there a bigger issue than being “socially acceptable”?

Society has become more tolerant of bad language

Society itself isn’t a reliable guide. In the 1970s the comedian George Carlin had a risque nightclub routine, “The Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television,” which indulged in “transgressive” self-expression.

In 2017, psychologist Jean Twenge and colleagues did a study of books published in the U.S. between 1950 and 2008, using George Carlin’s list of socially unacceptable words – and they found that “Readers of books in the late 2000s were 28 times more likely than those in the early 1950s to come across one of the ‘seven words …’” (link below)

And that is just in a limited channel of the print medium. Carlin’s routine wouldn’t mean as much today, as cable television and pay-per-view has normalized much of what would have been blocked from the broadcast media back then.

What does the Scripture say? 

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

– Ephesians 4:29 – “corrupt” in the Greek means rotten, putrid, bad, unfit for use

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

Ephesians 5:3-4

Do not be deceived; “Evil company corrupts good habits.

– 1 Corinthians 15:33

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth … 

Colossians 3:8

The question of “bad words” isn’t about a checklist but about an attitude

For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

Jesus, in Matthew 12:34-37

Article We Referenced:

J. M. Twenge, Hannah Van Landingham, and W. Keith Campbell. “The Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television: Increases in the Use of Swear Words in American Books, 1950-2008.” SAGE Open, July-September 2017, pp. 1-8

 

Teens, Preteens, and Social Anxiety – MBFLP 263

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.


One of the hallmarks of adolescent behavior is social awkwardness, often to the point of anxiety. That’s true in the best of times! Yet here we are after a year of pandemic alarms, mandates, and “abundance of caution,” and you may be finding your young people are not eager to begin seeing people outside the family again. What can we do to help our teens and preteens resume normal, healthy interactions?

Resources We Reference

Our episode reviewing Dr. Jean Twenge’s book iGen about characteristics of our children’s generation

“How the Pandemic has Impacted Teen Mental Health,” Mott Poll Report, 3/15/21

Craftsman Crate by subscription, individual boxes, or party packs



Upcoming Events (May-June 2021)

We’ll be speaking at the Thrive! Conference (North Carolinians for Home Education) in Winston-Salem, N.C., on May 27-29, 2021. We’re speaking four times on Thursday and Friday, on parenting pre-teens, helping your struggling learners in high school and college, the challenges of boys and media, and what you can achieve academically with a more relaxed homeschooling approach. And our booth is in the usual spot on the upper level of the book fair!

We’ll also be part of the Homeschooling With Confidence: Unstoppable online event hosted by Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV.org). This is going to be a different sort of online event with more interaction with the speakers and with other attendees – we’re looking forward something special with this one!

HSHSP Ep 118: Annoying Questions for Homeschoolers: What About Socialization?

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

This week on HSHSP Ep 118: Annoying Questions for Homeschoolers: What About Socialization?

HSHSP Ep 118: Annoying Questions for Homeschoolers: What About Socialization?

HSHSP Ep 118: Annoying Questions for Homeschoolers: What About Socialization?

This is THE most often-asked annoying question that we homeschooling parents get. Don’t worry about it, though. We’ve got some great information to equip you to handle it graciously.

First off, people don’t even know what socialization means. SO start off clarifying the definition!

Definition of socialization: Passing on the norms, customs, ideologies and skills from one generation to the next.

Isn’t homeschooling the BEST way to accomplish socialization??

So, when you encounter the annoying question about socialization, put yourself in the questioner’s shoes and think about what they are worried about. Then answer. Here are a few common worries, along with good answers.

People are often worried our kids won’t learn: How to play with peers

Answer back:

  • You only learn how to communicate with peers from other peers?
  • Our kids aren’t isolated. Homeschool parents very intentionally exposing their kids to different social situations such as
    • church
    • sports
    • homeschool groups
    • service
    • drama productions
    • community classes
    • dual enrollment classes
    • Civil Air Patrol
    • dance programs
  • Our kids are usually trained in manners, communication and social intelligence. We make it part of our life skills curriculum (in other words, we practice it in real life).

