Homeschooling And Socialization: What You Need To Know

If you are brand new to homeschooling or have been homeschooling for years, you have probably heard the question, “What about homeschooling and socialization?”

As a working mom who is homeschooling, the idea of figuring out homeschooling and socialization opportunities for your kids can be overwhelming.

When you first start homeschooling, you might worry if your child will be lonely. How will they make friends? And how will you find the time to make sure they get to social activities?

I want to assure you that you are not the first mom nor the last mom to worry about homeschooling and socialization.

Over the past 14 years of working and homeschooling, one of the most consistently asked questions I have been asked is, “What about socialization?”

Of course, I just love it when they asked as I was waiting for my child to finish up a swimming lesson or group art lesson. Ironic, right?

The Definition of Socialization:

Is socialization even something homeschoolers should be concerned about?

That depends on what “socialization” means to you.

Lisa, from The Canadian Homeschooler, defines socialization as: “Socialization – this term refers to learning how to interact with others in society in an acceptable way or hanging out with others such as peers and friends.”

Or, as others might say, “Don’t you want your kid to be normal?”

I am not so sure I want my kids to be normal as per society’s standards. In fact,  I have a long list of ways I don’t want my children to act.

The Myth About Socialization In Homeschooling

When it comes to homeschooling, there is an underlying assumption that as a homeschooler, you’ll stay home all the time. That your kids will never have opportunities to venture beyond your four walls and out into the “real world.”

However, as a working mom who is homeschooling, you know that is NOT a problem. You are always on the go, and your kids have a lot of opportunities to engage with people of all ages in different social situations.

Now, if socialization means helping your kids make meaningful connections and creating an environment for your kids to make friends, that is a whole other conversation that should be considered.

Homeschooling and socialization when it comes to creating friendships is something we should be intentional about when it comes to our homeschooled children.

Are Social Activities For Homeschoolers Important?

Yes, homeschooling or not, social activities are important for all children.

Social activities give children a chance to learn important skills that don’t always come naturally.

A few of those skills are:

• how to follow directions from others
• be good listeners
• take turns when speaking
• how to ask questions
• respect personal space
• using manners

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Homeschooling And Socialization When You Work

When you are a working mom, you might find it hard to figure out where to fit socialization in while homeschooling.

Here are five tips that we’ve found that worked for us:

1. Look For Social Activities That Are Flexible

One way we’ve found especially beneficial is to find social events or activities that take place on my days off.

A few of these are:

• Homeschool co-op
• Extracurricular Activities
• Volunteer At Local Shelters
• Parks and Holiday Camps

2. Join “Sustained” Activities

Put your kids in as many sustained activities as you can.

Sustained means the same kids come every time it meets.

The key is “same kids” because this allows your children more opportunities to get to know the same kids and can develop into friendships.

3. Be The Host

Be the mom who invites all the kids to come to hang out at your house.

Be the mom who creates the groups and playdates.

This means you can pick the time, the venue, and who will show up.

4. Keep Trying

Let’s be honest, sometimes, people won’t show up to the event organized for your kids.

When this happens, don’t give up.

I remember setting up a picnic at a playground when my kids were younger. At the first one, almost everyone showed up!

For the second one, no one showed up. It was hard.

But I stuck with it. Once I had a set working schedule, I let other moms know we’d be at the park on a certain day of the week and invited them to join us.

5. Join Paid Social Activities

Sometimes it “pays” to join paid socialization opportunities.

I have noticed more commitment in attendance if it’s a class that is paid for versus informal gatherings.

When my daughter attended art classes at Michaels, the class always had a lot of kids.

Sure, we didn’t always make it each week, but it was worth the money for her to have fun, learn art and connect with other kids.

The Truth About Homeschooling And Socialization

The truth is, by being intentional with both your time and effort, you can stop worrying about homeschooling and socialization.

If you just started homeschooling, pay attention to how often your kids engage with others of all ages and backgrounds.

I love watching my kids talk to cashiers at stores, help the elderly by holding the door open, and be involved in volunteer work. All of these are ways our kids learn social skills.

The great thing about homeschooling is that you get control over who your kids socialize with, so you can encourage activities you believe to be socially beneficial.

Lastly, when it comes to homeschooling and socialization, each child is different. You may have a child that needs a lot of social activities to be happy, or you may have a child who needs a minimal amount to be happy – just like us.

Do you need a few social activities for kids? You’ll want to check out these social activities for kids!

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