Lebonix Info

There comes a time in every man’s life when he starts to lose his hair. For some, it can be as early as their twenties or even their teens, while others don’t start to lose any hair at all until their forties or fifties. As it is so widely seen as a sign of old age, however, there is a big social stigma attached to hair loss, which leads people to seek various treatments to get their hair back again.

Hair loss is not always caused by old age, however, as many diseases can also cause people to lose their hair. Although cancer is the most well-known, it is not uncommon to lose some hair after quite minor diseases, or after having surgery. Hair loss is also a side effect of some medicines, such as antidepressants.

So is there a miracle cure for hair loss? Well, not really.

The most common treatments that people try are the creams available in most pharmacies, such as Rogaine. They do cause some extra hair growth, but also tend to make your head very itchy in the process. However, as soon as you stop using it, the hair loss will resume, so keeping your hair could turn out to be very expensive for you.

A cheaper option could be pills like propecia, which has also been proven to work, although only in about half of patients. It must, however, also be taken for the rest of your life if you want to keep your hair until you die.

Hair loss can often also be stopped by simply making some changes in your lifestyle, like eating less fat and trying to avoid stressful situations. In many cases, this is the most effective treatment of all, as so much hair loss is brought on entirely by work-related stress: it’s well worth taking a week off and seeing if you still have the problem after that.

Above all, if you’re trying to treat your baldness, remember the three Ps: patience, proven treatments, and taking pictures.

John Gibb is the owner of hairloss guidance, For more information on hairloss please check out http://www.hairloss-Guidance.Info

Although I still believe there is a place for advertising as a brand maintenance or brand affirmation tool, I am convinced that to build a brand today, you need PR. At one time advertising did build brands. But this was in a simpler America. That America, sadly, is no more.

I’ve been re-reading The Fall Of Advertising & The Rise Of PR, by Al and Laura Ries, and it is their book that has moved me from suspicion of advertising’s demise as a brand-builder to conviction.

As the Ries’ say, “Publicity is the nail, advertising is the hammer.” What does this mean? It means that your PR effort helps make your message believable so that your advertising will have credibility when it hits.

Typically, companies want to hit the market hard and make a lot of noise. Advertising allows you to launch quickly, control the message, and have your message in as many media as you have the money for. However, that does not mean your message will be believed. The louder advertisers yell, the less likely I am to believe them. How about you?

PR takes time and does not necessarily work on your schedule. Planting new ideas or changing minds is a slow process. When your PR program rolls out over a longer period of time, prospects have time to adjust their attitudes. Brands that take this approach are longer lasting, too.

Chevrolet, for years the number one auto brand, was still number one in ad spending in 2001. It spent $819 million dollars – 39 percent more than Ford spent. That year, Ford outsoldevrolet by 33 percent. Since 1997, Chevrolet has outspent and undersold Ford. Chevrolet spends $314 per vehicle and Ford spends $170 per vehicle. Do you think advertising is working for Chevrolet?

Kmart, embroiled in financial difficulty for years, had revenues of $37 billion and spent $542 million on US advertising in 2001. Wal-Mart spent $498 million and garnered four times the revenue: $159 billion split between its Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores. The average Wal-Mart store does $46 million in sales each year while its Sam’s Club average store sells $56 million. Sam’s Club does almost no advertising.

Those are old brands, you’re saying. What about some newer brands, Harry?

OK, let’s look at Pets.com. Remember the dog sock puppet that starred in their commercials? It won awards, but not sales. In six months Pets.com had $22 million in revenues and spent four times that much on advertising. Off-base advertising creativity at work.

The Body Shop was built totally by publicity. No advertising at all. Starbucks, until recently, did virtually no advertising. It has built a brand through good PR efforts. Starbucks’ annual sales are around $1.3 billion, while advertising expenditures over 10 years, have totaled less than $10 million.

Finally, what advertising agency do you know that has built its brand with ads? Things that make you go “hmm.”

Harry Hoover is managing principal of Hoover ink PR, http://www.hoover-ink.com. He has 26 years of experience in crafting and delivering bottom line messages that ensure success for serious businesses like Brent Dees Financial Planning, Duke Energy, Levolor, New World Mortgage, North Carolina Tourism, VELUX and Verbatim.

This year the Bank of Canada has raised interest rates once for a total of a 20 basis points or a 0.20 percent increase. Is the Central Bank going to raise interest rates again and if so, when? This is an important question, since prospective Buyers may be putting off their real estate purchases for a variety of reasons: kids still in school, better to move in good weather, an expected salary increase. But then, does it make sense to wait? The answer is: it depends.

Let us first take a look at the historical charts. For the sake of our calculations, let us consider a 5-year term mortgage rate, which is the benchmark mortgage most consumers will take on at the time of purchase. An additional note to readers: this example is based on Canadian mortgages, which typically use compound interest. The principle, however, is equally applicable to American mortgages, with interest amortized on a straight line over the life of the loan.

