Everyone needs friends, and, as parents, you and I both know we're responsible for our children's social lives as well as our own. As homeschoolers, we also know that kids don't need public school pressure in order to find friends . . . so I'm not going to waste your time with hundreds of statistics to support homeschoolers and socialization. Instead let's explore the top two ways to find life long friends for our children . . . and ourselves!
Support & Fun All Rolled into One!
The best way to find friends for your family is to research the homeschool groups in your area. Find the one that fits your lifestyle, religious beliefs, and educational views the best and join it! Here are some great sites online that will help you find groups in your area:
After finding the group that's right for you, don't get overwhelmed with all of the activities: remember... homeschool group activities are opportunities, not obligations! A lot of groups are very organized and offer a lot of activities, but you shouldn't feel like it's an all or nothing kind of thing. Choose your activity and only do what you and your kids want to.
Too Much of a Good Thing? Try a Mini-Support Group!
On the other hand, a lot of the groups are very unorganized, and as soon as they find a smart and capable person who looks like they're willing to take control, they'll throw all the organization onto them. Don't let this be you! If your new homeschool group is unorganized, just try to get a list of names of homeschoolers in your area as well as the ages of their children. I would start with one family at a time (whose kids are close in age to my own) and begin calling them; this way, you can put together your own mini-support group! Smaller groups are better for getting to know each other, anyway. Once you've found a family, give them a call:
"Hi! I'm homeschooling my children in the same neighborhood as you. The information I got from the area homeschool group tells me that your two children are the same age as mine. Honestly, my kids and I are just looking for some homeschool friends in the area. I was wondering if there is some time this week that we could meet at the park and have a picnic. You pick the day and I'll bring my famous fruit salad!"
This approach works like a charm - and if the first family you call is uninterested, which is unlikely, call the next. Fear of rejection is not something you should worry about. Remember: you are now solely responsible for your younger children's interaction with new people - so take charge and make the first move! If not for yourself, then do it for them.
When you get together with your new play group, here are some great educational field trip ideas:
Fire station, library, park, beach, zoo, airport, art/history museum, children's museum, governor's office, police station, farm, factory, sporting events, local industry (bottling factory, wood mill, steel mill, coffee farm), parent's work place, seniors' homes, and any kind of outdoor activity (hiking, skiing, etc). The best thing to do is find out what you have in your area and use the resources at hand. You'll be surprised at what's out there!
Soccer & Brownies anyone?
The next best place to find friends is through extra curricular activities. See what's available in your city and talk with your kids. Friends come naturally when your kids are involved in activities with children their own age. Calling the YMCA for ideas is a great place to start. Here are some of our favorites:
Boy scouts, Girls scouts, Brownies, Soccer, Softball, Gymnastics, Martial Arts, Swimming, Summer Camps, Youth Groups, College Classes for homeschoolers, Writing Clubs, 4-H, Choir, Spelling and Geography Bees, Game Days, Volunteering, Drama Clubs, Church Groups, Craft Classes, Book Clubs, Bowling Clubs, Skating, Teen Clubs, and just about anywhere else you can think of!
Stay-At-Home TIPS:
Try to get done with school work at the same time as the local schools. Then your children can play with the neighborhood kids just like everyone else.
If you have other kids in the family close in age, invite them over. My son is best friends with his cousin. We live close by and they are always calling or coming over. My son doesn't have a lot of friends, but he does have his "best friend." So life is good!
Don't forget about yourself! We're so engrossed with our kids that we forget about ourselves. Talk to your homeschool group or fellow soccer moms and plan a "girl's night out" and go to dinner or just get together at someone's house to talk, eat, and have a good time. No Kids Allowed! Schedule your "play time" just like you would for your kids and have fun doing it!
New friendships aren't hard to find as long as you stay open to new people. We just need to get out of the house (past the mailbox) and have adventures. These fun outings will encourage all of our families to naturally meet friends that we all need! Thanks for listening, and I hope some of these ideas will help you and your kids make and keep life-long friends.
