Mike Smith:
Sometimes people picture homeschooled children sitting alone at their desks all day, with no one to talk to or play with. Rachel, what does a homeschooling family’s social life really look like?

Rachel Gathercole:
Well, I’m glad you asked that Mike, because the typical homeschooler lives a life that is very different from the popular image. Homeschoolers on the whole are out in the real world, learning from their communities, socializing with other families and homeschool groups; they play in parks with friends; they go to each other’s houses; they have sleepovers; they organize classes together. One study revealed that homeschoolers engage in an average of at least five outside activities per week. Since they make their own schedules, since homeschooling is very efficient, and lacks excessive busy work and attendance taking and so on, homeschooled children have lots of extra time to spend socializing. They often report that they develop closer and more rewarding friendships than they did or would in school. In addition to all that, homeschoolers do the same kinds of social things that school-going children do like Scouts, 4-H, church groups, dance classes in the community, martial arts, playing with neighbors. Most homeschoolers say that they actually have fuller social lives and more time with friends than they ever did when they were in school.

Mike:
Rachel, it almost sounds like these homeschoolers are over-socialized. Well, thank you so much for being with us again today. And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.