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sponsored by a grant
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Laurel Springs Independent Study Program
 Quick Support Sign Up"What about socialization?"
"How can I find a support group?"
  Ah, isn't this
what everyone wants to know! "How do your kids socialize when they don't go to
school?" It's the top question asked not just by prospective homeschoolers, but also
by curious bystanders who seem to imagine us cloistered alone at home, isolated from what
they call "The Real World."
The fact is, I couldn't isolate my kids even if I wanted
to. They may not spend 6 hours a day in a room with other 30 kids their own age. But they
spend 24 hours a day in the REAL "real world," with family, community, friends
in the classes they take, the other adults who coach and teach them a variety of subjects
such as sewing, singing, art, science, and so on.
 Certainly, homeschoolers have to work a
little harder to hook up their with peers since most are in school all day, and then tied
up with homework all evening and on weekends too. (Makes you wonder about the
socialization of school kids.) We don't have the built-in social network that school
provides. (On the other hand, don't you remember your teachers silencing the classroom by
reminding, "Children, you're not here to socialize!")
But rest assured, with a little parental involvement, your
kids CAN have a fulfilling social life. And with a little change in expectations, YOU can
feel confident you're doing what's best for your children.
 First, give up thinking that your child needs daily contact with a
large peer group to be happy. Personally, I prefer a few close friends to a truckload of
acquaintances. My kids feel the same way. We all also like to be around people of all
ages. So friends can include babies, teens, older adults, and even pets.
 Second, give up the notion that kids need to be directed by or busy
with others 24 hours a day. It's healthy to spend time alone. I'll even go so far as
saying I think it's good to be BORED now and then. Often those moments of "there's
nothing to do!" are followed, quite rapidly, by a wonderful creative project that
would never happen in a tightly scheduled social day. And you may find that when you no
longer worry about boredom, it almost magically goes away. Most homeschooled kids we know
always have or find something to do, since they don't expect to be entertained all the
time. If you've just started homeschooling and your kids are used to being in school, it
can take some time to unwind from the constant input and output of others. It can take
awhile for children to get back in touch with their own inner voices and rhythms and
interests. Give it time. It's well worth the patience.
 Having said that, your kids still need friends. So my third
suggestion is to be pro-active. Find a homeschooling support group. If there isn't one in
your area, start one. You may be surprised how many homeschoolers are right in your own
backyard. Encourage your kids to get involved in after-school classes, team sports, or
your church or temple. Visit the park. Naturally it doesn't hurt to live in a neighborhood
where there are families and children, too. Sometimes it's as simple as going for a walk
during the day and seeing who you may you bump into!
The key is for mom and/or dad to get a little creative, do
some digging, and go out on a limb. I've run ads and hung flyers around town, inviting
homeschoolers and prospective homeschoolers to meet us at the park once a month. Some
homeschoolers start classes and co-op learning groups. One homeschooling family encouraged
a local YWCA to host a "Homeschooler's Club." A mom in our community hosts a
"Science Day" at her house, where kids age 6 to age 14 do science projects
together once a week. Other families have sponsored writing groups, art days, and drama
activities. My oldest daughter is involved in a homeschooler's book club. We also meet
with other homeschoolers once a week at the library so our kids can talk together about
the individual projects they are working on at home. Kids of all ages show up, including
babies and teens.
 Figure out what would work for your kids, and then go out and make
it happen. If you think you're too busy, talk to some of the parents of school kids. They
spend more time car-pooling, volunteering, fundraising, and helping with homework than I
ever have with homeschooling. And WE don't have to get up at 6:00 a.m. to make lunches and
get the kids out the door! With the support and help of Laurel Springs, I manage to
homeschool my kids, nurture their "social lives" and still work, run the
household, and even exercise now and then. And I'm not a particularly energetic person.
Yet I feel less burned out than some of the school moms I know.
Finally,
take a deeper look at what "socialization" really means. Does it just mean
having friends outside the home? Or is it something else? The dictionary explains
Socialization as: 1. To place under government or group ownership or control. 2. To make
fit for companionship with others; make sociable. 3. To convert or adapt to the needs of
society.
Frankly, I'm not interested in my kids being under
government control or adapting to anyone's needs. I want them to be people who CHANGE the
world, not just blend into it. So I'm giving them the freedom, the time, and the
opportunity to discover who they are and what they love, in the company of family, the
community, and a few good friends. To me, that's real socialization.
 Faces of Homeschooling | Homeschool FAQ 
Shakespeare
Youth Theatre
by Beth Bruno
& Lois Lake Church
  The Shakespearean Youth Theatre, a group
of 14 homeschooled young people, ages 12 to 17, from many parts of Connecticut, has
performed annually since 1997 at the Puppet House Theater in Stony Creek (Branford), CT.
Each January the troupe chooses a play and begins rehearsing. The entire troupe is
dedicated to performing quality productions of Shakespeare and learning about the play,
the playwright and theater. To this end, the cast is highly involved in every aspect of
the production, from selecting and editing the play, to publicity, sets and costumes. Find
out more about the troupe and how you might be able to form your own company where you
live.
Bookworm
  This bookworm is designed to
encourage the littlest reader in your house to keep on reading! After making this new
reading buddy your child can tell stories with him. They can be as personalized as you
like. Go wild with your and your child's imagination!
Self-Directed Home Schooling
by Lisa
Rivero
author of "Creative Homeschooling for Gifted Children"
 There are nearly as many definitions of unschooling as there are
people who consider themselves unschoolers. Lisa Rivero, author of Creative Homeschooling
for Gifted Children, says: "I prefer to use the phrase self-directed learning
or self-directed home schooling to unschooling as a way to describe our home
schooling approach, because it is a more positive description of what actually
occurs." In this adapted excerpt from her book, she describes how self-directed
learning is an educational philosophy that emphasizes the child's role as an active
learner. She shows how parents can introduce self-directed learning to their children by
giving their children input into the content of study, materials used for study, and the
pace of study. |
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you know that we have support groups for homeschooling, crafts, recipes, health and more?
Find out more
 
 
 
Homeschoolers'
Success Stories
Interview with author
Linda Dobson
 
Home Learning:
Year by Year
Home learning
Sourcebook
Meet the author
Rebecca Rupp
"The
Truth About Curricula"
more Curriculum Guides
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Frequently Asked Questions
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