The #1 concern I hear about homeschooling is “Won’t your kids be socially awkward? Think of all the missed opportunities!”
… No. My kids will not be socially awkward because I fully intend on introducing them to other kids and having them interact with their peers. Just because you homeschool doesn’t mean you never leave your home or see other people. Public/Private School isn’t the only place where kids form relationships with other kids.
If you’re looking for more ways to socialize your homeschooler or maybe this is a fear holding you back from homeschooling, here are 7 ways to get your child involved with other kiddos.
JOIN A CO-OP
This is a great way to get your kids involved with other homeschoolers in your area! A Co-op is an established homeschool support group. This community provides a variety of learning opportunities for their students and is usually facilitated by other parents. This is a great course of action to get your child involved in learning from other individuals and gives them the opportunity to mingle with other kids.
JOIN A HYBRID LEARNING CENTER
Similar to a co-op, a hybrid learning center is a wonderful option to provide your child with another outlet for learning with other kids. Hybrid Learning Centers are generally run by certified teachers. The great thing about HLC’s is you get to dictate your schedule! You can decide if you want to send your kids a couple days a week or five days a week. These centers may be similar to a traditional school or teach in a more untraditional route. I suggest researching different teaching styles to determine which school will best work for your child.
SPORTS
Sports teams are a fabulous way to promote social relationships. Is your kiddo interested in tennis? Great! Find a small tennis league or lessons. Maybe they want to do baseball, soccer, or basketball. There are a variety of ways to get your child involved in organized sports.
Plus, if you want your child to engage with public school students, you are able to enroll your child in your local school’s athletic teams. Many churches/private schools have organized sports available as well.
The YMCA is another outlet that provides athletics for kids. If you are a member, you will get a discount on lessons for your child! Another bonus to the Y is you can utilize the Child Watch program for your smaller kids. You can go work out or enjoy some alone time in the lobby!
CLUBS
Maybe your child isn’t athletically inclined. That’s alright! Check out different clubs within your area. Chess, 4-H, Piano, Photography, the options are truly endless. Can’t find one? Start one! There are several Homeschool Facebook groups. Join a few, post in there asking others what clubs they are involved in or form your own with likeminded families.
Moms of Preschoolers (MOPS) is another way to get your child socializing with others. Although, this groups mission is all about moms supporting other moms. So, this isn’t necessarily a club for your child, but a club for you. However, they do arrange childcare and create play dates. So it’s not only for moms, but for your kiddos as well. Click here to learn more about MOPS!
CHURCH GROUPS
If your family is religious, there are plenty of opportunities through the church that offer socialization events for your kids while forming a stronger relationship with Christ. Youth groups and bible studies are just a couple options!
SUMMER CAMPS
I used to attend summer camps as a kid and absolutely LOVED it! The possibilities are truly endless. There are sports camps, art camps, fashion camps, nature camps… If you can think of it there’s probably a camp out there for it!
Summer camps range significantly in pricing. If you’re looking for camps on a budget, check out your local library or community college. Many of these establishments have free camps for kids.
THE PLAYGROUND
Believe it or not, the playground is a GREAT way to promote socialization! Research says unstructured play is essential for child growth and development. Taking your children to the park to play with others is a way for them to mingle with others while learning communication and problem solving skills. This is my personal favorite socialization technique. Its allows our kids to have quality, unstructured time with a wide variety of kids.
Here is a quick article on the importance of play for children.