Episode #13: Socialization and Homeschooling: Exploring it from Different Angles – Part One

Our conversation … (listen to Part Two here) Socialization and homeschooling is unarguably a common topic. It might be considered the proverbial thorn in a homeschool parent’s side. But what do we mean by socialization anyway? Maybe there are a few ways to examine it. We were so grateful to have Kiki from @kikiandthewildlings and www.educatingwildlings.co.uk join us and offer her perspective and experience. Please join us as we talk about this common, yet multi-faceted, topic. We had a few technical difficulties this time, but if you bear with us, we think the content is worth it. 🙂   We Discuss: What the word socialization means and the different ways we think about it  That this is a conversation that unites people from many styles of home education – how are kids socialized outside of school How socialization isn’t something to really be formally taught as much as it to be learned naturally through modelling and life experience  How some kids are naturally quick at “reading the room” and others take longer or see things differently depending, and this is the case with many people regardless of where they go to school  Whether we can really consider school “the real world” The qualities we respect in adults – often they are creativity, resourcefulness,  problem-solving – and how those are often best developed outside the box of prescribed systems That school is great for socialization into school itself and similar settings, but not always so useful in others  Social discernment and how that’s impacted by the messaging that everyone in the class is your friend  Conversing with kids about what a friend means to them and being curious about different ways of being friends and holding relationships of different kinds  Whether it’s necessary for homeschool families to have a community – variations in social needs for kids and not just socializing for the sake of it  The emotional intensity that can sometimes be part of home ed socializing (if you know, you know!) and figuring out what works for our families  The nuances of homeschool social time – the skill development and perseverance that it takes as parents to sort through, build connections, etc  That it can be hard! Sometimes parents gel but kids don’t or vice versa  The common ways that adults form friendships  The difficulty with extreme peer-orientation  The idea of bullying being normalized  Older adults and connections with a range of ages as rich opportunities for kids and having the time to nurture those   Resources: Educating Wildlings Podcast and Blog Let ‘Em Go Barefoot  Inner Parent Coaching  Socialisation – A Nuanced Topic, Erin, Ever Learning  Home Education Worries: Will They Learn How to Queue? Hayley, Taking a Kinder Path The Worst Parenting Advice Ever: You Can’t Be Friends With Your Kids, Hayley, Taking a Kinder Path Why My Kids Will Never Be Socialized, Jennifer McGrail, The Path Less Taken  Unschooling Together Community