We've been homeschooling for 10+ years and are frequently asked how we socialize our girls. Here's how…
1. We Prioritize Family Socialization
Family socialization is the first and most important (to us). It includes...
Self-expression
Taking turns
Listening
Making eye-contact
Respecting personal space
Patience
Conflict resolution
Deescalation
Showing empathy
Staying positive
Standing up for oneself (to name a few)
2. We Prefer Quality Time
It’s very important for our girls to build meaningful relationships. While we frequently have scheduled activities, if a family member or one of their friends calls, we have no problem changing plans. We've super grateful to have built a life where we can learn from and spend time with the ones we love.
3. We Appreciate Life's Moments
We frequent libraries, playgrounds, museums and community events, to name a few. During these outings we encounter babies and elders from different walks of life. It’s important for our girls to be able to ask questions and engage with people of all ages and demographics, not just their peers. Not only do the girls learn from watching my interactions with others, on many occasions they have taught me to be more kind, giving, and loving.
4. We Develop Parasocial Relationships
There have been times we've developed parasocial relationships. Those are connections with authors, leaders, entrepreneurs, and other people that have no idea we exist, but have made a major impact on our journey. This happened during COVID and after we had our third daughter, because we were spending a significant amount of time indoors.
As a parent who gives our children a good amount of freedom, I'm super proud of the people our children chose to "hang-out with" and learn from online.
5. We Expect To Continuously Grow + Evolve
There is no end to socialization. In my thirties, I am constantly improving my communication skills. In other words, a person is not “socialized” at a certain age. Of course, our girls are still maturing. For example, our two year-old isn't into sharing; and our five year-old is working on standing up for herself. Socialization looks different to different people. Our goal is to raise confident and empathetic beings that are super excited to make this world a better place.
I hope this helps you see socialization a little differently. Need to schedule a one-on-one? Use code: HEART2HEART.
Until next time...
Love The Journey,
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