How To Find And Make Friends While Homeschooling

Homeschooling, unlike some may believe, provides many different social opportunities for children and parents alike. Pretty much ALL homeschoolers have one thing in common – we enjoy getting out and doing things! Whether with your local homeschool groups, other homeschool families, or at extracurricular activities, new friends are everywhere! Let’s talk about how to find and make friends while homeschooling!

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Being Intentional

One thing is true about the homeschool lifestyle and that is: we need to be intentional about making connections. That doesn’t mean it’s hard, it just means that it does need to be on our radar. 

When you send your kids to traditional schools (like public or private), they are with other kids all day long. Sometimes they form good friendships, sometimes they form bad ones, and sometimes they don’t make friends with anyone! A common concern about homeschooling is social interaction and learning social skills. But the reality is that with homeschooling, you and your kids can be so purposeful about finding the good friendships and not worry so much about the bad! And for some, that’s the whole point of homeschooling – to eliminate the current toxic environment of traditional school. 

Also, homeschooling provides such a great way for your kids to learn how to introduce themselves, meet new people and make new connections. When we go on field trips with other homeschool families or join a homeschool co-op, there are kids of all ages to connect with. And it’s not the same kids every time, which is very unlike regular school. Homeschooled kids are constantly meeting different people because homeschool activities vary and so do those who attend! 

As homeschool parents, we just need to be intentional about taking our kids out and about to give them the opportunity to meet people and make some close friends. And usually, we end up forming some awesome friendships as well in the process!

Things To Do

If you want some ideas for how to make friends while homeschooling, a great place to start is your local homeschooling community. There are homeschool groups popping up all over the place now because so many people are choosing this lifestyle. You can likely connect with them online first, and then join them for some meetups. This is a great place to start and it allows your kids to get to know other homeschoolers in your area. 

Even though it’s a good thing to make friends within your homeschool community, that’s not the ONLY place you can meet new people! Here are some other ideas for getting to know other families in your area:

• Go to your local library frequently – not only is this fun for everyone, but it’s an easy way to make new connections. Also, your local librarian will likely be able to tell you if there are any community events coming up that you may be interested in. 
• Join some sports teams or art classes – many businesses offer discounted rates for daytime lessons.
• Attend youth groups or Sunday school events in your area.
• Start or join a book club for homeschool families – either for the kids, parents, or both!
• Take part in summer camps at your church or community center.
• Plan some park days and invite others to join you.

Homeschool Conventions

This is such a great way to find other homeschoolers and make good connections! Homeschool conventions are happening all over the place and are often either free to attend, or have a very small sign up fee. 

These conventions are full of different sessions hosted by various guest speakers on many topics related to homeschool. Usually, there are also some curriculum vendors present so you can check out some new curriculum. But the best part is that they are FULL of homeschool families! It’s like the homeschool social activity jackpot!

Homeschool conventions make it easy to find people with similar interests, and provide a comfortable and friendly meeting place. Oftentimes there are even courses put on for older kids like babysitting courses, or home alone courses. These are wonderful opportunities for older homeschooled children to make some new friends. For younger kids, there are sometimes daycare options provided so the parents can take part in the sessions without being interrupted. This is another way your younger children can meet some kids as well. 

If there is ever a homeschool convention in your area, I highly recommend attending it with your whole family! If you live in Canada, here is a great resource for finding some conventions near you.

Play Dates

Sometimes, getting out and about to meet new people can be really challenging depending on the stage of life you’re in. If you have napping babies or toddlers, that often dictates your schedule and can make it hard to find time for extra outings. Or maybe you don’t always have access to a vehicle so you’re stuck at home a little too often. 

Whatever your case may be, hosting play dates in your home is a simple and accessible way to make friends while homeschooling. Reach out to some homeschool moms you’ve met, but want to get to know better, and invite them and their kids over! The kids will play, you can enjoy some adult conversation, and who knows – maybe it will be a good fit and a best friend will be found! 

I know it can sometimes be intimidating inviting people into your home, but don’t overthink it. There’s no need to make your house perfect first. Be real, and remember that there is most definitely some dishes in the sink and shoes strewn about at your guest’s house as well! 

>>You may enjoy: Easy House Cleaning Schedule For Busy Homeschool Moms

Social Media

If you are new to homeschooling, or perhaps you just moved into an area and are starting fresh, social media can be a huge help when it comes to making connections. There are so many Facebook groups for homeschoolers you can join and there will likely be a few that are local to you.

Depending on where you live, there might also be some broader Facebook groups that share events happening in your province or state that you may want to attend. 

For homeschooling parents, social media can be one of the best ways to make some initial connections and figure out who/what is around you. From there, you just start taking part in whatever social activities feel right for you and your kids. 

Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone

When it comes to making friends while homeschooling, oftentimes the hardest part is stepping out of your comfort zone and just getting out and meeting new people. Once you’re out, it’s usually really fun and the chances of your kids making some good friends is pretty high! Homeschoolers as a whole are so welcoming and friendly. It’s just the “getting out there” part that can be hard for many people. 

I get it – I struggle with this sometimes myself. But I encourage you to push through and allow your homeschooling experience to grow you as a person. It is such a wonderful lifestyle and there are so many great people just waiting to walk this homeschooling journey with you. All you have to do is be a little bit proactive, and the rest will fall into place! 

Blessings!

~Maryann