Homeschooling and Socialization

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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1. Get involved in community resources and opportunities such as athletics, theater, and dance. Contact your local Parks and Recreation departments to find out about upcoming classes. See what your church offers. Many homeschooled students are part of a choir or volunteer committee.
    
2. Enroll them in clubs. There are so many clubs available to kids! Check out things that interest them, like The Girl Scouts, The Boy Scouts, 4-H Club, or a youth group. Research your local library, which often offers Reading Aloud events as well as other homeschool events.
    
3. Check out your community college. Many students — especially older students — can take some classes that not only help them get college credit, but also give them a chance to interact with individuals of varied ages.
    
4. Think about volunteering. Volunteering is a great way to socialize and — although there might be age restrictions — some organizations will permit children to accompany a parent volunteer.
    
5. Look into camps. Camp is a great way to integrate socialization into your curriculum, and most camps have multi-age groups with counselors who provide positive role-modeling.
    
6. Join a co-op or join a teaching co-op with other parents who homeschool. In a teaching co-op, each parent agrees to teach a specialty to all the children, and they study some subjects in a group setting. Co-op groups include English, Writing, Science, Math, Speech and Debate, and much more! Basically, if you need help in teaching a given subject, chances are you are not the only one. Research your area because there is probably a homeschool co-op already started.
    
7. Scout out organized spelling and geography bees, math leagues, and science clubs. All of these give homeschoolers a chance to compete academically. Keep your eyes open for contests like wood-working challenges, science fairs, and knitting contests.
    
8. Get music lessons or art lessons. Is your child musically inclined or artistic? Consider art classes or music classes where your child is involved with other students. Also, see what kind of youth orchestras, bands, and choirs are close by for your child to work in groups.
    
9. Call your local YMCA. Need those PE credit hours? Many YMCAs and gyms offer events for homeschooling families. Some of these classes are offered every week!

In every homeschool community, there is an abundance of resources available to ensure that your kids receive adequate socialization!

In addition to the provided list, you might also want to look for a homeschool support group. In many cases, these groups sponsor weekly and monthly activities for homeschool students, including physical education classes, museum trips, special speakers, camping outings, trips to historic sites, and many other activities. Also, most state homeschool associations sponsor an annual conference where homeschool children perform plays, assemble yearbooks, and participate in graduation ceremonies in the advanced grades.

Homeschool families, as a whole, do not raise their children in social isolation, and they are not ill-equipped for the “real world.” In fact, it is quite the opposite. Homeschooling and socialization go hand-in-hand for many families, because they are involved in their community!