Socialization
The first question that is almost always asked of any homeschooler is, “What about socialization?” It seems to be a big fear of many individuals that homeschooled children will be shut off from the real world, and not become comfortable around others in the same way that children in public school will.
In fact, homeschooled children have proven to be highly socialized. The advantage of homeschooling in light of socialization is learning in an atmosphere that is mainly free of bullying and peer pressure. They have friendships, learn to work with others and become valuable and contributing members of society just like children in any form of schooling. Of course, if you have a small family, you may need to search a little more diligently to find children their age to play with, but this is becoming easier as more and more homeschool support groups create organized functions where children can meet together regularly.
Schooling at home can be a haven for a child who has been bullied. Many children who had a tough time in public school succeed once they are away from the distractions and fear of bullies. Homeschooling can be both a short- and long-term solution if this is the situation your child is currently facing. And although socialization among peers is often pushed as an all-important goal, many homeschooled children do the bulk of their socialization with a wide variety of ages, which enriches their life experience and helps them learn to socialize even among non-peers.
Socialization