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The dreaded “S” word.
Many homeschoolers fear the mention of the word.
Many non-homeschoolers think that it's demise of homeschoolers.
What is it? Socialization.
Seriously? Why is this an issue? I think it comes down to how we define and put socialization into practice.
Socialization ~ a continuing process whereby an individual acquires a personal identity and learns the norms, values, behavior, and social skills appropriate to his or her social position.
from dictionary.com
In practical use, socialization to the average person seems to mean spending time with and interacting with peers in one's own age group.
Honestly, I don't want my children spending time solely with kids in their own age group. I don't want them defining their identity by their peers. I have one friend who had to pull her son out of a local middle school because of bullying. I have another friend who homeschools her son because he couldn't find friends who believed like he does. These are the things that are happening when kids spend time with only kids in their own age group these days.
My oldest, Jonathan, is 4 1/2 years old. He can be a little shy at times, but here is the thing: he is already developing the ability to interact with people of all ages. He can easily carry on a conversation with an adult or a child. He can do this because he has had plenty of opportunities to interact with people across the age spectrum.
To me, this is socialization. The ability to adapt to the current situation and interact with people no matter their age or status.
The “S” word doesn't scare me. What about you?
