How to Socialize a Home-Schooled Child

The National Home Education Service reports that there were more than a million home-schooled students in the United States in 2003, a 29 percent increase from 1999. One of the major questions about homeschooling is how children educated at home can get enough socialization. This can easily be attained by finding the right types and number of opportunities available through local public and private resources and organizing routine events.

Things You'll Need

  • Index or note cards
  • List of local youth groups and organizations
  • List of local schools
  • List of local private activity clubs
  • List of homeschool groups
  • Telephone directory
  • Planner book
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Instructions

  1. Socialization Planning

    • 1

      Discuss interests with your child. Then prepare lists of those people who you want to contact. Use note cards to keep records of costs, times and contact information as you make calls.

    • 2

      Contact such community groups such as 4-H, Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts, civic volunteer programs for children, the YMCA, Boys Club or Girls Club, and the parks department to determine if these agencies offer programs or events that you want your child to attend.

    • 3

      Children interested in sports can join local teams and homeschool teams. Contact your local schools as many permit homeschool children to participate in sports, cheerleading and even band.

    • 4

      Call local businesses that offer programs in karate, dance classes, cheerleading, acting, art, music or other areas in which your child has an interest. Set up field trips with other children to local museums, plays and events of interest.

    • 5

      Check newspaper and Internet activity listings for information on camps for children. These often are available not just during the summer but also during winter and spring breaks. There are day camps and overnight camps that last from a weekend up to several weeks.

    • 6

      Organize a co-operative teaching group with local homeschool families. Topics that need a more trained parent, such as foreign language or chemistry, are common ones for co-ops. This gives your child an in-class experience with a group of children.

    • 7

      Look at family, neighbors and fellow homeschoolers for potential routine play dates. The need for free socializing helps creativity and allows for relationship building outside of organized activities.

    • 8

      Organize your note cards to determine which activities are feasible, most desired and offer the highest socialization quality. Split the list into weekly and less frequent groups. Determine trial period or rotation of options. Choose the activities and arrange them.

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