The socialization myth is one of the most persistent plagues on homeschooling families. The public seems to have an image of homeschooled children locked in their houses, lined up in school desks in the basement while Mom points to a blackboard. The reality is that most homeschool families spend as much time outside of the home as in it, and socialization opportunities are everywhere.
Here are 100 ways that homeschool kids can get socialization, with some examples of opportunities we’ve taken part in here in Minnesota and nationally…
- Park days
- Scout groups
- Little league
- Hanging out at friends’ houses
- Homeschool co-ops
- Homeschool Days at sites like the Jeffers Petroglyphs
- Volunteering
- Playing with neighbor kids
- Homeschool swim days
- Playing with cousins and other relatives
- Taking part in community theater
- Library clubs
- Church groups
- Memberships to science museums
- Community education classes
- Homeschool ice skating days
- Homeschool ski days
- Shopping and running errands with the family
- Science conferences for kids
- Joining historical reenactment groups like the SCA
- Chatting with friends on the internet
- Homeschool bowling days
- Taking part in historic reenactment like Mankato’s History Fest
- Chatting with and helping out neighbors
- Calling friends on the phone
- Pen pals (online and snail mail)
- Art conferences like the Young Artists Conference
- Spending time with family and playing with siblings
- Visiting nursing homes
- Weekly homeschool programs
- Playing on local soccer leagues
- Traveling and meeting new people from all over
- Not-back-to-school parties for homeschoolers
- Zoo programs
- Homeschool days (or season passes) at Valley Fair and other amusement parks
- Homeschool days (or season passes) at the Renaissance Fest
- Gymnastics classes
- Joining the local historical society and taking part in events
- Group tours of factories and plants
- Reading clubs and book clubs
- Social groups like Minnesota Homeschooling Teens
- Language classes
- Homeschool support groups for families with young children
- Music classes and lessons
- Attending rendesvous events
- Interviewing people for local news stories (small town newspapers are often happy to feature these)
- Hanging out at the mall with friends
- Karate and other martial arts classes
- Photography clubs
- 4-H
- Woodworking clubs
- Astronomy clubs
- Homeschool band
- T-ball
- Running errands, making purchases, dealing with shops and businesses
- Art classes
- Sleep overs (even on “school” nights!)
- Lego robotics competitions (the competition and the time with group members building their entries)
- Striking up conversations and making friends with people of all ages, all over
- Talking with parents and other adults in their lives
- Spending time in book stores
- Odyssey of the Mind group challenges
- Walking the dog
- Writing conferences like the Conference for Young Writers
- Garage sales (hosting and shopping them)
- Babysitting and doing other jobs in the community
- Visiting with elders in the community
- Taking part in nature programs
- Bringing outgrown clothes and toys to shelters
- Chatting with the staff at museums, parks and nature centers
- Helping out at the humane society
- Visiting beekeepers and farmers
- Getting together with homeschool families for theme days
- Going to openings at local art galleries (or just going on a weekday afternoon, talking about the art and chatting with the staff)
- Visiting local horse stables and trading learning or riding lessons for work
- Homeschool parties for holidays like Valentine’s Day, Mardis Gras and Halloween
- Memberships to secure online children’s forums like New Moon Girls
- Nature clubs
- Taking part in free woodshops for kids at Home Depot
- Touring pumpkin patches and apple orchards
- Summer camp
- Taking part in extracurricular programs like band and sports through local schools (homeschoolers are eligible to take part in public school programs in MN but not in all states)
- Wacky homeschool events like pajama parties in the park
- Trick or treating
- Bringing cookies to the local fire station
- Visiting children’s museums
- Joining groups like the Betsy-Tacy society
- Homeschool days at rock climbing centers and recreation centers
- Attending free family concerts
- Homeschool theater programs
- Camping parties
- National unschooling conferences (which tend to have days of fun activities for parents and kids alike)
- City celebrations, carnivals and fairs
- Staying with friends and relatives out of town
- Winter waterpark getaways with other homeschoolers
- Dance classes
- Taking part in blogs and social networks as teens
- Taking part in real archeology digs
- Lemonade stands
- Just being out experiencing life!
This is just the tip of the iceberg, of course. Other homeschool families could add many more. There is certainly never a lack of socialization opportunities for homeschoolers.
Local email lists and Facebook groups for homeschoolers offer information about ongoing play groups, conferences, field trips, classes, co-ops and other opportunities, as well.
Excerpted from the book, Getting Started Homeschooling: Everything You Need to Know About Legal Requirements, Curricula, Testing, Types of Homeschooling, Learning Styles, Socialization and Making It Fun for Everyone.
