Community and Connection: Homeschooled Children and Socialization

There is a commonly held myth that homeschooled children lose out on important socialization that children in a traditional school setting get naturally through their interactions with teachers and peers. Why is this a myth? Because, like most things, socialization exists on a spectrum for all humans, and simply refers to the process of learning socially accepted ways to behave in different social settings. Truly, we are all being socialized all the time through our day to day interactions and routines; socialization, like our society, is ever-changing, and it is certainly not a concept that applies only to children, let alone only to homeschooled children.

Still, homeschooling families know that most people will bring up the “issue” of socialization as a "con" against homeschooling. And, it is certainly something to be aware of and to have a plan for to ensure homeschooled children are making and maintaining adequate connections with peers and adults outside of their family and/or homeschool instructor. However, in most communities, there are many opportunities for meaningful socialization for children, regardless of where and how they go to school. Furthermore, the beauty of homeschooling is that children typically have more autonomy in allowing their interests to guide their socialization options.

While research on socialization of homeschooled children is limited due to small sample studies and the subjective, interconnected nature of what being “well-socialized” means, most studies show that, overall, children who were homeschooled are well-adjusted, socially savvy adults. Most importantly, there are lots of diverse ways to ensure that homeschooled children gain the social skills they need to successfully navigate the world as part of broader society. While the ways listed here are not exhaustive by any means, these are some of the most common and, for many, accessible ways to ensure children are gaining socialization, and perhaps even more importantly, establishing important connections in their communities.

Extracurricular Activities
All children have interests outside of academics. Extracurricular activities include playing individual and team sports, taking musical instrument and voice lessons, getting involved with theater or dance organizations, martial arts, participating in clubs such as 4-H or Scouts, and more. While extracurricular offerings are dependent on where you live, many communities offer a wide variety of both private and public extracurricular options. For example, many states and school districts invite homeschooled children to participate in public school activities, such as sports teams and band. Towns’ and cities’ parks and recreation departments also typically offer a variety of extracurricular activities at affordable rates. Extracurricular activities are important to all children, as they allow them to develop and pursue their interests outside of academics, as well as make connections with other kids and adults who share those interests.

Homeschool Co-op
A homeschool cooperation, or co-op, is simply a group of homeschooling families who choose to meet and work together as part of their homeschooling journey. They might share a common curriculum and curricular goals, attend different “field trips” together, or just spend time together to socialize and connect. Homeschool co-ops can meet multiple times a week, weekly, monthly, or anywhere in between. There are many different ways to find and join homeschool co-ops, including through local social media groups or state organizations. Homeschool co-ops can be an excellent way for children to establish and maintain connections with other kids who have a similar schooling experience to them.

Community Involvement
Getting involved in community through things like volunteer work and age-appropriate activism is an excellent way for homeschooled children to socialize and make, perhaps unexpected, connections across their communities. These types of activities teach children important life skills and lessons about how others live and what it takes to support all people, places, and things within a larger society. For example, volunteering to plant flowers in a public space shows children the work it takes from community members to keep the space around us well-maintained and beautiful. This type of learning socializes children by exposing them to many different facets of their communities.

“Real-World” Experiences
A wonderful aspect of homeschooling is that there is no need to stay within the four walls of a home or building for day-to-day instruction. Learning at museums, stores and restaurants, public gardens, parks, or other places allow children to be out in society and experience “real-world” interactions amongst community members. There are so many ways to incorporate curricula into “real-world” places, such as teaching about money and making change while grocery shopping, or exploring natural habitats of local fauna in natural settings. These experiences show children a broader view of society and teaches appropriate socialization in more environments than can be experienced in the limits of a traditional school setting.

These are just a few examples of ways to ensure children who are homeschooled are exposed to a diverse variety of people and experiences. As with many aspects of homeschooling, allowing a child’s interests and wonderings to guide their socialization activities and experiences, and ultimately build lasting community connections, is best.