Guest Blog post by Liza Ellis
While parents and guardians may choose home education for many different reasons, one motivation tends to be shared across the board: to provide the best possible learning environment and educational experiences for their children.
Not only are there educational advantages to choosing this path (such as smaller class sizes, individualized learning plans, and schedule flexibility) but there are also plenty of ways homeschooling can be beneficial to childrens’ mental health. Neurodivergent people and those who struggle socially may benefit from a quieter, less stimulating learning environment, and the one-to-one support that comes with learning at home.
However, while a busy classroom environment may not be the right fit for every learner, parents should recognize that forming connections with peers is crucial for children’s social development. Outside of the school community, finding opportunities for friendship can be tricky. To help, we’ve put together this short guide to encourage positive social connections between home-educated pupils.
Make time for school-educated friends
Switching to homeschooling after being in school for a significant period of time can be a real shock to the system, so to make the transition as smooth as possible, families taking this route should ensure their children are given the opportunity to maintain healthy, pre-existing relationships. Many parents and caregivers make an effort to stay in touch with other parents to arrange convenient times for their children to socialize. When pupils are able to comfortably maintain their existing friendships, they’re likely to feel more confident in forming new connections with other homeschooled children.
While homeschooling is one of many great ways to learn, and while the number of homeschooled children in the U.S. is in fact increasing, school-educated pupils do still make up the majority. Promoting friendships between home-educated and school-educated children can help to bridge the gap between different ways of learning and interacting with society.
Join a home education social group
There are lots of social support groups that home education families can connect with to meet like-minded parents and children, receive advice and support, and engage in new social activities and experiences. These communities can be a wonderful resource for parents and pupils, helping both to form new friendships.
Group meetups can take many different forms. They may happen online or in person, and they often consist of family-friendly educational or social events. Sports days, craft workshops and field trips may all be on the agenda, allowing home-educated children to have fun with their peers in a variety of different environments.
Because the homeschooling community is so tight-knit and consists of many parents working towards a shared goal, encouraging friendships between pupils often becomes a productive, collaborative effort.
Explore new places and activities
Venturing outside of the group environment together can help homeschooled children further develop the friendships they have made. Parents may choose to take their children to see new places, or perhaps try new activities that they wouldn’t be able to do within their more formal meeting groups.
Sporting activities can be great for building trust and developing social skills. If your child is particularly reserved, they may prefer to visit parks, museums and other attractions where they can spend time with their peers in a less intense environment.
Above all else, parents and caregivers should remember that friendships can’t be forced – even amongst children. By taking a laid-back approach and exercising empathy and encouragement, parents can help home-educated children to feel more comfortable in social settings and confident in making new friends.
Guest blog post by Liza Ellis- Digital Content Researcher / Digital Communications Specialist.