Ways to Socialize Your Homeschooler

Ways to socialize your homeschooler

One of the biggest questions surrounding homeschooling is; how will you find ways to socialize your homeschooler? There are many opinions on the homeschool socialization matter, most of which I have found to be preconceived notions and misconceptions.

Check out: Homeschool Myths and Misconceptions

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What is socialization?

Here is what google dictionary says socialization means:

1.  The activity of mixing socially with others.
2. The process of learning to behave in a way that is acceptable to society.

Socialization doesn’t even mean “to make friends”, but we will go over ways to help your homeschooler find real friends as well.

I personally do not believe that a child must attend an institution in order to “mix socially with others” or learn how to “behave in a way that is acceptable to society”.

In fact, homeschooled kids have the opportunity to socialize regularly with people of all ages and not just the children that are of the same age and grade as they would in a traditional school setting. 

In addition, homeschoolers get to choose who they socialize with. They get to choose the way they socialize. Most homeschooled children get most of their socialization with a much more diverse group of people than those of public school. 

Check out some statistics on socialization and more at the National Home Education Research Institute!

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Ways to socialize your homeschooler

It may be true that not all of the ideas listed below will be available to you, but hopefully you can find some good ideas that do work for you and your family!

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#1 Homeschool group (co-op)

I think this is one of the best ways for your child to not only socialize with other homeschool kids, but also find a real friend.

The reason why this is a great way for your child to socialize and make long-term friends is because usually the same people will attend gatherings consistently, week-after-week and year-after-year. This consistency gives the child a chance to really get to know other children and develop a deeper relationship.

Random socialization, like many of the following ideas suggest, are also great for learning to interact with others! However, these more random social interactions usually don’t produce friendships as the interaction is typically short-lived.

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#2 Family Members or Neighbors

Another way to socialize your children can sometimes be with family members or neighbors. These are people that your child is likely to see often, so building relationships with them would be ideal in most cases.

Unfortunately this isn’t always true for everyone. Maybe the neighborhood families don’t share your family’s values, or maybe you don’t have any family that live nearby. If this is the case, that is okay! There are plenty of options on this list to help you find ways to socialize your homeschooler!

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#3 Library

Have you checked out your local library? Most local libraries have amazing children’s programs!

Many times families consistently attend the events that the library puts on, meaning that you are likely to see some of the same families each time you go.

Libraries are also a popular hangout spot for many homeschooling families!

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#4 Seasonal Activities

All children are different in their interests, and it is such a wonderful thing when they find other kids who share their interests. Different areas provide different opportunities. Some of the suggestions below may or may not be available to you depending on where you live.

Here are some ideas of different activities that your child might be interested in.

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#5 Church + Youth Group

If you attend church then you know that there are a multitude of opportunities for your child to socialize with other church families.

Many churches even provide youth groups specifically for kids to get together.

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#6 AWANA

AWANA is a common program put on by churches across the nation! Even my small rural community has a strong AWANA program.

AWANA typically runs the length of the school year, where kids gather once a week to learn about God. This is a super fun program that provides tons of fun activities, awards, and great opportunity for socialization!

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#7 Park

This is such a simple and easy way to socialize your homeschooler! This could be a local outdoor park, a trampoline park, a waterpark, etc. There are kids bound to be playing in these areas for your child to interact with!

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#8 Play Dates

Try to make some friends yourself at one of the above mentioned activities! If, like me, you have a hard time making friends, try simply asking another parent if they’d be interested in meeting up at the park for a play date.

In my experiences other homeschool parents are happy to meet up to allow the kids to play!

You don’t have to be friends with people to get your children together for a play date. Although, being friends with other parents really does help solidify relationships with families that share your core values.

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#9 Volunteer

Look for ways to get involved in volunteering in your community! This is a great way to give back and interact with other people at the same time!

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#10 Pen Pal

This is another great option to get to know someone else and potentially build a friendship! Again, most places I’ve found penpals are on Facebook. This is something to be very careful with since you likely won’t meet the person you’re child is communicating with.

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Ways to Socialize Your Homeschooler

I hope you’ve found some ideas on different ways to socialize your homeschooler! Is there another way that you socialize your homeschooler? Let us know in the comments below!

Other Homeschool Related Articles:

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Our Homeschool Breakdown

5 Reasons Why to Not Homeschool

10 Reasons People Homeschool

Homeschooling Myths and Misconceptions

Homeschool Amazon Must-Haves

Best History and Science Books for Kids

Favorite Learning Manipulates for Ages 2-5