People are often worried our kids won’t learn: How to communicate with anyone who isn’t an adult

Ask them back, do kids learn to communicate with all kinds of people in:

  • Age segregated classrooms
  • Classrooms who aren’t allow to experience discipline, thus are often chaotic

Rather, they learn the skills best in a loving, supportive, age-integrated atmosphere where communication skills and politeness are modeled and practiced.

People are often worried our kids won’t learn to have self-esteem because they aren’t around peers in a classroom

The truth is, homeschoolers score better on tests of socialization and self-esteem. (Check out Vicki’s graduate research publish in National Home Education Research Institute.)

Remember: There’s not ONE right way to socialize our kids. You handle socializing your family in the way that meets YOUR family’s goals.

However, we should be sure to cover a few socialization tasks with our kids, so they are well prepared for life. This is because there are certain settings our kids are going to encounter without us as they grow through adolescence that they will need specific, intentional training! 😉

  • Don’t ask questions to people who aren’t interested or qualified, teach them to ask who to ask. (Just think visiting your local Motor Vehicle Administration building.)
  • Teach them to handle crowds going through college tours and the mall at Christmas, as in teach them to line up or walk on the *driving lane* as they navigate mall foot traffic.
  • Teach your teens to follow directions.
  • Teach them to form a circle.
  • Teach them to take one paper and pass the rest.
  • Teach them to laugh at themselves (not take themselves too seriously).
  • Teach them to be gracious to people who have other ideologies.
  • Teach them to be curious and how to ask questions about all kinds of things. (Teach them Apologetics- see 7Sisters FREE Apologetics course and delightful Philosophy in 4 Questions.)
  • Teach them the 10 basic social skills. (Take at look 7Sisters Social Skills.)
  • Teach them to model the walk of grace (and model it ourselves).

What about socialization? Here’s a simple answer to that annoying question: “Homeschooler are socialized and successful, now tell me all about your kids.”

Join Sabrina, Vicki and Kym for an intelligent and FUN discussion on the answers to the annoying question: What about socialization?

Also, enjoy these related posts:

5 Ways to Teach Teens to be Thinkers, Not Parrots

How to Answer the Common Question About Homeschooling: What About Socialization?

HSHSP Ep 118: Annoying Questions for Homeschoolers: What About Socialization?

Bullies and What to Do About Them – MBFLP 176

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

One of the reasons many people start homeschooling is to avoid “negative peer interaction,” which often means bullying. Sadly, though, it can happen at church, at homeschool meetings, or simply any gathering of kids. It can even happen inside your own family! This episode, we’re talking about approaches for dealing with bullying situations – how should we parents respond, how can we help the victims, and what can be done about the perpetrators.

(Check out our article, “Five Things to Do When Your Child is Being Picked On”)

Important Stuff We Forget To Teach – MBFLP 175

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

We all start homeschooling knowing that we’ll have to teach reading, spelling, math … all the traditional classroom subjects. But we quickly realized there were some things that “just happened” in school, and now that we’re the school, we need to make plans for them. Unfortunately, we meet a lot of homeschool families who are missing out on some important topics that don’t normally show on a transcript – but are critical for their kids’ future! You don’t want to miss this episode …

Some Resources We Mentioned: 

Internet safety with Covenant Eyes filtering/monitoring/accountability software
(this affiliate link helps support our ministry!)

Love, Honor, and Virtue: Gaining or Re-Gaining a Biblical Attitude Toward Sexuality

Boot Camp 9-12

 

 

 

 


MBFLP – Staying Christian In College

A Production of the Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

MBFLP - Staying Christian in College

 

 

Christian students often find themselves led to secular colleges and universities because of their desired major studies, or for financial aid, or for other reasons. If that’s where they’re going, how can they prepare for the challenges of the classroom and campus life? Where can they find Christian fellowship, encouragement and support? What unexpected obstacles may catch them by surprise?

Join us for a frank discussion with John Calvin Young, an alumnus of Washington & Lee University and Oxford, who found his niche and even created his own ministry in the face of serious challenges to his faith.