I admitted it. 
http://www.bigpawsonly.com/index.php/topic,5795.msg74068.html#msg74068
Thank you Anky, thanks for sharing your own personal experience. Like I said, no parent who homeschools their kids is going to admit that it retards their social growth, but it does. They just don't get to make their own friends, it all seems so controlled. Kids need to learn or build many thing on their own and the parents need to loosen the reigns a bit.
I'm sorry, Newf Lover, but you are dead wrong.
Homeschool children do not act like most children who attend public school and many private schools as well. They socialize with children of all ages not just of their "age group," most are MORE polite and well mannered. They are not as concerned with the lastest fashion trend. They will go through a period of wanting to be liked by all, but it is short lived in comparison to what most children experience going to school. Drugs, knives, gangs, guns, and sex at school are not an issue, so less worries for the children. Each child is different; they are not cookie cutter little adults, and they need to be given what is necessary to help them develop mentally, physically, and socially.
I am concerned that you are confusing interaction with their "peers" with true social skills. Isn't that the ability to have a conversation, work well with others, be well mannered and polite, use good table manners, etc., etc., as well as the ability to use logic and reason, not to prejudge others based upon attire, race or other? Use morals and virtues to develop character? How many homeschooled children do you know? How many adults do you know who were homeschooled growing up? (Sorry, Ang but you seem anything but socially retarded now.) Anybody out there go through a shy or awkward period when you were in school? I do not think that anyone did not go through a period in junior high or high school during which they had trouble getting along with others. And how many people that you work with and socialize with are your age? I can honestly say in the 25 years I was among the work force, I cannot think of a single person my age that I ever worked with, they were older or younger. Do you find it easier to get along with someone "your age" or someone who challenges you intellectually? Most homeschool children tend to make friends with someone who either shares their interests or challenges them intellectually
. So who exactly are these childrens peers? Why is it so important to have children socialize with children their same age? Why, according to you, can they not make their own friends? Unlike children in regular schools, they are not forced to develop friendships with those in their class(es) or be ostracised. Parents can control their children's friends to a certain degree when they are in regular schools also, so if you are trying to say that homeschooled children's friends are chosen by the parents, that does not make a difference. In either case, you cannot force two children to be friends when they do not want that, and, in both situations, parents can exercise some control over their children's friendships.
If your main point is that parents have more control over their children when they are homeschooled, you are exactly right. We control not only their curriculum, but their development of moral and social skills. We do not rely upon a teacher, a coach, or their peers to teach them these things; we do it ourselves. There was a time in this country when parents did all these things and teachers taught the three R's and reinforced the other. That's not the way it is anymore. With the world the way it is today, with no set of clear moral and social values, I think that extra parental control is a GOOD thing. Unfortunately, many of us live in areas where this no longer is possible in the school system.
I will be off the board for a few weeks but will post research to back up my statements. I'd truly be interested to understand what information you have that has lead you to make such a statement. Ten % of all school age children are homeschooled in the US. Something to think about.
Deena
