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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Start Homeschooling: How will I keep kids socialized?

When we started homeschooling, 4 of my 5 children were in a private school.  They were involved in after school activities and always on the go.  This meant I was always on the go.

Socialization was a concern of mine when we made the decision to homeschool.  After all,  I did not want the kids to become socially awkward.

In my experience the only aspect that has changed from the kids going to school is the classroom environment. The kids still have "afterschool activities" and life became easier because the homework was obsolete.  They completed their school during the day and there was no homework.  

At first they kept their friends that were still in school.  It took about a year before they began to really make new friends whom homeschooled.  My kids began to be friends with their siblings friends.  There was no longer a division of I'm in 3rd grade so I am only friends with other 3rd graders. 

It is similar to moving, you keep in touch with your really good friends and begin to gain new ones.  This does take a little bit of time, unless you are extremely extrovert. 

Where do you begin this process of socializing your kids if you are at home homeschooling?  

Depending how hectic your life might currently be, you may want to take a few months just to enjoy your children, let them relax, and get that love of learning feeling.  We started homeschooling in August and did not do any homeschool activity until January.  (They still did things with their school friends)

As soon as you think you may homeschool locate any support groups that are in your area.  The best place to start is the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, www.hslda.org You can select the state you live in and see the contact resources available at 
  
This is the best place to start and not the only resources available for your state/location.  

Here is a list of ideas your kids can be involved in while homeschooling:

  • Music/Art Lessons
  • Sports (some states have homeschool sports teams)
  • Co-op (Kids take classes taught by other parents)
  • One Day Schools (Where I live there are about 4 one day schools.  You pay to send your child one day a week)
  • Scouts
  • 4H
  • Support Groups


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