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©ADDitude MagazineHow Do Homeschooled ADD/ADHD Children Make Friends?
Some parents worry that homeschooling may mean their ADD/ADHD child, whose social skills are marginal at best, will be unable to make friends. Not true, says Kuhl. “Home-schooled children are not anti-social weirdos who sit in the house all day.”
In many communities, students attending homeschool join together to participate in activities, co-ops, volunteer programs, and other social events. Groups regularly schedule activities, such as proms, plays, spelling bees, chorus practice, debate leagues, art classes, sports outings, as well as the all-important graduation ceremonies.
In fact, some experts suggest that a child taught at home has more opportunities to interact with people of all ages, compared to a school’s structured environment with only peers around. An added benefit is the social training parents can provide on the spot. “Parents who home-school have one-on-one time with their child, to coach him in social skills before and after he plays with friends,” Kuhl says.
Melinda Boring is proud of Josh and Beckie. “Josh says he wouldn’t have learned nearly as much in public school, and Beckie, while having many public-school friends and attending homecoming events in high school, prefers to work at her own pace at home,” says Boring. “I always knew they were smart. Schooling at home proved it.”
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