CHARTERED BANK ADMINISTERED INTEREST RATES

[ [ June 1990 ................. 14.25

[ ] June 1991 …………….. 11.25

[ ] June 1992 …………….. 9.63

[ ] June 1993 …………….. 8.95

[ ] June 1994 …………….. 10.75

[ ] June 1995 …………….. 8.63

[ ] June 1996 …………….. 8.50

[ ] June 1997 …………….. 7.00

[ ] June 1998 …………….. 6.95

[ ] June 1999 …………….. 7.70

[ ] June 2000 …………….. 8.45

[ ] June 2001 …………….. 7.75

[ ] June 2002 …………….. 7.25

[ ] June 2003 …………….. 5.80

[ ] June 2004 …………….. 6.70

[ ] June 2005 …………….. 6.05

[ ] March 2006 ………….. 6.45

Notes: all rates above are expressed with semi-annual compounding

The general rule of thumb is that if you can afford to make the monthly payment today, you should go ahead, lock in and buy a home. Especially these days that mortgage rates are on the rise but still low from a historic perspective – for example from the early 1990’s when double-digit mortgage rates were commonplace.

Buyers who are uncertain about rates should consider locking in for three to five years. This will offer them peace of mind, so they do not have to worry about the ups and downs. This added security, however, comes at an extra cost. A study conducted by Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC) has shown that in the 1980’s and 1990’s borrowers would have saved money by choosing a one-year term mortgage and renewing every year, rather than locking into a 5-year term.

If consumers do not lock in and interest rates increase, say, by 50 basis points, what will be the additional cost? Let’s say you are about to buy a CAD $550,000 house with a $150,000 down-payment, and that you are considering taking up a CAD $400,000 mortgage for a 5-year term and amortized over twenty-five years. For a 5-year term at the current posted rate of 6.45 percent, the monthly mortgage payment will be $2,667.18, inclusive of interest and principal re-payment. If you wait for a year and rates increase by 50 basis points to 6.95 percent, the monthly payment will be $2,789.33. That’s a difference of $122.15 per month, which amounts to a yearly increase of $1,465.80 in your cash outlays or a whopping $36,645 for the life of a mortgage over a 25-year amortization period.

This is a saving you can hardly afford to miss out.

Luigi Frascati

Luigi Frascati is a Real Estate Agent based in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Economics and maintains a weblog entitled the Real Estate Chronicle at http://wwwrealestatechronicle.blogspot.com where you can find the full collection of his articles. Luigi is associated with the Sutton Group, the largest real estate organization in Canada, and is based with Sutton-Centre Realty in Burnaby, BC.

Luigi is very proud to be an EzineArticles Platinum Expert Author. Your rating at the footer of this Article is very much appreciated. Thank you.

Demand for laptop computers is shooting up at the moment. Manufacturers are aiming to keep up with this but have issued warning that supplies could be limited. In fact if anything has hindered demand or shipments of notebooks then its been limited supplies of parts. Also with laptop computers now it seems like every couple of months or so the technology is already taken over with something new.

With all the latest breakthroughs in technology gaming notebooks have benefitted a great amount in my opinion. These days you get tons of value because the new technology is always around the corner. Gaming on notebooks is indeed a reality now with the advancements in technology. Even more astonishing these days I feel is how slick the cases are getting especially when you think about much performance is in them. Still there is a major difference between the speed of laptops and desktop pcs however desktops are more roomy to cater for unique cooling and such things that all help. It seems as if everyone is possessed with creating thinner, lighter laptop computers and I am sure we will see gaming notebooks like that soon.

Talking of gaming notebooks, the vast choice are obtainable when they are custom built. Ram and disk drives are commonly high performance engineered parts in custom notebooks which power consumers like. Specialist market benefit because they only have purchase what they need. Mass market notebooks are not made with specialist customers in mind and this could pose an issue. A custom built laptop this issue. I feel one also gets better support when getting a custom laptop. Big companies are in fact being omitted because of this.

We’re witnessing some pretty cool things at the moment and I question what will hit the market next. I forgot to speak of the massive growth of internet gadgets and notebooks. Its strange how devices designed for the 3rd world countries have become a buzz in the first world nations. Ideally everybody would desire an ultramobile portable with a 15 inch lcd. I reckon you could say these notebooks are already aquirable if you’re willing to pay the money. Companies are cramming greater performance into notebooks and it seems as if gaming notebooks will get sleeker and lighter. New notebooks are traditionally kept secret before launch so theres no guession what new products we will see.

I found some really good gaming laptops at rizeon.

Most webmasters will tell you that running a successful cost-per-click advertising
campaign and choosing the appropriate keywords is an art, not a science. This
is pure bunk, don’t you believe it! Advertisers that approach their keyword choices
in a methodical and scientific way achieve much better results than their
artful cousins.

I’ve been advertising on Google since its inception, and I’ve learned some very important yet counter-intuitive things that can help you get the most out of your Adwords campaign. Following my broad and exact match tips will lower your cost-per-click rates (CPC), increase your click-through-rates (CTR) and subsequently decrease your cost-per-conversions.

