3 Tips to Socialize Your Homeschooler

Let’s talk about it. The dreaded argument that all homeschoolers face: “How do they socialize?” As a former homeschooler, I’d argue that homeschoolers are better socialized than public school students. But we allow ourselves to believe public schoolers are socialized well, even though it’s typically not true. 

Before we get too far, let me explain. If socialized well, homeschoolers interact with their families and friends. They also interact with co-op leaders and homeschool students. They interact with piano teachers, horseback riding instructors, museum directors, art teachers, coaches, and mentors. They can also interact with strangers at the store or the local market. These are just a few socialization opportunities. 

According to a quick fact list by NHERI, “64% of peer-reviewed studies on social, emotional, and psychological development show homeschool students perform statistically significantly better than those in conventional schools (Ray, 2017, 2023).” 

Homeschoolers aren’t limited to one classroom and a handful of teachers. However, public school students interact with the same class and teachers every day. Sure, they may interact with coaches and extracurricular teachers. But they’re isolated mainly to the same group of people every day. 

Homeschoolers have wide access to people. Why? Because they have something public schoolers don’t.

Time. 

In this post, we will break down several ways to socialize your homeschooler. 

• Join homeschool groups and connect with your local library. 
• Involve them in daily activities. 
• Stand up to bullies. 

Socialized? Why certainly!

Join homeschool groups and connect with your local library. These two avenues will create connections and give you opportunities to network with like-minded people. Use Google or Facebook to search for groups in your area. Facebook groups are often hubs for meeting local homeschoolers. Visit your local library and ask if they host homeschoolers. If not, they may know of homeschoolers who visit the library. 

Involve your homeschooler in daily activities. Take them to the auto shop. Go to the grocery store together. If you have to drop off your taxes, invite them to come with you. Stop at the bank together and show them how you make a deposit. Taking them on these daily excursions will socialize them with a variety of people and teach them life skills. 

Lastly, teach your homeschooler how to stand up to bullies who attack them about not being socialized. This could look like removing themselves from the conversation, changing the subject, or listing the reasons why homeschoolers are indeed socialized. Keeping your tone level and light will soften the discussion and maintain peace. Teach your homeschooler how to communicate well in conflict. Kindness is most often the best option. However, sometimes your homeschooler may need to stand firm and verbally defend themselves. Talk about how they should navigate this gray area. 

Conclusion

An article by CRHE says that homeschoolers “score more highly” than public schoolers on certain “measurements of socialization,” according to some sources. From my personal experience, I know this to be true, but as homeschoolers, it’s always good to know the actual data behind the truth. Homeschoolers do socialize and have a wide selection of opportunities to communicate with others. 

It’s time we stop believing the lie that homeschoolers aren’t socialized. We can throw those shackles off.

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- NxtEra

Written by Bethany (@thebookwormgirl_bethany)

Sources: Homeschooling Socialization Fact Sheet | National Home Education Research Institute 

What the Research Says on Socialization | Coalition for Responsible Home Education