How to Keep Homeschooled Children Socially Engaged.

by The Varsity Tutors School@Home Team

The myth that homeschooling is inherently socially isolating is what keeps lots of families from trying this immensely beneficial form of education.

The truth is that there are _myriad _ways in which parents can connect their homeschoolers with others their age--they just need to be proactive.

Given homeschooling’s increasing popularity, particularly in the wake of COVID-19, parents can take the following measures to ensure their children interact meaningfully with peers.

Take advantage of library programs

Public libraries tend to be an overlooked and underestimated resource for keeping young people socially engaged and involved in their communities. A survey conducted in the fiscal year 2017-2018 found that American public libraries offered an average of 17.3 programs for every 1,000 people. Of the 17.3 programs, 9.5 were geared toward children, and 1.7 were oriented toward young adults.

Far from being limited to book clubs, the programs offered by libraries span several distinct disciplines and pastimes. For instance, in August 2020, the Huntington Public Library in New York extended free or low-cost classes in yoga, writing, piano, sign language, and craft-making—all of which were conducted via Zoom. However, with widespread vaccination efforts and a decreasing number of COVID cases, libraries will slowly revert back to a face-to-face format.

With the wide program selection that most libraries extend, there’s likely to be an activity of interest for students of all backgrounds. And, in the unusual case there isn’t, your child can request a specific course or workshop directly with their local librarians. Most libraries are open to new ideas based on patron demands. If enough patrons show interest in your child’s proposal, their wish may be granted.

Try town-led extracurriculars or public school sports

For more secular families, a fantastic way to get students socially engaged may be through sport teams and other extracurriculars led by local public schools. Doing so can keep students active and allow them to socialize with peers from diverse backgrounds.

However, it should be noted that public school sports teams are not open to homeschoolers in every state. Nine states prohibit it altogether; twenty-one allow it with certain restrictions, and the remaining twenty have no barriers in place.

In many of the states with special requirements, it’s often the school or district that decides whether a student may play, and the individual may first have to meet testing requirements and registration deadlines to be considered eligible.

Since the rules and procedures vary so tremendously between states and schools, it’s best for parents to inquire directly about the sports program of interest.

In states that ban homeschoolers from participating in public school sports, such as California, Maryland, and New York, town- and city-led programs are still a viable option. Just perform an internet search with your town or city name plus the phrase “youth programs,” and you’re sure to get plenty of results.

For instance, the city of Chicago provides free mentoring and recreation programs for students from kindergarten through grade 12. The city of Houston makes admission to a plethora of its museums free at certain days and times.

Turn to churches and other religious organizations

Since two-thirds of American homeschooling families are Christian, it’s sensible for these students to turn to church for social engagement opportunities. In fact, the majority of Christian churches have highly organized youth groups and children groups, which regularly partake in retreats, community outreach programs, and social events like game nights, potluck meals, and more.

While COVID-19 has put a major damper on churchs’ social agendas over the last year, some like Grace Church of Long Island are starting to add events back to their calendars. Others are still holding most events virtually for now, such as First Baptist Church of Washington D.C.

Your children usually don’t need to be members of the parish or even be religious to be eligible for such events. It would run contrary to the spirit of religious entities to refuse entry to the general public, so you’ll find that most churches are happy to welcome outside participants.

Capitalize on social media

Social media is yet another way to bring young people together. One study by Common Sense Media found that 23% of children aged 8-12 have their own social media accounts. Even more surprisingly, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 75% of teens aged 13-17 have at least one active social media profile. So why not use the omnipresence of social media for your child’s benefit?

When used for the right reasons, social media can keep your children connected to their peers. Just create a Facebook group together that’s centered around a specific goal or activity, such as science experiments or singing—the sky’s the limit. Within this group, you can plan meetups during which participants can interact virtually or in person.

If you’re unsure about who to add to the group, consider the possibility that there’s a similar group already in existence that you can join. Homeschooling families often enjoy podding up with other homeschooling families in their area. Check out this ultimate list of Facebook groups for homeschoolers if you don’t know where to start.

The group(s) your child participates in don’t need to be academic in nature—allow your student to indulge in hobbies through social media, as well. The most important thing is for your child to feel like a part of something bigger and to relate to their peers. Learning would be an additional benefit of this social media endeavor but should not necessarily be the sole focus of it.

*Varsity Tutors School @ Home offers something for every homeschooler, whether it's customizable complementary instruction in both academic and elective subjects or a digital app that makes daily homeschooling logistics easier for parents. Learn more here: https://www.varsitytutors.com/school-at-home *