Broad Match and Exact Match Options

Google gives you the choice of broad match (default) or exact keyword match options when you enter a new keyword. Learning the difference between broad match and exact match keywords can help you exploit the fact that most webmasters, your competition, just don’t get it.

When a visitor searches for ‘web marketing’ Adwords takes a look at your keyword choices and tries to find the most appropriate match for it. If you have the exact match for it [web marketing] Google will prioritize that choice and serve it before anything else, even if you have the broad match for it. This powerful matching feature can help you rise above your competitors.

Rule 1 – Make sure absolutely all of your keywords appear as broad match AND
exact match within the same ad group

What does this do?

1. It allows complete control over what keyword click you are paying for
and how you monitor your keyword results. If [web marketing] is served you know
a visitor must have typed in that exact phrase.

2. If the broad match of ‘web marketing’ is served you know the actual search
definitely included some other word, phrase, or it was a stem version of ‘web
marketing’.

In effect, this technique allows you to see the true results of what your visitor
searched for. Broad matched keywords by themselves are too loosey goosey statistically
and destroy any competent monitoring efforts. More importantly, broad matches
on their own can lower your CTR, which can cause you to pay more for the position
of not just your desired keyword ‘web marketing’, but all perceived variations
of it such as “better internet marketing” or ‘marketing on the internet’. How
will you ever know what is converting and what is not?

But, if you have exact and broad matching versions of many variations of your
keywords you can nail down exactly what is converting to a sale and what isn’t.
This approach ensures you will receive higher CTRs, which will cause your keyword
matches to become more relevant and rise in position without you raising your
bids. You will then be able to eliminate the guesswork and raise the CPCs
of the actual keywords that are truly converting to sales, improving the profitability
of your business.

Maximizing Plurals and Stem Versions of Your Keywords

Rule 2 – Have separate broad AND exact match keywords for plurals

Why? Because visitors that include plurals may be looking for different information than those that don’t. For instance, typing in ‘picture frame’ may mean the user wants to custom frame a picture, while ‘picture frames’ may mean that the user wants to buy a standard picture frame. How would you know unless you have them as separate keywords? By having them separate you can accurately track what is converting. You may find, as I have in many instances, that the plural form converts much better depending on what you are selling.

Rule 3 – Make sure you include stem variations and include them as broad AND
exact match keywords.

Why? Same reasons as above. You can get a better picture of what’s happening with your conversions and adjust your bids accordingly.

Sounds real simple doesn’t it? Well guess what, most webmasters just utilize
broad matches or run a half hearted campaign that mixes them up occasionally,
resulting in uneven results and downright expensive Adwords bills!

Now that you know the huge differences between running an intuitive ad campaign
versus a scientifically based broad and exact match campaign you can raise your
CTRs and lower your CPCs. Get ready to kick the crap out of your competitors,
that is until they read this article!

Michael Williams has been designing and running successful web sites for many years and offers free website marketing and design tips on his site, Internetmarketinghowtos.com. Learn how to get the most out of each and every advertising dollar and every visitor to your site with his time tested web site design and marketing tips.

If you are in Australia at the moment, it is hard to miss the engagement news of superstar couple, tennis ace Lleyton Hewitt and TV soap Rebecca Cartwright.

They are everywhere … in leading glossy gossip magazines, on TV and Cartwright has even posed semi-naked for a men’s magazine.

They are being hailed as Australia’s answer to pop star “Posh Spice” Adams and English soccer hero David Beckham who have taken the world by storm as truly global personal brands.

Experts believe Hewitt’s value has quadrupled as the media’s interest in their private lives becomes a national obsession.

But why did they wait until 3:12 am in the morning to announce their engagement, hours after more than 4 million Australians had watched Hewitt lose the Australian Open Tennis Final?

Well, managing your message in the media is all about impact, reach and timing.

So what does this mean for the timing of your own media release?

Well, here are seven lessons from the Hewitt/Cartwright release that was emailed to the media at 3.12am only hours after the Australian Open finished.

1. Maximise Momentum
Brand building, strategic communications and the management of messages is all about consistently being in front of your target audience. To make a significant impact you need to keep the momentum going and maximise the moment and the public’s interest in an issue. With such a build up to Hewitt’s appearance in the Australian Open finals, the media attention was intense as he pursued his dream of becoming the first Australian to win the men’s title since 1976.

“I always said I’d do anything to play in the first night final in Australian Open men’s history and I’ve got my chance,” Hewitt said after making the final in typical gritty style. Cartwright was courtside with him for the whole tournament and the focus of considerable media attention herself.

How can you write and pitch a media release that uses the momentum of a current issue?

2. Leverage Off An Event
Event marketing is a huge growth area for effective public relations. There is no bigger event in Australia during January than the Australian Open. Effective media relations is about strategically managing the release of information to coincide with events like this.