Happy Homeschooling!
Kristi Hagen is a homeschooling parent and author of "A Parent's Guide to Homeschool". She's also one of the editors of HomeschoolViews.com, which publishes an informative monthly Homeschool Newsletter.
Recently, a much-anticipated game of mini-golf with my children soon... Read More
Although it's hard to say when the first stuffed dogs... Read More
In seminars I am often asked about pocket-money and whether... Read More
For troubled teens who are struggling with drug abuse, depression... Read More
A learning disability is defined as a permanent problem that... Read More
Q. My daughter has gotten very good at manipulating us,... Read More
"What age should my child start school?"This is a common... Read More
By not planning for the future we guarantee that we... Read More
When your child shows signs of potty training readiness, it's... Read More
Mother's Day is important for children.This Mother's Day take note... Read More
Dear MomOn this day set aside to honour "Mother's" let... Read More
Often I have heard that leaders are born, not made.... Read More
Ask any teacher or adolescent counselor what the most disturbing... Read More
Loving your step-child can be both simple and hard. It... Read More
In his recent newsletter "Happy Kids", parenting expert Michael Grose... Read More
"The greatest gift I ever had Came from God, and... Read More
Nail biting in all its various forms is problematic... Read More
My son, Dakota is now 7 yrs old. He is... Read More
Little Suzy has really been having a hard time getting... Read More
Isn't the technology of today is amazing?! Between the speed... Read More
Here we will come to know who are the most... Read More
As parents, we love our children and want to do... Read More
There is nothing pleasant about failure, at least not at... Read More
Have you ever sat and watch a child struggle with... Read More
For any of you Moms out there that are doing... Read More
Here in Kansas, where we live, the leaves are turning... Read More
Does your child pout, blame and brood? Does he gripe,... Read More
Home schooling. What is it? What does it mean to... Read More
Q. Things have been relatively calm and OK with our... Read More
The popularity of EEG Biofeedback Training continues to grow both... Read More
Fall marks the beginning of many new things both for... Read More
Before my daughter was born my house was... Read More
Along with eating healthier we need to be more active.... Read More
By not planning for the future we guarantee that we... Read More
There is nothing quite like hiking with small children. The... Read More
I don't know how people raise daughters because I have... Read More
Child care costs are are one of the most expensive... Read More
The Internet, is magnificent in its resources for families. Educational... Read More
I could nearly fund my children's future education if I... Read More
One of the most important aspects of parenting, is ensuring... Read More
Q. How do we decide what our teens should be... Read More
Today's dads are more hands-on than ever before and their... Read More
Age 1: Invite only family members and close friends only... Read More
"Walk through any toy store and you will see walls... Read More
Here in Kansas, where we live, the leaves are turning... Read More
Learning responsibility is an ever widening and lifelong process.As thinking,... Read More
How should one look upon Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)... Read More
Maryann is so focused she's blind. She's slipped over the... Read More
The popularity of EEG Biofeedback Training continues to grow both... Read More
It's hard to explain to the uninitiated the changes that... Read More
Remember when cash was a tangible commodity in all of... Read More
Every parent wants their child to develop positive character traits.... Read More
There are moments in a parent's or grandparent's life, when... Read More
When a child is born, a new number is added... Read More
Search for Assurance: The Power of BelongingThe job hunt is... Read More
When I was pregnant, we knew that we had some... Read More
Everyone in a private practice setting who works with children... Read More
Child Party Planning Guideline #1)Pick the ThemeYour child is going... Read More
Ever blown your top to your children, only to regret... Read More
Nail biting in all its various forms is problematic... Read More
When you hear the phrase, 'guerrilla parenting techniques', what images... Read More
Sex has a lot to answer for ? babies usually... Read More
Whether we realize it or not we teach our children... Read More
In school, kids are encouraged to create, draw, color, paint... Read More
Imagine you were the principal of the school that your... Read More
Vacations and trips are great family events, but how do... Read More
Parenting |