4 Ways To Help Homeschooled Children Build Strong Social Skills

There is a myth floating around that says homeschooled children often lack key social skills. Can you believe that? We know first hand that is just simply not true. Homeschooling offers endless social opportunities for children and we encourage homeschool parents to take advantage of them and support their children’s growth. It’s important for homeschool parents to remember that they are not only responsible for their child’s education, but also for their socialization.

Here are four ways that parents can help their homeschooled children build strong social skills:

Community Park Days  

Local community parks often organize outdoor events that allow homeschooling families to gather and socialize. We encourage homeschooling families to visit their local recreation departments and stay informed of these types of social events. Park days can help homeschooling children interact with other children of all ages and develop key social skills. These community events give children the opportunity to practice their verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Park days are also great resources for adults. They can support their children while they play and navigate new social experiences. The gatherings bring homeschooling parents together to discuss their experiences and listen to advice from others to enhance their own homeschooling practices. Lastly, park days are a fun way to spend time outside!

Museums & Amusement Parks

Many museums and local attractions like zoos, aquariums, and amusement parks organize special events specifically for homeschooled children. Parents can use these programs to enhance their child’s learning while encouraging them to socialize with other children. Compass Charter Schools (CCS) organizes several field trips throughout the school year that allow homeschooling scholars to attend these special programs. They provide group settings that allow children to develop key social skills like sharing, patience, taking turns and much more. The events often offer free or discounted admission for homeschooling families and engaging enrichment activities to help children grow academically and socially.

Local Non-profit Organizations

Parents can help their homeschooled children build strong social skills by encouraging them to participate in local non-profit organizations. Volunteering can help children develop several important social skills like gratitude, compassion, and teamwork. Many communities have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities for children and their families like local clean-ups, creative arts, food drives and much more. These organizations often provide social and educational experiences to help volunteers develop specific skills all while learning about the world around them and engaging with other people. Volunteering can help children learn how to socialize with other children and with adults.

Social Groups

Many parents often enroll their homeschooled children in local social groups like the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts of America. There are other types of social groups like community learning centers, homeschooling co-ops and local performing arts clubs that homeschooling children can join. These groups give homeschooling children the chance to have fun and learn with their peers. They often provide homeschooled children the opportunity to express themselves, be creative, and explore specific areas of interest. They can also help homeschoolers develop important skills like teamwork, responsibility and much more. Most importantly, social groups often provide a lot of fun for children of all ages!

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Compass Charter Schools (CCS) is a WASC-accredited virtual charter school that serves families throughout California. Interested in learning more about CCS’ flexible academic programs? Visit our website, or contact our enrollment team at enrollment@compasscharters.org or (877) 506-8631.