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Nathan, you seem to be much more mature than many "regular" high school students I know and I respect your willingness to share your knowledge and opinions with the others here. I'm a mother of younger children and have a friend who homeschools her two middle-school-aged children. I've watched what she does and I'm curious about something.

Do homeschool students mix with other non-homeschooled students very much? If so, in what kinds of situations do they get together? Do you go to activities at other schools like dances or fairs, etc.? I'm curious about how homeschoolers can develop a network of friends when they are more or less segregated from the bulk of kids their age. Thanks for answering this.

By Nathan (Homeschool) on Saturday, September 15, 2001 - 08:58 pm: Edit

Most homeschoolers socialize with students from the public schools. Generally, they find them in the neighborhood, and at church activities. YMCA sports teams, and community events are also opportunities for socialization.

I would say that, in general, the public school systems do not allow homeschoolers to be on their sports teams unless they are taking some classes at a local public school. I know this to be the case in the districts around my area. However, YMCA and private church leagues offer opportunities for sports and recreation and many homeschoolers do join teams.

Personally, I developed my friendships from my days in the public school system, from the neighborhood, and from church activities. I’m not the most social person in town, but I do have a good group of friends. Frankly, if a homeschooler doesn’t have many “outside” friends, it is by choice, not by lack of opportunities.

By Diane C. on Thursday, October 04, 2001 - 08:45 pm: Edit

Are homeschool students mostly USA-born children or are there a lot of foreign-national families homeschooling too--Asians, Middle Easterns, etc.?

By Nathan (Homeschool) on Friday, October 05, 2001 - 07:41 am: Edit

I don't know, Diane. I haven't seen any statistics on that. I live in a mostly white part of Cincinnati, so it is hard for me to give a generic answer. In my support group of about 100 families, almost all are US citizens. Some are adopted foreign nationals-their parents are US citizens.

By Marylander on Monday, November 19, 2001 - 11:04 am: Edit

Hi, Nathan. I lurk on the Princeton Review student message board now and then and have seen your postings there. I'm just curious to know what your opinion is of the majority of kids who post there. I'm not talking about the obscene or trouble-making ones; I mean the ones who come there for help or to discuss college. What kind of issues concern them the most about getting into college? I appreciate the great answers you provide here. Thanks.

By Nathan (Homeschool) on Monday, November 19, 2001 - 05:19 pm: Edit

Well, anonymous posters generally don’t communicate off the board with other posters. Well-known, named posters do talk in chat rooms, instant-messaging services, and by e-mail with other “named” posters. The named posters generally talk about anything except family members. Topics having to do with high school, college admissions, social issues, and current events permeate almost all discussions. Discussions about colleges normally revolve around “chances” (whether a school is a reach, middle, or safety for a given individual) and a particular college's atmosphere. College rankings are not a particularly hot topic among “regular named posters.” Most of us don't really care whether Pennsylvania is ranked higher than Harvard.

By Nancy on Tuesday, November 20, 2001 - 10:48 am: Edit

Hello Nathan,

As homeschooling parents with a child around your age, we have a question.

Our daughter is turning more to the web for communication and interaction instead of the fine young people in our community. She is wanting to be connected with the homeschool 'groups' on search engines as Yahoo, etc. or on such discussion boards as Princeton Review. We can see she spends such time by the history of the internet browser. We are not concerned about her neglecting her studies, on the contrary she is studying harder than previously. My husband and I are worried by how she talks about these "internet personalities" as if they were real people. Is our daughter developing normally?

By Nathan (Homeschool) on Tuesday, November 20, 2001 - 01:05 pm: Edit

The Internet is a fine resource and can be used as a good support system. However, nothing replaces a person’s real social life. Frankly, if she is looking for support from homeschoolers on the Princeton Review, she isn’t going to find it. Maybe she is searching for colleges.

If I were her father, I’d encourage her to minimize her time socializing on the Internet and searching for colleges and tell her to spend more time with friends. The academic atmosphere of homeschooling makes socialization difficult, and then to spend extra time at the computer would possibly diminish your daughter’s social growth.

By Nancy on Wednesday, November 21, 2001 - 08:52 am: Edit

Thank you Nathan. I appreciate your straight-forwardness with your answer. Homeschooling does tend to limit a child's social circle, especially in rural areas. However our town has a strong community. Thank you

By Valerie on Tuesday, November 27, 2001 - 07:43 am: Edit

Nathan, here are a couple of questions about personality types. In your opinion, and from your experience in knowing other homeschooled students, would you say that most homeschoolers are extroverts (outgoing, socializing, talkative, etc.) or introverts (more inward, quiet, contemplative, etc.)? Also, which do you consider yourself to be?

My personal theory is that homeschooling generally benefits introverts more than extroverts because extroverts tend to need a broader base of socialization (such as public schools provide) whereas introverts function well within a much smaller circle of contacts (as with homeschooling). Would you agree or disagree with that premise? Thank you for answering.

By Nathan (Homeschool) on Tuesday, November 27, 2001 - 04:04 pm: Edit

No, I’d disagree with your premise. I’ve actually found there to be more extroverts than introverts. There are different forms of homeschooling, and a family is not forced to pin itself to one form or another. While it is true that homeschoolers don’t get the all-day long, day in and day out social atmosphere that is inherent in the public schools, they can still get quite a bit of social interaction from classes at the local library, from teammates in local sports leagues, and of course from their own neighborhood. As for whether or not introverts or extroverts benefit more from the homeschool environment, I really can’t say. I know some extroverts who do poorly, and some who thrive, and the same goes for introverts. However, I really can’t tell you which one is better suited for the homeschool environment.

By the way, to answer your third question- I consider myself an introvert.

By Anna on Sunday, October 27, 2002 - 11:51 pm: Edit

I am 16 and have been homeschooling since first grade. My parents were missionaries, so I had even less people my age to socialize with than the average homeschooler. I grew up having no extra activities outside of the home when it came to my education. I believe myself to be an intovert. I do have a very small group of freind at my church's youth group. Though I am not very close to any of them. I am at present looking for ways to contact other hoemschoolers of my age. As well as finding some sort of homeschooling group in my area. Do you know of any sites I can go to to help my search for this? Aslo do you think that perhaps my social skill have somehow been affected by my being a missionary raised homeschooler? Aslo do you have and suggestions about sites thaare for missionary homeschooler?