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Bennett Pollack

English 101

Dr. Whitener

4 October 2022

Homeschooling and Social Skill Development

Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular for parents who wish to take charge of

their children's education. Approximately two million learners are currently being homeschooled.

However, while homeschooling gives learners a more flexible, individualized education that may

be catered to their unique needs and interests, education experts disagree on the benefits of

homeschooling on child upbringing. Many criticize homeschooling claiming that it never allows

a child to develop social skills, which are essential in life. Does homeschooling affect a child's

social skill development? This question forms the basis of this essay. Homeschooling, when done

right, benefits children's social skill development since learning in a familiar environment makes

them more proactive in the learning process and enables them to acquire specific social skills

that may not be available in traditional school settings.

Children can be educated in two different ways, at home or in a formal learning

environment. Both methods have benefits and challenges, but one area where they differ

considerably is socialization possibilities. In formal schooling, children can interact with their

age mates throughout the day by participating in class work and projects. They learn basic social

skills like teamwork, communication, resolving conflicts, listening, sharing, etc. Like these other

children, homeschooled children need to develop social fluency to help them negotiate various

social situations, develop and maintain strong relationships, and collaborate well with others in
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various contexts. Fortunately, homeschooling offers the opportunity for more personalized

attention, which is suitable for social development. Teachers spend very little

time with every student in a traditional school setting. According to Boulter (7), this can make

socially inept learners feel neglected or lag. Homeschooling, in comparison, enables

personal attention from parents or teachers, which can be especially beneficial for children who

need more support with social skills. A homeschooled child, for instance, who is shy or struggles

with social anxiety, can get specialized guidance and assistance from a teacher or parent. This

can aid their confidence and social skill development, which they might not have achieved in a

conventional academic setting.

Research reveals homeschooled children have better skills than their private or public

school counterparts. Numerous studies have found no significant difference in the social skills of

homeschooled children and their counterparts in the traditional school system. Other studies

report that homeschooled children gunner higher scores on social development rating scales. For

example, a study using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale, a diagnostic tool for evaluating

communication and routine life skills, found that homeschooled students outperform their

traditionally schooled counterparts (Salvo 13). Homeschooled children had an average score of

84th percentile on communication, socialization, daily living skills, and social maturity compared

to conventionally schooled students who scored 23rd percentile. Similarly, Richard Medlin, who

measured children's social skills through direct observations, found no significant differences

between the two groups (Medlin 285). His study revealed that children in the traditional

education system had more behavioral difficulties than homeschooled ones. These studies justify

the premise that homeschooling does not affect social skill development.
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People should realize that traditional educational settings might be rigid regarding social

development. Children are frequently grouped in classrooms based on age and grade level and

mainly engage with peers like them. According to Tharp, this may result in a lack of exposure to

a broad range of opinions and experiences (p.28). Besides, the social hierarchy in most schools

can foster a stressful environment for kids who do not belong to the "popular" group.

Homeschooling, in turn, provides a broader range of interpersonal relationships. Children who

are homeschooled have the opportunity to engage with individuals of all ages, ethnicities, and

cultures. They can participate in community organizations, classes, workshops, and activities

with kids and people from other backgrounds. Such exposure to diversity could teach

children critical social skills like empathy and understanding others.

We must admit that the bullying prevalent in the traditional school system negatively

affects social skill development. As a person who went to a public school, I suffered bullying,

affecting my emotional and social health. I had trouble socializing for years, a personal

experience that makes me think homeschooling could provide a safer and more supportive

environment for social growth. Homeschooled children usually dwell in a loving and supportive

family setting, making them more comfortable and self-assured in social gatherings (Green-

Hennessy and Mariotti 16). Children who have endured bullying or social exclusion in traditional

learning environments may find this helpful. Parents who homeschool their children can actively

educate them about empathy, kindness, and inclusivity, which will help them deal with

socializing healthily and constructively (Green-Hennessy & Mariotti 16). Thanks to this

supportive environment, they may be more inclined to try new things and take more risks, which

may aid in developing their social skills. For instance, they might feel more at ease engaging in
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creative expression, pursuing novel interests, or assuming leadership responsibilities in a

homeschooling organization.

Opponents of homeschooling argue that homeschooled children may lose on some

extracurricular activities, proms, and other social events that are typical in traditional schools.

While this could be true, these experiences are not vital for social development. Besides,

homeschooled children can engage in other activities, offering meaningful social connections

and growth opportunities. Homeschooled children could participate in internships, volunteer

activities, and community outreach initiatives (Thomas 236). They can gain social awareness,

empathy, and a sense of duty through these experiences. For instance, a homeschooled student

who volunteers at a nearby nursing home might acquire good communication skills by

interacting with the patients and staff. Also, they might learn crucial social skills like empathy

and understanding for senior citizens. That means homeschooling allows children as many

opportunities to participate in practical events as their counterparts in the traditional school

setting.

Critics of homeschooling further argue that homeschooled children may have problems

identifying playmates. They claim that much of their peer interaction is virtual, so they may have

difficulties collaborating in real-life situations. However, parents who choose this teaching

method can improve their knowledge and skills for better outcomes (Abuzandah 1064). They

have a role in ensuring their homeschooled children have enough time to interact physically with

their agemates to prevent this effect. Besides, a parent can address a child's developmental needs

through a customized curriculum since learning is interactive. They can adapt to teaching

methods that best suit their children, making learning fun. According to Abuzandah, this contact

equally enforces social skills through stronger bonds developed between children and their
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parents (p.1065). The exposure to physical interaction with other children and strong bonds with

parents will prepare them well for life in the corporate sector after their education program.

In conclusion, homeschooling is a viable alternative to the traditional education system.

More parents are choosing to homeschool their children in an environment free of negative

influences from classmates and other adults because they want to instill good morals, values, and

much-needed creative abilities. Homeschooled students' social lives will not be negatively

impacted if parents and teachers provide the appropriate instructional inputs. The development of

social skills in homeschooling depends on the philosophy of each parent and their primary goals

in choosing this type of child education. Overall, homeschooling can help parents effectively

impart to their children the social skills they need to traverse the various social platforms in

today's world.
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Works Cited

Abuzandah, Sameer. "Social skills for homeschooling students." Creative Education 11.7 (2020):

1064-1072.

Boulter, Lyn T. "A comparison of the academic achievement of home school and public school

students." International Journal of Business and Social Research 7.3 (2017): 1-9.

Green-Hennessy, Sharon, and Emily C. Mariotti. "The decision to homeschool: Potential factors

influencing reactive homeschooling practice." Educational Review (2021): 1-20.

Medlin, Richard G. "Homeschooling and the question of socialization revisited." Peabody

Journal of Education 88.3 (2013): 284-297.

Salvo, Angelo John Francis. A phenomenological investigation of homeschooling and the social

behavior and peer relations of homeschooled college students. Liberty University, 2018.

Pp. 13-15.

Tharp, Roland. Teaching transformed: Achieving excellence, fairness, inclusion, and harmony.

Routledge, 2018.

Thomas, Jesse. "Learning from homeschooling routines." Journal of Research on Christian

Education 25.3 (2016): 233-250.