What about socialization? This is the "big" question when one discusses home education outside of home education circles. The word socialization is bandied about so frequently it like many other words often used in reference to education has nearly taken on a near meaningless definition.

For most the term 'socialization' implies relationships with peers. It's true meaning is one of a process of becoming a member of society. Upon reaching adulthood most young people are faced with interacting with others at a multigenerational standpoint. Peer relationships formed in early childhood most often drift away with jobs, choices regarding higher education, marriage, or other lifestyle changes. The so called traditional model of grouping children in large groups of their peers with inadequate adult involvement, is actually a most recent phenomena spurred forward in the post World War II era.

If we look at socialization from an anthropological point of view, the first step of socialization begins in infancy. The mother-child bond is the first indicator that there is a world in which a child lives, the world revolves around that bond. As the child grows the father also becomes part of that world, then siblings, and grandparents, aunts and uncles. This is the only world a child knows until toddlerhood, when other people suddenly become introduced. A room full of toddlers is often chaotic, because at that stage in life the child is not designed for peer group activity but rather for playing side by side. Objects are seen as an extension of self and therefore sharing becomes more like warfare than a part of play. One hundred years ago most toddlers interacted most often with adults and older children than large peer groups. As children grew older they had a more definitive role in the family and their communities (which were often large extended family networks). Children may have developed peer relationships with a few others of their age, but often the groups of friends included younger and older siblings, therefore making interaction more safe. Still children were included in the day to day activities of the family, their interaction and function were clearly defined.

Our world is far different today with children being placed into the hands of strangers at an early age, the structure of extended family networks has been eroding, and by the middle school age period most children are forced to confer about difficult social dilemas not with older siblings,parents, other relatives, or mentors, but with others with as little life experience as themselves.

One of the greatest perpetuated myths of our time is the fact that children require to be in large numbers of people of their same age group in order to learn to function. This myth is perpetuated by "traditional" education (versus classical education which heavily relies on the practice of mentorship), by the media, and by the average person who was indeed socialized to believe this myth to be accurate and true. It may be the "normal" means of socializing children in our society, however normal is merely something that is generally accepted rather than accurate, positive, or healthy.

When we realize that socialization is indeed the process of learning to operate within and as a part of society we then gift our children with the experiences and opportunities to learn this with guidance. It has been shown that the longer parental influence out weighs peer influence, children are less at risk of self defeating attitudes and behaviors (gangs, drugs, pre-mature sexual relations etc). Learning to operate as a vital, important, and responsible member of a family first (the craddle of society), then reaching out to extended family (blood or created), and friends of all ages enables children to understand that they are very much a part of rather than apart from society.

Children experiencing home based instruction often score far higher in emotional, and social maturity for that very reason. Their intra and interpersonal skills are developed through a variety of activities which may include: community and church involvement, private specialized lessons, belonging to youth service organizations, volunteering with parents in the community, as well as, field trips with other children and families.

So, what about socializtion? If our children operate as valued members of the household, not merely recipients or objects to be catered to, but included in daily life activities and seen as assets and essential to the family as a unit, they are being positively socialized. If our children are meeting with people of all ages, from younger children and their age peers, to adult family, friends and community members then they are indeed being positively socialized. This form of socialization will ensure a healthier, safer, more resposible society in the future; by making children aware they are society just as are adults, we ensure the future.

Sources:

"Raising Self Reliant Children in a Self Indulgent World", H. Stephen Glenn, Ph.D, Jane Nelson

"The Drama of the Gifted Child" Alice Miller