Saint Monica’s Podcast | Episode 6 Isolation
Is homeschooling isolating?
SHOW NOTES:
St Monica Podcast Encouraging Parents Homeschooling Teenagers
With Noelle Bandy and Angie Nasrallah
Riley Nasrallah - Sound Engineer
Purpose: encouragement, support, ideas
Episode 6 - Is Homeschooling Isolating?
Like anything, homeschooling can be exactly what you make it.
Orthodox Christians have unique challenges.
If you are a family that lives overseas in a missionary capacity or you live in a remote area, you may be geographically isolated from people. However, some people living in urban areas choose to be physically isolated for various reasons. I know people who didn't see anyone or do anything outside the home for 9 months during the pandemic. Generally now, these situations are rare. Isolation is a choice and some people choose it for various reasons. Families can choose isolation for their kids regardless of the type of school they are enrolled in.
On the flip side, there are people who are completely over committed with their homeschool schedules. The child may have an outside activity planned each day of the week, while working, serving in the community and church and also struggling to prioritize school and home responsibilities.
You will have to create a balance that is right for your family.
--Noelle: left to myself, I would stay home much more
Examples:
-- right now, with one kid, we have the ability to have him involved in activities that keep him out four nights a week. We couldn’t have done that two years ago.
--when we were renovating our house, my hubby said “no one is doing sports this year!”
--when we had a new baby in the house, we limited outside activities to our oldest two children.
What do homeschool Teens need to keep from being isolated?
--siblings
--neighborhood kids (this can be challenging sometimes too)
--church friends (sometimes in Ortho parishes, this can be lacking)
--a job
--scouts (boys and girls clubs)
--academic teams (speech / debate, science teams, mock trial, etc)
--sports
--music lessons
--music groups like ensembles, band, orchestra
--service groups (Beta club, Leadership Cobb, projects, etc)
--youth groups
--leadership opportunities
--community involvement (skate park advisory committee)
--homeschool groups ( if you have a local group, it will likely be mixed)
A word about gaming, texting, and social media as a substitute for real social interaction
--online social interaction is not a suitable substitute for real face-to-face social interaction.
--some homeschool parents have bought into the idea that it is. There is some value and it keeps kids connected, but it shouldn’t be the only form of social interaction.
--my 15 year old says “ its not the same, you can see yourself in the picture and you second guess everything you do.”
--on social media, people only display the part of themselves they want others to see and that’s not real.
A word about Homeschool Teens Interacting with Others
--generally, homeschooled teens interact comfortably with younger children and adults because that’s who they are around. Whereas their outschooled peers may not be as comfortable.
--kids in peer centered learning environments all day, five days a week become comfortable with that and are often not as adept in diverse social situations
“What type of isolation do we want our kids to have?” Wide open isn’t always the best thing.
That’s it for today. If you like what you are hearing or know someone else who would benefit from these discussions, please share our podcast online. We’ll see you next time.
God bless, Noelle and Angie
