Being a homeschooling family ourselves we know how hard it can be to socialize your kiddo, especially when you feel like you don't have the same opportunities as other parents. You might feel like you're missing out on so much because you don't have a ton of friends with kids at home, or that your child doesn't get to spend enough time with other kids their age. But there's good news! There are plenty of ways for homeschoolers to connect with others in their community and make new friends—even if they're just starting out in school themselves.
Socializing is often one of the concerns that parents have when they decide to homeschool their children. They want to make sure that their kids are able to interact with others, but it can be tricky when you’re not in a traditional school setting. Here are a few ways you can connect your homeschooled kid with other people:
Join an online forum for homeschooling parents and students, and meet people who share your interests and values.
Join a sports team or other activity at your local YMCA or community center that has no age restrictions so both you and your child can participate together.
Decide on one day per month when everyone goes out into the world together as a family, even if it's just for lunch or coffee! You'll be surprised how many opportunities there are out there when you look around!
Join a weekly playgroup.
Playgroups are a great way to meet other homeschooling families and socialize your kiddo. They usually involve all kinds of activities, like playing games, reading to children, crafts, and cooking. These groups are usually organized by community centers or local schools, but sometimes they’re also organized online. If you can find one in your area – go for it! We have found a lot of success with finding Homeschooling Groups in our area on Facebook.
Create a cooperative learning program with other homeschoolers.
Cooperative learning is a great way to get your child to communicate with other kids and work together towards a common goal. It's also a good way to teach them how to work together, which can be difficult. As you teach your homeschooled kid how to socialize, try using cooperative learning as a way of helping him or her learn teamwork skills.
Make friends in your community.
In your local community, there are bound to be other homeschooling families. You can connect with them by inviting them over for dinner and playdates, or joining them for outdoor activities such as parks, libraries, zoos, and museums.
If you don't know any homeschoolers in your area yet, there are several ways to make friends with other parents:
Ask at parks if there's an active group of homeschoolers where you live
Check if there is a homeschooling meet-up group in your city
Look up what classes are offered by local museums or children's museums
Talk to friends and other parents about scheduling playdates.
This is the one time when you will want your child to be as social as possible. Don't let them pick the activities for their playdates, either—it's important that they get used to doing things with other kids and learning from them. If they get too comfortable with what they like, it can be hard for them later on in life when there are no more parents around telling them what they like (and don't).
“The process of socialization is nowhere near complete at age five or six, when modern children start spending up to half their waking hours taking their cues from other people's children. Because they accompany their parents' daily routine, homeschooled kids spend plenty of time interacting with people of all ages, which I think most people would agree is a far more natural, organic way to socialize.”
― Quinn Cummings
Host a family game or puzzle night.
When it comes to socialization, many homeschoolers tend to think that their children need to be in public or at least mixed with other kids for them to learn how to interact. However, this isn't always the case and there are plenty of ways you can help your homeschooled kid transition into a social setting by using a game or puzzle night at home.
When hosting your own game night, make sure you invite some friends over—you don’t necessarily have to have friends that are homeschooling parents! But if there is someone in the area who has kids around your child's age, it helps when they can reach out and meet up with them after school during the weekdays. You can also ask other adults who live close by if they would like to come over as well!
Having a snack on hand makes everything more fun too! You don’t want any hungry players distracted from their game because of hunger pains so try making something simple like popcorn and fruit (or both!). If snacks are not possible then perhaps consider purchasing some drinks instead such as water bottles; these types of things will keep everyone hydrated without wasting time away from having fun together.
Attend extracurricular activities like dance groups, sports teams, art classes, and other clubs that fit your child's interests.
You can also offer your child the opportunity to do activities that fit their interests. Your local library may have clubs and classes for teens, or you might find other groups in your community who work with kids that are homeschooled. You might even want to look into volunteering at a youth center or other place where there are lots of social opportunities for kids—your child may be able to make friends this way! We joined a cheer class that meets once a week, and Azriel loves it and has made a few friends in just a short period of time!
Spend time volunteering with your child.
Volunteering is a great way to get your kid involved in the community, help them build confidence, and learn some new skills.
If you're looking for ideas, check out the website VolunteerMatch, which has an extensive list of volunteer opportunities with children to choose from.
You can also find local organizations on sites like VolunteerMatch or VolunteerTogether that need volunteers for events like food drives or charity walks.
There is Hope!
If your child is homeschooled, don't worry! There are lots of ways to make friends and connect with other kids in your community. And remember, if you're feeling isolated from other parents, there are always activities that can help you make new connections too. Volunteering is one of the best ways to get out into your community and meet people who share similar interests as well as learn more about what's going on in the world around us.
Please share with me how you help your kiddo stay socialized in our homeschool world!
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