Being the new kid on the block isn’t ever easy, especially for the new-to-homeschooling family or the ones that just moved to town. There is an adjustment to the culture of homeschooling if you haven’t done this before and we, as somewhat veterans, can help make that newness feel a little less awkward.
Plan a Pre-Event Get-together
One idea to help a new family is to invite them over to your house or a local playground to meet you and the kids before the co-op kicks off. This gives everyone a chance to make a one-on-one connection before the crowded co-op event. Having a face to match a recognizable name makes every feel a little more comfortable.
Buddy Up!
Another way to lessen the new family’s stress is to give everyone a buddy. Find another child to connect the new children with and ask them to hang with their new friend for the day. Perhaps the entire co-op could do a kick-off party and assign buddies for everyone!
Be Available
Lastly, make yourself available to the newbie as a helpful source for answers. I recently signed one of my children up for a community athletic group and have had the hardest time understanding their organizational structure, cost breakdown and scheduling. I would have found it so helpful to have another parent explain how it all worked. The same works with our co-ops. We are an odd sort of people, and new ones might have a hard time wrapping their mind around the way we do things. Be helpful!
Like any group or community, co-ops usually have some unwritten rules, as well as the written ones. It takes a little while to figure things out and with a good friend, that process can be make much easier. Ask friendly questions and get to know the new family, just as you would probably like it if you were in their shoes.
Lindsay Banton is a caffeinated mother to three great kids. She never expected to homeschool, but has found that it is a wonderful addition to their lifestyle and wouldn’t change it for the world. In addition to homeschooling, Lindsay works alongside her husband in campus ministry at a large university in Connecticut. She grew up in Virginia but has settled into life in New England, learning to love the long winters, cool springs, green summers and gorgeous autumns- and has built a boot collection to meet all the demands. She is currently blogging at www.oaksreplanted.blogspot.com.