One of the biggest worries of homeschool parents is that their children won’t make as many friends as they would in public school. Don’t worry: there are plenty of ways for your kiddo to meet new people outside of school. Here are a few ideas.
Utilize Extracurricular Activities
Sports groups and clubs are a great way for your child to meet people while developing a new skill. Check out local recreation clubs, dance studios, or sports teams for openings in your child’s age group. Talk with your child about what activities they are interested in and sign them up for one or two new things to try. They’ll be able to hang out with a group of children their age consistently for at least several months, which is plenty of time to make some new friends.
Join a Local Support Group
There are many support groups for homeschool parents. These are a great way to meet other homeschool families. Reach out to a group in person or online and ask if anyone wants to arrange a playdate with your child(ren). You can use this community to organize field trips, study sessions, holiday parties, or simple get-togethers to allow the children to learn about each other.
Consider Some Connection to Public School
If you live in a small town or rural community, it may be difficult to find many opportunities for your child to meet other kids their age. If this is the case, consider getting them involved in your local public school in some way. Depending on the school system, you may be able to enroll them in sports or clubs for one hour each day. Some schools may allow your child to attend one or two classes through the school as well. These can be good opportunities for your child to meet their peers.
HomeschoolFacts.com has a complete list of support groups to help support you in your homeschooling endeavors and connect with homeschoolers near you. You can search the list of support groups here: https://www.homeschoolfacts.com/homeschool-support-groups.html