Common Misconceptions
Far and away, the most common misconception about homeschooled children is that they are “unsocialized.” “The most common misconception is that the kids are not social and that we stay home and never get out,” says Dugan. But talk to almost any homeschooling parent, and they’ll tell you the notion that their kids aren’t “social” is downright laughable. “My daughter is the most social person I know!” says Willis. “She can talk to adults, older kids, younger kids and engage all of them. She spends time with other kids every day.”
In fact, many homeschooling parents insist that their children are actually more adept at navigating social situations than their traditionally-schooled peers. “In traditional school kids are with other children their age or just one year off,” says Fullilove. “And so many times in school I was told by teachers, ‘You are not here to socialize you are here to learn.’ Homeschooling allows us the ability to have a lot of free time with kids of all different ages.”
“I am always trying to get out of something so that we can stay home a day,” says Dugan. “Elle is so social that she talks to everyone and asks questions and learns something from everyone. When people meet her they think she is 8 or 9 years old, not 6, because of her vocabulary, social skills, and how she handles herself. Homeschool kids are so used to their classes and groups being with kids of all ages that they learn from the older kids and help the younger kids, which I don’t see from our neighbor kids that go to public school. You don’t see the cliques and the the bullying in home school groups either.”
How to Get Started
Starting a homeschool in North Carolina is a simple and straightforward process. Parents who wish to homeschool their children must notify the Department of Non Public instruction of their intent and submit a copy of their high school diploma. A high school diploma or its equivalent is required in order to operate a home school.
For parents of kindergarteners, the process if even easier. “In NC you don’t have to register a child for homeschool until they are 7,” says Dugan. However, there are perks to registering early. “I registered early because I wanted to take advantage of all the discounts and homeschool advantages that are out there. Once you register and give your homeschool name, you receive your certificate. You can use that to get homeschool rates at museums, zoos, ISC gymnastic classes, or anywhere that offers special rates for homeschoolers.”
“I would advise anyone interested in homeschooling to reach out to the many local homeschool Facebook groups and pick the brains of other parents with experience,” says Fullilove. “North Carolina is a great state to homeschool in and the Charlotte area is filled with opportunities to connect and learn with others. We are very blessed to be among the finest resources homeschool families could have at their fingertips.”
And ultimately, remember: with so many choices for your child’s education, there are a lot of good ones out there. “When you’re thinking about sending your child to kindergarten, you have to think about what is my goal for my child,” says Bartscher. “Where’s my end goal? Because that can really influence where you send your child, whether that is traditional schooling or homeschooling or private school or charter school.”
