Socializing Skills of Homeschooled Children

Abstract

The research was mean to provide an insight into the impact of homeschooling on the socializing skills of children. The study conducted a secondary study to collect relevant information about experience of students and parents in terms of social skills development along with empathy, moral values and ethical norms of students who completes their education in a homeschooled environment. It is often assumed that homeschooled children lack social interaction skills due to limited opportunities of interacting with friends and peers as in case of public schooled students. However, the results of the study revealed that homeschooled children are equally capable in terms of socializing as their conventionally educated counterparts. At the same time it is indicated that parents of homeschooled children are responsible to ensure ample opportunities of regular interaction with other children, and adults through planned activities aiming to develop skills like empathy, observation skills, mindfulness, anger management, understanding emotions of others and positive interactions while managing negative behaviour of people in childhood as well as adulthood. The study concludes that homeschooling can help a child redevelop strong social skills, provided necessary teaching approach is offered by the parent instructor for facilitation of constructive social interactions with peers.