Events, including seasonal ones such as Valentines Day, come up every year and the media is always hungry for stories with a fresh angle. Who can forget the media-hype surrounding the break-up of Ken and Barbie?

“The 43-year relationship ended last February, just two days before Valentine’s Day. Do you think those folks from Mattel picked that date by accident? The story made international news and it didn’t hurt that it was timed for the love affair the media will always have with Valentine’s Day,” reports Jeff Crilley a US-based TV presenter and author of Free Publicity.

What media release can you pitch to time with a major event?

3. The Impact of Immediacy
This is a major driver of news values. What is news one day will be dead the next. The more immediate and timely the story, the greater the impact and the higher the news value.

Those that micromanaged the Hewitt/Cartwright release worked hard to meet a deadline. Here’s how it worked according to a report in The Australian newspaper by Amanda Meade on Thursday February 3rd:

i) Around 12 midnight the night after the Australian Open Men’s Tennis Final Hewitt proposes to Cartwright with a $200,000 diamond ring from Tiffany’s.

ii) The media statement was drafted by Cartwright’s publicist in Sydney after 1am and faxed to Melbourne’s Park Hyatt Hotel, where it was approved by Cartwright, Hewitt, and their managers Stephen Harmon and Justin Cohen.

iii) The release was issued by email around 3am to all media confirming the engagement.

The important point was a process was followed to meet a deadline.

So what is the best time to issue a media release? Well, it all depends on the timeliness and news value of the story.

AAP conducted a survey of all News Rooms in Australia last year and found the best time to send a media release is between 6 and 9 am and 3 and 6 pm.

When sending your media release be aware of time differences.

4. Be Proactive
I can’t emphasise enough the importance of being pro-active, even if it means working at 1am in the morning. Providing timely, accurate and relevant information through a well-written news release keeps everyone informed and stops rumours. This rule applies to everything from engagements to corporate takeovers and new product announcements.

5. Be Fair
With a big story be fair and even-handed with all the media so everyone gets the information at the same time. Treat the media as you would like to be treated, with courtesy and respect.

6. Be Consistent
Allow consistent access by the media if it is a big story. Obviously, with such a huge interest with Lleyton and Bec they decided to manage access and maximise their celebrity status by restricting access and tying up exclusives with Channel 7 and a leading Women’s magazine. Use an agent to handle this if you are ever in this situation.

7. Target Your Media
In some cases it is best to target your media. AAP in its survey asked if it is best to send the release to a journalist or to the newsdesk – 86 per cent said to the newsdesk. This depends though on your relationship with the media. I do recommend sending releases directly to a reporter, especially if it is pre-arranged and contact has already been made through a relationship.

Thomas Murrell MBA CSP is an international business speaker, consultant and award-winning broadcaster. Media Motivators is his regular electronic magazine read by 7,000 professionals in 15 different countries.

You can subscribe by visiting http://www.8mmedia.com. Thomas can be contacted directly at +6189388 6888 and is available to speak to your conference, seminar or event. Visit Tom’s blog at http://www.8mmedia.blogspot.com.

Not absolutely sure which water based lubricant to try? Some questions may be touched upon in this fab water based lubricant guide.

Lubricants aren’t simply for hooking up. Slicking up for personal fun is one of the most common uses for lubricants, massage oils and sex lotions. Using sexual lubricant during single fun is safe, marvellous and practical. One will want your vibrators to enter and move as notably as possible.

If one is looking for a sex lube which is safe to apply with all sex toys stick to a water-based sex lubricant, there are numerous tasty flavours out there like strawberry. And there are some that melt. For those who want fantastic pleasure try out Dildos and lube from Sex Bomb.

Experienced users may already know what fruity lube is most suitable for them. But if you are using a water based lubricant for the 1st time Sex Bomb would love to recommend the following. It?s wise to start off with a water-based sex lubricant. Water-based sex lubricants don?t stain and they are totally safe to use on all double dildos. If you want to apply a lubricant for mouth play we recommend you get one of the sumptuous orange flavoured ones. Anal admirers tend to go for heavier fruity lube because these sex lubricants are somewhat longer lasting. Remember, the more lube you yourself have the more excellent screwing you can have.

Great 21st birthday unique gift ideas are a symbol of acknowledge of an achieved goal in life. Not only ethnic but communal as well. 21st birthday is a high point birthday celebrated extensively in the 21st century, and is considered to be one of the most important times in a person’s life. Eighteen is legal by law but Twenty-one is considered a legal adult. Searching for 21st Birthday Presents is easy when you know how to look in the right place. A truth of life.

The gift presented on this day is a symbol of love, and conveys your good wishes and blessings for a bright future of the 21 year old. Presents should be in accordance with the wantings and temperament of the birthday girl or boy. Next are some gift ideas for the 21st birthday:

Gold Timepiece

If your financial plan allows, you can gift the birthday chico or chica a gold watch with his or her name and birthdate imprinted on it.

