Regarding Socialization in Homeschool

"But what about socialization?"

Ahhh.... the S word!

Socialization in homeschool really isn't as big of a deal as everyone thinks it is.  It 's so much more than simply hanging out with same aged peers all day.  It's engaging in real life social interactions with people of a variety of ages and stages.  And homeschool is the perfect environment to make that happen.  It's learning to connect, collaborate, and learn in every day life.  It's really all about building relationships.

Socialization won't happen overnight.  It does require some trial and error in finding a good family rhythm.  It means trying new classes, inviting others into your life, and building community.  But while it takes time and effort, the results are so worth it.

So while you're building your socialization circle, keep the following ideas in mind:

*Invite a family over for a meal or playdate

*Try out a local nature study group

*Say yes to meeting a friend at the park

*Look for library events (homeschool families love the library)

*Take your kids on every day errands and encourage them to interact with others

*Join a volunteer group 

*Plug into a local church and small group

*Establish a reoccurring commitment with family or friends

*Join a sports team and actually interact with the other families

*Look for low cost kid classes at the YMCA

*Join a local park meet up

*Start something new!

It can definitely take some effort to find your niche.  But when you do, the socialization issue just falls into place.  Don't get frustrated if it doesn't happen on the first try.  Rarely does anyone connect instantaniously.  But with a little time and effort, you'll find your community, and socialization concerns will feel like a far distant worry.

How do you address the socialization issue?