Socialization is a mixed bag, I think. As homeschoolers we can pick the environment...that's why we do it, right? My kids are in competitive sports (gymnastics and volleyball)at least 5 hours per week. We're joining the YMCA for additional opportunities. We also go to church, where they attend SUnday School with their peers. They each have freinds they invite over, and we have a list of families with kids, singles, young couples, and mature couples that we have interaction with frequently. Oh, and then there's the stepkids, who come in and out once a month, or every three weeks, and they have many opportunities for conflict resolution and development of patience and forebearance. (me too) What's important about socialization is that they have opportunity to meet people and interact with them and have a variety of relationship experiences. Most of us would say that we have enough , or more than enough, oportunities to do just that.
My kids mainly play with just each other. However, we do attend church each Sunday, and they play with the kids in their class. Also dd has a girls group she is part of at church that she really enjoys. This Spring we will join baseball/softball. We did soccer in the Fall. We also performed with the Children's Theater in town. I know they would like to play with others more, but they do ok.
Alana, I like your post. All of our children are okay! Although I am all for socialization, I also think it has gotten way out of control; for both homeschooled children and public school children. Again, each parent needs to determine what works for their children. But my meaning is that there is so much "need" for socialization that I think our children, in general, are not learning to be alone and learning to entertain themselves. I think it is important to find a balance. Socialization, through activities or simple play dates, is great. Learning to be alone and be at peace with it is also great. Patty
Thanks Emma. I have been thinking a lot about playdates/playgroups all kinds of things centered around socializing for kids. So much of it is really artificial, and over the top. Not that I don't think kids are important, but when too much of a family's time is centered around kids activities it seems a little unhealthy. I think it could contribute to the children becoming selfish and ungrateful. I think with the amount of socializing we do in our family, the kids see that yes, they are important, and we encourage them to have activities/friends outside of our normal family routines. And they also learn the value of being friends with each other, and having unity within the family.
Like the days gone by! People in the past lived miles apart, at times, and yet they found a means to be joyful and enjoy the environment around them. My dad always said, "A bored person is a boring person." They can't entertain themselves. This may not necessarily apply to everybody, but I think it holds a lot of truth. This isn't to imply that socailization outside the home is wrong, because we do things outside of the home. But our home is our dwelling and fortress away from the world. We spend a lot of time in it so we should learn to enjoy it as well. Patty
This is Grace. She really enjoys playing alone. She'd rather be alone playing in her room or playing a board game with our family than playing with a bunch of kids. She does enjoy playing with the little girl across the street but there have been times Sam has gone over to play and Grace didn't want to. She wanted to stay home and color. A lot of people misunderstand Grace. They think she is shy or scared because she doesn't jump right in and join in with the other kids all the time in Sunday school and she has no interest (yet) in taking dance or anything. The reality is that she isn't shy, she is a very bright, funny, kind, creative, smart kid. She just doesn't talk to people she doesn't know and she doesn't enjoy playing with kids who don't behave or are wild.
We belong to a hs group. We go on a monthly field trip with them, weekly park days (weather permitting, of course), and occasional 'last-minute' things together. We belong to a hs P.E. co-op which meets weekly. DS8 plays basketball through our parks and rec during the fall/winter months. DS8 and DS6 play soccer (thru parks and rec) during spring and again in the fall. DS6 like to play t-ball during the summer (again, through parks and rec). Both boys want to take martial arts classes, but we just haven't found the time to squeeze it in yet. Sleepovers, have friends over, go over to friends' (both homeschooled and public schooled), play with neighborhood kids, play at the park, etc. Church activities and functions. Visit other church functions/activities/special services (VBS, etc.) for kids. Meet other homeschool friends at the library, the McDonald's indoor playplace, bowling alley, roller skating rink, children's museum, etc. I've had to learn to say 'no.' I joke around sometimes and say, "If we get anymore socialization, we'll never get any book learnin' done!"
You know we have been so busy with sports, I cannot wait for March to have a few things done with. Then we'll be home more. I also think Alana you hit it right on with "And they also learn the value of being friends with each other, and having unity within the family." To me that is more important than anything...