Silver Jewelry

You can get him or her tickets to their first silver jewelry magic show. It is a great gift idea, natural and more accessible than anything its equal.

Have a Sports Gift Party

21st birthday calls for carnival and nothing can be more exciting than a sport gifts birthday party. Most households are multiple opportunities for sports gift happiness.

DVD Collections and Gaming Accessories

The 21st birthday commemorate the beginning of early life transition and a period of great responsibilities. Therefore, the gift to be had this day should be out of the ordinary. Use your originality to give personalized or inspirational gifts as well.

Celebration of life is great to celebrated and wise to do so. To be savored, life is. It is and will always be a time of musing of what was and a instinct into what will be. The receiving loved one will think kindly on the one that gives such 21st birthday presents. Discover 21st birthday present ideas here.

Many people use headsets when talking to their friends and family using VOIP. VOIP stands for voice over internet protocol and it is a very inexpensive and a popular way to make phone calls from your computer or land line phone over a broadband internet connection. If you are using your computer to make phone calls, then you should definitively check out headsets for VOIP.

Benefits Of Using A Headset For VOIP
Headsets for VOIP computer calling makes it easier when on the road or at home to make free or very affordable phone calls. Headsets main benefit is that they set your hands free, enabling you to be more productive. And using a headset for VOIP is very easy! Most headsets are extremely comfortable and either fit over the head, behind the neck or is ear buds that gently fit in your ears. The difference between a cell phone headset and headset for VOIP is that a VOIP headset has a microphone RCA connector and an earphone RCA connector which is made specifically for a computers sound card. A quality headset system can dramatically improve the quality of your VOIP calls and will as well considerably reduce shoulder, back and neck strain.

Costs Of VOIP Headsets
Headsets for VOIP are extremely affordable and usually start at about $10. There are several models that are wireless if you don’t like to be connected by a cord, which makes it easier for you to walk around your room or office. Keep in mind that wireless headsets are generally more expensive than headsets connected by a cord.

Where To Buy VOIP Headsets
You can buy headsets for VOIP at all computer stores, office supply shops and online at VOIP provider shops. Ebay is also a great way to grab inexpensive headsets. Just be sure that the shipping costs are not going to cost you more than the headset! GN Netcom, Headsets.com, Jabra, Plantronics, Sennheiser and Sony are the main manufacturers of headsets and they all provide quality equipment.

What If You Do Not Want A Headset?
Headsets for VOIP are just one way to talk over VOIP. Other ways are to use a land line phone plugged into an adapter or a USB phone that plugs directly into your computer’s USB port. However, headsets for VOIP are usually the cheapest option and are the easiest to install. So if you are looking to talk over VOIP, check out headsets for VOIP, you will not regret it!

Oliver Peters invites you to visit http://voip.info-and-tips.com/ VOIP Info and Tips is the #1 resource for Voice Over Internet Protocol facts, tips and advice.

Let me mention the subject of Home Schooling. What thought immediately comes to mind? There have always been many views of home schooling. There are varieties of opinions ranging from great parents to troublemakers. Most of the negative thoughts of home schooling are based on rumors and preconceived ideas. Out of all thoughts about home schooling, socialization is one of the first things that come to mind.
The most debated topic among home schoolers and non-home schoolers is this issue of adequate socialization for home schooled children. Some think that home schoolers do not get enough socialization. They feel since the children are home for school this makes the child become socially deprived. Home schooled children are not socially deprived.

As a home schooling parent, and from my personal experience my children are more social at times than I am. Many studies support the home school academic benefit, but what about social aspect? Are home schoolers missing proper socialization? Is there a right solution for the socialization problem? Is there a socialization problem at all? With the growth of home schoolers seen recently are we bound to have future generations of socially deprived misfits?

What is home schooling anyway? Why is the choice a debated topic? Is it just a passing trend? Home schooling is home education. This educational decision is a parents’ choice and right to teach his or her children one on one at home. This option is legal in all fifty states. Home schooling options have grown greatly due to many accredited curriculum providers targeting the large growing market of home schooling. These curriculum companies are providing parents with easy, different and even customized options for home schooling.

Home schooling just trend right? No. In 1999, the National Center for Education Statistics reported an estimated 850,000 students nationwide were being home schooled (10). The numbers are estimated to grow due to the popularity and the knowledge of home school benefits being explored. More parents are taking the home school route for the safety and academic achievements of their children. Home education is nothing new; it has been around for years. According to Home4schoolgear.com the famous Artist Leonardo Di Vinci, and Inventors Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison and few presidents of prestigious colleges were home educated along with many other famous trailblazers (Home4schoolgear.com). Only in recent years has home education been media news. Home schooling as shown its solid foundation in successful results through time. Still there are those that have debated the choice of home education.

Home education has grown so much that most cities have home school groups for support, courses, activities and much more. There is also Home School Legal Defense Association to support families with home school legal issues. There are home schooling magazines, clothing and more. Will the growth of home schooling have an effect on public schools? Some feel that home schooling directly effects the public schools. There have been arguments that home schooling can have an effect on public schools in positive or a negative ways.

