First off let me say that as a homeschooling mom you know that socialization comes in many forms for your kids. A trip to the grocery store, interacting with the next door neighbor, at church, talking with the waitress at your favorite restaurant, getting new rubber bands at the orthodontist. They are learning to interact with people of all ages, professions, walks of life on a day to day basis. You child doesn’t have to sit in a school room full of 25 other kids where they are not allowed to talk or interact all day to learn socialization. That is one of the big myths of the “Why kids should attend public school” argument. They are not sent to school to socialize, they are there to learn. Which can be done at home just as well.
Children are generally exposed to socialization everywhere they go from the time they are born, it is a part of everyday life. Grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, neighbors, clerks, servicemen, etc. These are important interactions for your child to have on a regular basis and interacting with adults will make up the majority of their life, since adulthood is much longer than childhood.
However, if you are looking for ways for your child to socialize, decompress, and have fun with people of their own age and size there are plenty of opportunities out there as well beyond a brick and mortar school. Children are often naturally open and friendly, they can make quick friends in most situations. I know mine will walk up to strange kids at zoo’s and store’s and strike up a conversation. Even if your child is more shy, exposing them to various situations will still teach them the most basic of social skills.
Here are some ideas for getting your kids out and about around other kids in public settings:
- Aquariums
- Field Trips
- Football
- T-Ball
- Soccer
- Bowling
- Dance
- Hands on Children’s Museum
- Cheerleading
- Awana’s
- 4-H
- Theme Parks
- Homeschool Co-op’s
- Playgroups
- Volunteering
- Playground visits
- Library Storytime/Book club
- Vacation Bible School
- Chuck E Cheese
- The Beach
If you can’t find any co-op’s or playgroups in your area and you know at least a couple other homeschooling moms consider starting up your own. It doesn’t have to be be a super structured group, just make a plan to get together weekly or biweekly. Alternate who supplies snacks and activities to keep it low key for each of you.
Shannon says
Thank you for sharing this article. I agree socialization is important to children especially home schooled and finding events to socialize is very important to social development.
Erin says
Important information for even school attending kids. They will socialize at many more activities than just school. School can actually make it harder for some kids because of the “pecking order” associated with many a school classroom.
Emily says
I 100% agree with this article. I was homeschooled K-12 and though I won’t deny I was a little awkward (probably because I’m naturally shy), I was never socially deprived. When I went to college, I had no issues adapting.
Tara says
Thank you, Emily! Truth be told, I went to public school with plenty of friends & I am awkward too 🙂
Heather McCarty says
i defiantly agree that with homeschooling kids still need to interact with each other. Kids need to socialize and they can’t get it while being home schooled, so going out and doing group events is a great way for socilazion
Jill says
Not only is socialization important to development, but it is also fun to explore the magical daytime world that kids in school often miss.
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YVONNE WOODSTOCK says
Good article. I home schooled our 2 sons and 3 daughters many more years than not and they never had any problems socializing and all of them always had a lot of friends from the neighborhood etc. They are all young adults, ages 19-27 and all on their own now and they all still have a lot of friends and do a lot of socializing. I always found it annoying when people would ask me “But what about their socialization?” I worked at a public school part time after my kids started going there and my kids had more social skills and friends than some of the kids in the school system. The bullying that goes on in many schools is tragic and epidemic and at least during the years they were homeschooled, my kids’ interactions with most other kids was all fun and positive and healthy , it wasn’t until they went to public schools that they had to deal with cruelty. Yes kids need to learn to deal with difficult people, but I had been teaching them that in a much healthier way then being subject to emotional and verbal abuse until then. So there are pros and cons to anything.