"The actual practice of homeschooling can vary. The spectrum ranges from highly structured forms based on traditional school lessons to more open, free forms such as unschooling, which is a lesson- and curriculum-free implementation of homeschooling."
A look at the socialization opportunities available to homeschoolers and ways to build a support network within the homeschooling community.
Socialization: Socialization is the process of learning the norms, customs, beliefs, values, and behaviors of a particular social group or society. In the context of home education, socialization refers to how homeschooled children interact with others and acquire social skills and competencies.
Community: A community is a group of people living in a particular locality or sharing common interests, values, or goals. In the context of home education, community refers to the networks, support systems, and resources available to homeschooling families.
Homeschooling: Homeschooling is the practice of educating children at home instead of sending them to traditional schools. It is a form of alternative education that allows parents to customize instruction, curriculum, and learning experiences to meet the needs and interests of their children.
Unschooling: Unschooled is a form of homeschooling that emphasizes self-directed learning, experiential learning, and a child-led curriculum. It rejects traditional education approaches and promotes natural learning through exploration, play, and personal interests.
Cooperative Learning: Cooperative learning is a teaching strategy that involves small groups of students working together to achieve a common goal or complete a task. It fosters collaboration, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
Social Skills: Social skills refer to the ability to interact effectively and appropriately with others in various social situations. They include communication, empathy, listening, teamwork, conflict resolution, and self-reflection.
Peer Pressure: Peer pressure is the social influence that peers have on each other's attitudes, behaviors, and decisions. It can have positive or negative effects, depending on the context and nature of the influence.
Bullying: Bullying is the intentional, repeated, and aggressive behavior toward someone who is unable to defend themselves. It can take many forms, such as physical, verbal, or psychological abuse, and can have long-lasting effects on the victim's mental and social well-being.
Diversity and Inclusion: Diversity and inclusion refer to the affirmation and valuing of differences among individuals, including race, ethnicity, gender, ability, religion, and culture. It fosters a sense of community, respect, and understanding among people from different backgrounds and experiences.
Parental Involvement: Parental involvement refers to the degree and nature of parents' participation in their children's education and socialization. It includes activities such as monitoring, supporting, facilitating, and collaborating with children in learning and social activities.
Traditional Homeschooling: Homeschooling refers to a manner of educating students in a home setting or some other non-traditional environment. Traditional homeschooling students tend to follow a standardized curriculum and receive guidance from a parent or tutor.
Unschooling: Unschooling, or natural learning, is an approach to home education where children direct their own learning, choosing subjects that interest them and exploring them at their own pace. It relies on the idea that children will naturally learn and grow when allowed the freedom to pursue their interests.
Online Learning: Online learning is an increasingly popular form of home education where students access course materials and instructional content online. Online learning affords students flexibility and self-paced learning.
Cooperative Learning: In cooperative learning environments, students of various ages learn together, working collaboratively to acquire new knowledge and skills. Parents or other adults may facilitate these learning groups.
Community-Based Learning: Community-based learning is a form of home education where students learn through experiences in their local community, such as volunteering or field trips.
Religious-Based Learning: Certain religions may dictate a specific curriculum for home education. For example, some Christian families follow curricula that teach from a Christian worldview.
Tutoring: Tutoring is a form of one-on-one education where a mentor works with the student to reach specific learning goals.
"Usually conducted by a parent, tutor, or an online teacher."
"Many homeschool families use less formal, more personalized and individualized methods of learning that are not always found in schools."
"Homeschooling should not be confused with distance education, which generally refers to the arrangement where the student is educated by and conforms to the requirements of an online school, rather than being educated independently and unrestrictedly by their parents or by themselves."
"In the mid to late 20th century, more people began questioning the efficiency and sustainability of school learning, which again led to an increase in the number of homeschoolers."
"...many people believe is due to the rise of the Internet, which enables people to obtain information very quickly."
"During the COVID-19 pandemic, many students from all over the world had to study from home due to the danger posed by the virus. However, this was mostly implemented in the form of distance education rather than traditional homeschooling."
"Some parents see better educational opportunities for their child in homeschooling... or because they think that they can better prepare their children for the life outside of school... Homeschooling is also an option for families living in remote rural areas, those temporarily abroad and those who travel frequently and therefore face the physical impossibility or difficulty of getting their children into school and families who want to spend more and better time with their children. Health reasons and special needs can also play a role."
"Critics of homeschooling argue that children may lack adequate socialization and therefore have poorer social skills... Some are also concerned that parents may be unqualified to guide and advise their children in life skills... Critics also say that a child might not encounter people of other cultures, worldviews, and socioeconomic groups if they are not enrolled in a school."
"Homeschooled children sometimes score higher on standardized tests."
"Their parents reported via survey that their children have equally or better developed social skills..."
"Studies suggest that homeschoolers are generally more likely to have higher self-esteem..."
"...better relationships with adults..."
"...and are less susceptible to peer pressure."
"While 'homeschooling' is the term commonly used in North America, 'home education' is primarily used in Europe and many Commonwealth countries."
"Before the introduction of compulsory school attendance laws, most childhood education was done by families and local communities."
"The spectrum ranges from highly structured forms based on traditional school lessons to more open, free forms such as unschooling..."
"Homeschooling is a relatively widespread form of education and a legal alternative to public and private schools in many countries..."
"Some children can also learn better at home, for example, because they are not held back, disturbed or distracted from school matters, do not feel underchallenged or overwhelmed with certain topics..."
"...find that certain temperaments are encouraged in school, while others are inhibited, do not cope well with the often predetermined structure or are bullied there."