Paul T. Hill, author of “How Home Schooling Will Change Public Education” says, “Home schooling limits public school enrollments, therefore it reduces the money provided to school districts. Home schooling also reduces growth in public schools, and decreases the pressure for new buildings and staffs”(Hill). The concern of money for public schools has been a raising issue for years. Home schooling does not have a major effect on it. The problem of public school money issues is caused by a number of factors other than home schooling. There have been various news reports of public school officials misusing the money, and the debates to cut unnecessary cost and create better options for public schools. From a concerned parents’ point of view the issue of money in public schools is not a brow raising reason to choose public schooling. For the quality of education provided at home government, money is no comparison.

Socialization is one highly debated topic for home schoolers. As a home schooling parent, I often answer socialization questions. “You can’t mention home education without the s’ word coming up,” says Doug Phillips, director of Federal Relations at the National Center for Home Education (3). People usually question the socialization because they do not under stand how home school works. Many feel that home schoolers do not socialize with their peers so they become “weird” or sociably immature. Although the stereotypes are heard and believed, parents are still choosing to home school their children for reasons reflecting the quality of socialization in public schools, such as peer pressure, violence, sexual harassment and many other problems.

David Wagner says, “In the seventies, Christians home schooled because secular values being promoted in schools. In the eighties, parents home schooled for no particular religious belief. Others are trying to drop out of the prevailing culture”(3). We chose to home school our children because of the poor quality of public schools in the area we lived in. We also saw frequent news reports of school incidents involving violence and even sexual acts. We saw the advantage of instilling morals and values with the use of home education that was not available in public schools. We liked the academic freedom of choice to including subjects forbidden at the public schools.

While socialization was a factor, our decision to home school was not based only on creating a social safe haven for our children, but rather allowing them to excel academically and having the advantage of academic freedom. Despite the reasons for home schooling, it is the parents’ deliberate choice to remove their child from public school social settings as they see fit. Considering that thought, Dennis Helming, an education writer, believes the most miss the point of whether the protection of children from bad influences can cause a backlash to rebellion (3).

I have found this false among home schooling teenagers. All of the home schooled teenagers I have observed and interacted with are pleasant and responsible. They see the danger in rebellion, and choose not to indulge in it. Home schooling parents also do not hide what they are protecting their children from; rather they take the approach to show them what they are keeping them from. Children naturally wanting to be safe, if given a choice usually end up choosing not to be around things that cause them harm such as peer pressure and violence. Aimee Howd, a home schooled child and author of Confessions of a home-schooled kid says, “Home schooling was once considered a choice for the antisocial but home school achievers are challenging the old stereotypes”(3).

Yes, most home schooled children do spend a lot of time at home, however it does not mean the door is barred shut and the child is forbidden to see anyone. As home schooling parents having the natural need to enjoy adult communication, that is not a desired option! The socialization provided to home schoolers is broader than the public schools can allow. While public schooled children are confined to their peers, a teacher and a classroom home schooled children are traveling and learning by visiting museums, and other educational centers.

Simply going to the grocery store is a lesson in teaching social manners, mathematics, nutrition, and more. Most home schooled children are involved in different activities and community groups. Randal Rockney, author of The Home Schooling Debate: Why Some Parents Choose It, Others Oppose It reports that 90 percent of home schooled children spent more than 20 percent per month in organized community activities (3). I have found that many including my own children are in various different extra curricular groups, which also is a supplement to education.

For instance during the school year our local home schooling group has a coop called Masters Lyceum this is a program with a variety of classes from ballet to science. Every Friday morning, we get dressed and head off to school like the public schooled children. Many children and parents participate in the coop. Children have their own class schedule for each semester. The Masters Lyceum is used as a time for our children get together to learn, to be a part of a group, and learn from other adults. During the summer our children are enrolled in a number of community fun programs like any other child.

Rockney also says, “Children tend to be less segregated by age when involved in home schooling activities.” (3). My children are around children of all ages. It allows them to mature in their communication. My children have friends in various grades, which allow them to socialize on different levels. They learn social boundaries by being around a mixed group of children. Nancy Gibbs, author of Home Sweet School: Seeking Excellence, Isolation, Or Just Extra “Family Time,” says, ” Home School parents agree that the socialization in public schools is not all healthy, it may be competitive, intimidating and violent (4).

I personally do not think that public school socialization is all bad, but I do think that the majority of socialization in public school is improper and stressful for children and therefore unhealthy. When a child comes home crying about the treats of bullies, it causes an entire home to be effected in some way. It is potentially disastrous in the future. We have seen this as one of the causes in the increase of violence in public schools. Who can ever forget the traumatic event of Columbine? There are tons of talk shows with disturbed adults confronting their childhood bullies. This is not the socialization I want my children to experience.

