Nanny to Mommy

Homeschooling has long been an option available to parents and kids, but it’s not always talked about. Once the pandemic hit and schools across the country were shuttered, suddenly there was renewed interest in this form of schooling and parents who had never considered it before were making the switch.

If you’re still relatively new to the world of homeschooling, there’s no doubt you’ve got questions and you’ve already encountered some challenges. Here we’ll take a look at some of the best and most enjoyable ways to keep kids socializing even though they are being homeschooled.

Just as kids would experience them if they were at school, field trips are equally as important for homeschooled kids. It is a chance to get out of the “classroom”, have new experiences, meet different people and enrich their understanding and knowledge regarding various topics. Some of the best places to take kids for a field trip during homeschool hours include:

- Museums

- Science center

- Zoo

- State Park

- Local swimming pool

- Library

- Ballet or theater performances

- Local farmer's market, orchard or farm

- Local power plant

- Water treatment facility

- Fire stations

- City or state capitol buildings

- Courthouse

Keep in mind that some of these may require you to book a tour or visit rather than just showing up unannounced.

One thing about homeschooling is that the network is much bigger than you may have originally thought. When parents first embark down the path of homeschooling, they can feel alone, a bit scared, overwhelmed and in over their heads. This is why it’s important to join homeschool parent forums and groups that can provide support, advice and useful tips. But there’s no need to keep those interactions online only; in fact, this is a great opportunity to socialize kids.

Why not plan a big gathering or event for all the local homeschooling families? You can stick to your town or city or reach out to neighboring towns as well. All the families can chip in towards the location rental fee, activities and games, food and drinks and so forth. You can even pick a theme such as a carnival and rent carnival game trailers. The kids will have a great time and potentially meet some new friends. It can be their end-of-the-year bash that they look forward to.

Here's a little-known piece of information. Some states will allow homeschooled students to take part in extracurricular activities at their designated public school. You can always contact the school directly or talk to the school district. This means they can join sports teams, clubs and other groups. So, why is socialization so important? Why go to all this trouble? Kids need to form bonds and friendships, which means you need to get out of the house and meet people. They can still have the homeschool experience while benefiting from in-person interactions.