But what about socialisation?

'But what about socialisation?'

Probably one of the most asked questions when a family mentions that they home-educate, and I've already heard it several times, from family as well as others that the topic has come up with and Bear isn't even CSA yet, so we're not technically 'home-educating'. 

Of all the questions that I have heard, and the ones that I haven't had personally yet, but know of due to my research, the one about socialisation isn't one that I worry about... at all! Bear is a very social creature and is not shy when it comes to speaking to strangers. You also have to remember that being home-educated doesn't mean that we do school at home! We are not going to be sat at a table with worksheets for six hours a day, in fact, as it stands, I plan to do very little of that kind of work with my boys. My intentions are much more life-based and hands-on for learning, but more on that another time.

Currently, (remembering that we are not yet technically home-educating yet due to Bear's age) we attend several monthly activities where he engages with both other children (of mixed ages) and adults. We attend a Forest School group for toddlers, which has a follow on group for home-educated children to continue attending when they outgrow Forest Tots. Bear absolutely loves the leader of this group, (as do I) she is absolutely amazing with the children that attend and her passion and knowledge of the outdoors is very much infectious in the best way! We attend a farm group, Little Farmers, which again is aimed at toddlers and preschoolers, and the farm has recently started offering a home-educators group that we will attend once Bear has outgrown the current group. We also use our local library where we attend their Rhyme Time session weekly. Bear knows the woman who runs this and is happy to chat with her as well as interacting with the other parents and children attending.

As a specific example, in Clifton Park recently, we came across the grounds people planting flowers in the flower beds. Bear was quick to notice them and asked me why they were 'stealing the flowers' which made me chuckle. I told him that I didn't think that they were stealing them, and asked if he'd like to go and ask them what they were actually doing, which he was quick to accept and trotted off ahead. 

The guy explained to Bear that they were planting the summer beds and asked if he'd like to help. He showed Bear how to dig a little hole and plant the flower and fill in the soil again. It was really lovely to have someone interact with Bear, and this guy was amazing with him, talking to him and showing him what to do, as well as being respectful of me, and checking that it was okay to involve Bear. He loved it! Bear did two flowers and then the guy let him bring one home with him to plant at home, which we did and Bear is in charge of looking after it, watering it every night :)

On a day-to-day basis, Bear says hello to people in the street and is happy to chat when people stop to speak to us, whether that be neighbours or strangers, he loves to chat with some of the neighbours and regularly asks what they're up to, especially when they're out gardening as his love of the outdoors is very obvious. He converses with restaurant staff, asks in our local shop whether his auntie and uncle are working as well as speaking to staff in pretty much any store. He is well known at our local pub where his daddy runs the musical jam night and speaks to the bar staff and other people in the pub, again holding conversations with them when they instigate it. He introduces himself along with his brother and myself to people and can hold a conversation with people when they ask him questions etc. People often marvel at his speech for a three-year-old and are surprised at how well he can converse, but as I say to them, it's because that's how he is treated at home and with family. I have always allowed him the space to talk and ask questions and I always involve him in conversations when I am speaking to someone. 

So, when you ask me if I'm worried about whether or not my children are going to be able to socialise, I apologise now for laughing at you, because honestly, I think Bear is already more social than many 'school' kids his age, and older, and I see no reason why The Cub won't be the same way as he grows up. He's already proving to be a little mischief, and second kids are known for being way more outgoing than the first... I'm going to have my work cut out for me :)

Momma Bear