Despite personal debatable views, let us look at the research conducted on home schoolers. Most research studies conducted for finding out if home schoolers are socially equal to non-home schoolers have had different methods, yet similar conclusions. Very few recently conclude differently. In 1984, Tisard and Huges studied 4 year olds at home and in public schools. They stated that home schooled children could not learn how to get along with other children, to be a member of a group, to separate from their families and to relate and communicate with strange adults (Van Galen 6). Our home schooling coop alone proves this statement untrue. This provides all of the educational needs that Tisard and Huges argued that home schooling parents could not provide.

It seems that times have changed, in a 1992 study on home school socialization was reported in a 299-page thesis written by Larry Edward Shyers. Dr. Shyers measured the self-esteem of 70 home schooled children, compared it with 70 traditionally schooled children, and found no significant difference in the groups. Dr. Shyers looked at how home schooled children treated other children by direct observation, using a “blind” procedure, found that home-schooled children had significantly fewer problem behaviors than traditionally schooled children did when playing in mixed groups of children did. Dr. Shyers concluded that contact with adults, rather than contact with other children, is most important in developing social skills in children.

This is not surprising because our children are more likely to be in a social setting with a mixed group than those public schooled children are. They in the “real world” environment on more frequent bases than their public schooled peers. Thomas Smedley completed a similar experimental design. His study evaluated communication skills, socialization, and daily living skills. Smedley found that the home-schooled children were more mature scoring in the 84th percentile, while the public school children scored in the 27th percentile (Bunday 9). While home schooled children are home they learn daily living skills more often than public schooled children do. Larger families have the children in the family all coordinate to work together and learn life skills and communication skills. It is an advantage to a child being taught one on one to grasp communication, daily life skills and socialization.

Brian D. Ray, Ph.D., produces another research finding in a book he wrote. The findings in this book concluded that the negative critics have claimed that home schooling makes weak adults have no solid foundational facts. The book reports that the adults who were home schooled were much more civically involved in the United States. Adults who were home educated express viewpoints or beliefs that is about as strong as that of the general public (10). Adults who were home schooled have the same socialization status or higher than those there were not home schooled. We have seen this proven in our listing of famous adults and other trailblazers in our society. They could not make a difference in our world without being strong adults.

We have heard from the researchers, and personal opinions from parents, but what about the children? In an article written by Lisa Russell, she tells of her public schooled days “I found the phonics and reading lessons to be incredibly boring. Luckily, the girl behind me felt the same way. We would chat back and forth. We were both asked to stay in at recess, and sit quietly in our desks for the entire 25 minutes, because “We are not here to socialize, young ladies.” Those words were repeated by just about every teacher I’ve ever had. If we’re not there to socialize, then why were we there? If schools weren’t made for socializing, then why on earth would anyone assume that home schoolers were missing out?” (Russell)

I remember myself as being a talker in class. That was my whole reason for going to school! I was told that we were not in school to socialize repeatedly also. These words are repeated in public schools often. Children in public school being told this begin to socialize out of disobedience. Is this proper socialization to teach a child? No. This is not, simply because in the class setting the teacher demands respect, which causes some to rebel and secretly socialize by whispering, or notes to each other. This can cause resentment for teachers and authority among students in the class. This problem could eventually snowball into disrespecting adults and any authority.

From my own personal experience with secretly communicating with my peers, it takes away from listening in class, and puts the priorities out to order for attending public school. Lisa asks the appropriate question in defense of home schoolers missing out. I do not think home schoolers are missing out simply because their day is not a typical day which involves freely socializing on different levels and not just their peers. This then teaches home schoolers to be responsible and mature. Children cannot learn to be responsible and mature while rebelling against their teacher to socialize in a classroom setting. Another young fifteen-year-old home schooled girl named Teresa expresses, “Many people are curious about the average day of a home schooler and are surprised to find out isn’t an “average day”.

My family chose homeschooling is to avoid the dull routines that schools create. I usually have lessons with my mom in the morning, take care of my siblings, spend time with other home schoolers in the area, and read. Most importantly, my day belongs to me. I have a quote on my wall in my room, “Learning involves everyone everyday. Learning and living are not separate activities. Learning cannot be contained in place or time” (Teresa). This fifteen-year-old is a good representation of home schoolers. Most of them do not have a regular 8-3 schedule like public school kids. Each home school environment is different. Their days incorporate more of in the real world, more than just a classroom full of peers. It involves many different activities, which allows them to experience more and learn in different ways.

The quote she has on her wall is very true. You can not avoid or confine learning. You can not possibly teach a child everything that is needed to survive in a classroom setting. Yes you can learn academics, but life lessons that you will use as an adult are usually learned while interacting with family outside of a classroom. Socializing with friends is a part of her day because that is natural and a child needs that. It however is not all of her day because sitting a classroom full of children will not teach socialization. I asked my children what they liked about being home schooled and they expressed that they liked the flexibility and not being confined to a classroom.

