Myth 01: My kid will be socially awkward if they’re homeschooled.

Written By Jessica Lucas

This is one of the main concerns from parents, especially fathers. All of us want to see our children thrive and succeed in life. None of us want to see our kids be made fun of or suffer. It give us parents so much joy to see our children surrounded by friends and be leaders of their "pack". So will my child suffer socially if I choose to homeschool them? Will I deprive them of basic social skills?

When you homeschool, your children will be with you more hours of the week than anyone else. So if you don't wan't your kids to turn out weird... don't be a weird parent! Studies have shown one of the greatest investments into a child's social skills is having an emotionally present father. A father who plays with his kids and has meaningful conversations with them creates confident children. Dads we need you!

Secondly, nowhere else in life are you in a building with hundreds of people your age. Homeschool children are intentionally exposed, by you, to real life situations and people of every age and different walks of life. For example, asking questions and listening to a presenter at a museum, volunteering at a homeless shelter, ordering their own food at a restaurant, interacting with a grocery clerk. These are all interpersonal skills that too many of our young people today are anxious and nervous to engage in.

Another practical tip is to make it purposeful to get out of the house and do life with others. This is where the pod model becomes so powerful. Your kids will be with other kids several days a week and most likely getting into extracurricular activities like sports, performing arts, clubs, etc. This will keep them connected, but not so connected that they become the dominant influence in your child's life. 

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Jessica Lucas
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Myth 02: My kid will miss out.
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