Beyond the Classroom: Finding Genuine Socialization Opportunities Through Homeschool

Hi, I’m Laynah! I have been homeschooling my two boys since the fall of 2022, or since my oldest was in kindergarten. We started out in public school but realized within 2 months that it wasn’t for us because of the lack of play and inadequate socialization, believe it or not! Our local public school only gives the children ten minutes of recess for a 7-hour day, and my kids are much too accustomed to playing for hours a day for that to work for our family. 

Critics often argue that homeschooling may limit children's social interactions, but in my experience, homeschooling helps nurture high-quality, long-lasting friendships with a wide range of ages.

Before we dive into it, let’s get one thing straight: socialization begins at home. Through example and everyday interactions with their family members, children learn how to communicate, express their feelings, and interact in social settings. Furthermore, according to researchers like Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Mate, it is attachment to parents rather than peers that is vital for healthy psychological development*.

That said, once you start homeschooling, you will want to offer your child a variety of opportunities to interact with people and become part of groups outside the family. With the staggering number of resources and support for homeschoolers in 2024 there are several ways you can do that, including:

• Joining local homeschool groups or co-ops
• Sports teams, martial arts, dance, or gymnastics 
• Theater
• Neighborhood play dates or meetups at the park
• Community events
• Local clubs (chess and Pokémon are popular in our area!)
• Homeschool events at museums, libraries, and zoos

In addition to that, homeschoolers often accompany their caregivers to everyday errands like the bank, pharmacy, post office, or grocery store where they have ample opportunities to socialize in real-life scenarios!

The key is to ensure that your children are exposed to a variety of social situations—not just with peers their own age, but with people of different ages and backgrounds to help develop well-rounded social skills. If you do this, homeschooling offers a unique and flexible approach to socialization that can be just as enriching as traditional school. 

*Sources: https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1053780 and the book “Hold Onto Your Kids” by Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Mate