Myths
Why do people assume home schooled kids lack "certain social skills"? Most home schoolers are part of formal/informal groups that have regular social/educational events. This gives plenty of scope for developing social skills. It could also give opportunities for bullying to arise but it is far rarer than in traditional schools. The home schooled kids I know (and ex-home schooled adults) are amongst the most sociable people I know.
( SteamedCleaner, Sun 17 May 2009, 2:20, 3 replies)

*cheer*
Glad not everyone thinks homeschooled children are social lepers.
(Freakmandu, Sun 17 May 2009, 7:43, closed)

Hmmph
[bully]
"the most sociable people I know"
- but you're on b3ta, so you're not going to have normal friends anyway
[/bully]
(James Cushtie, Mon 18 May 2009, 6:14, closed)

Normal?
I've heard of the concept, but I'm a bit vague on the details.
( SteamedCleaner, Tue 19 May 2009, 2:57, closed)

The home-schooled kids I know
do indeed lack essential social skills from not having grown up around people their age, and when they did eventually try to join schools they were met with derision from their peers for precisely this reason. Santas may raise intelligent kids, but without social skills they won't get very far, even in adult life. Social experience early on prepares you for eventualities such as bullying - learning to deal with them, I would argue, is a necessary part of life in a human society.
(idle insomniac enjoys listening to Sigur Rós at stupid hours, Mon 18 May 2009, 13:02, closed)

I guess it depends
on how you approach home schooling. Do you just take your kids out of school (or not put them in in the first place) and teach them the expected curriculum or do you take full advantage of the home schooling support networks that exist? I would think you'd be doing your kids a disservice if you took the first option and it sounds like what the parents of the home schooled kids you know may have done.
( SteamedCleaner, Tue 19 May 2009, 3:02, closed)