They explained to me that you could not eat breakfast in a public school at your desk like you could in home schooling. Being twins my daughters liked the fact that they are not forced to separate in to different classes if they are not ready for it and they can be with their little brother. They enjoy teaching their little brother what they have learned. This gives them a sense of importance and responsibility. They did not once say once that they are lacking time with their friends. They have ample time with friends during the week with the Masters Lyceum, church, and other activities.

In my conclusion, I will end with a story posted on an Internet message board, at http://www.homeschoolchristian.com:
Posted By: Cat.
Date: Tuesday, 3 October 2000, at 9:58 a.m.

This is a scene from a local park about a year and a half ago…(a local park back home!) 2 moms were sitting on a bench not too far from me. They were discussing the “homeschool movement” and how they couldn’t see the benefits of homeschooling because of the “S” factor–I WILL NOT say that word! They went on and on about how homeschooled kids wouldn’t be able to come to the park and play. They went on and on about how you can identify a homeschooled kid because they tend to be withdrawn…the whole time watching my 3 homeschooled children play quite nicely with their 5 children. Tag, races, pushing each other on the swing. I was soaking it all up. Never once did I say a word.

When it was time to leave, one of the moms thanked my kids for playing so nicely with their kids and asked, “Where do you go to school?” I knew it was our time to shine…Kristin said, “Oh, we homeschool.” and turned to walk away, leaving that mom staring at me–because she KNEW I had heard their whole conversation. I nodded and said, “Have a nice day.”

Talk about a PRICELESS moment! (Cat)

In my own personal experience, that I have seen home schoolers do not lack socialization. Researching studies support this conclusion. I feel that socialization among home schoolers is potentially more advanced than those isolated to a social settings in public schools. There is a time for socialization and a time not to socialize. Home schooling has provided an opportunity to show my children proper socialization skills for life. Home schooling has many myths; socialization being one that is exposed. Home schoolers will continue to prove the stereotypes wrong.

Works Cited

Bunday, Karl M. Learn in Freedom! Research on Home schooling Socialization Socialization: A Great Reason Not to Go to School.1999. 29 May 2004 <http://learninfreedom.org/socialization.html>.

Cat.” “Socialization” Stories” Homeschooledchristian.com 3 Oct 2000, 7 June 2004 <http://www.homeschoolchristian.com/Features/SocializationStories.html>.

“Famous Home schoolers” Famous People who were Homeschooled.
2004. Home4schoolgear.com 29 May. 2004 <http://www.home4schoolgear.com/famoushomeschooler.html>.

Gibbs, Nancy. “Home sweet school: seeking excellence, isolation, or just extra “family time,” more and more parents are doing the teaching themselves.” Time 144:18 (1994) 62+.

Expanded Academic ASAP Infotrac. U of Missouri., St.Louis. 27 May 2004 <http://web2.infotrac.galegroup.com>.

Hill, Paul T. “How Home Schooling Will Change Public Education”
Hoover Digest, Summer 2000. 28 May 2004
<http://www.brook.edu/Views/Articles/Hill/2000Hoover.htm>.

“Home schooling in the United States 1999.” 2 Oct 2001 National Center for Education Statistics. 29 May 2004 <http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2001/HomeSchool/>

Howd, Aimee. “Confessions of a home-schooled kid.” Insight on the News 14.33 (1998): 18+. Expanded Academic ASAP. Infotrac. U of Missouri., St.Louis. 27 May 2004 <http://web2.infotrac.galegroup.com>.

Ray, Brian D., Ph.D. Home Educated and Now Adults: Their Community and Civic Involvement, Views About Homeschooling, and Other Traits. Nashville: Broadman & Holman: 2003.

Rockney, Randal. “The home schooling debate: why some parents choose it, others oppose it.” Insight on the News 18:2 (2002): 3+. Expanded Academic ASAP. Infotrac. U of Missouri., St.Louis. 27 May 2004 <http://web2.infotrac.galegroup.com>.

Robertson, Brian. “Is home schooling in a class of its own?” Insight on the News 10.42 (1994): 6+. Expanded Academic ASAP. Infotrac. U of Missouri., St.Louis. 27 May 2004 <http://web2.infotrac.galegroup.com>.

Russell, Lisa. “No Thank You, We Don’t Believe in Socialization!” TnHomeEd.com 29 May 2004 <http://www.tnhomeed.com/LRSocial.html>.

Theresa, “Homeschool Girl” In focus TeenWire.com 21 Sept 2001, 7 June 2004 <http://www.teenwire.com/infocus/articles/if_20010921p125.asp>.

Van Galen, Jane , ed Homeschooling: Political, Historical, and Pedagoical Perpsectives. Norwood: Ablex Publishing, 1991.

About the Author:
Tawanna is a Home Schooling mother of identical Twin girls. She is a freelance graphic designer, and writes articles on homeschooling and graphic, and web design. Visit her sites at http://www.tsmiles.com and http://www.geocities.com/homeschooledmultiples/