Ancora Imparo - I am still learning

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Socialization

I have to admit that I have discovered so much about socialization from having a daycare. As much as I try to encourage kids to be themselves, so many times they just want to be like everyone else. Even Taliesin and Nathanael are not immune. So many times, I catch them picking up on habits that they have never had that they see in other kids. And these are not necessarily bad habits. Just habits that are not their own. Then I see them become frustrated because they are not being themselves. They are trying to be like someone else. What is a homeschooling mom to do?

I guess I will just keep plugging away at encouraging individuality, giving them all the opportunities that I can to use their gifts and talents, and being there for them to encourage them to be themselves when they get tired of trying to be someone else.

All I can honestly ask is why do people worry so much that children will not have access to socialization? It is one thing I could do without!

Kandy

4 comments:

Unknown said...

Do you see a lot of mimicking going on? I thought of the word mimic a few days back. I'm wondering if that is why the Autism/Aspergers communities sometimes insist that school is the only place to learn socialization. But if that is so wouldn't they also be exposed to mimicking bad behavior?

Anonymous said...

Here! Here! on the socialization thing - I can not for the life of me understand why this is such a big deal to folks and why I would ever want my kids to learn to just copy their peers!

Motolaw - I have an 18yr old w/ Aspergers and the worst things he ever learned he picked up in public school! Wish I would have been the mom I am not and homeschooled him all his life!!!

Unknown said...

TurtleOak, we came into this diagnosis 10 months ago. It's still new to me. I've joined more than a few online groups, and many are curious about homeschooling and unschooling. Others, at one particular group seem hostile. We didn't have a label for 10 years. I've reduced myself to lurking at that group, until I decide if I should defend myself. Socialization, the word, should be classified as a dirty word, imho.

unschoolermom said...

I completely agree!

Kandy