{"id":33694,"date":"2024-07-25T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-25T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/?p=33694"},"modified":"2024-07-30T12:04:21","modified_gmt":"2024-07-30T17:04:21","slug":"10-ways-help-homeschooler-find-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/10-ways-help-homeschooler-find-friends\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Easy Ways to Help Your Homeschooler Find Friends"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A year or so of at-home schooling for U.S. students successfully changed the perception of homeschooling for many. These days, more people will concede that the stereotypical image of a weird, unsocialized homeschooler doesn&rsquo;t fit most homeschooled kids. However, if you are a family new to (or considering) homeschooling, have recently moved, or live in an area <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/how-to-find-activities-for-homeschooled-teens\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>without an active homeschool community<\/strong><\/a>, you may have legitimate reasons to wonder how to help your homeschooler find friends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I remember wondering the same thing eons ago when we were a new homeschooling family &ndash; and again nearly a decade into homeschooling before my youngest met her BFF. Over the years, I&rsquo;ve discovered several tips and resources that have proven successful for us and other homeschooling families.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id33694_bc2efc-92 .kb-table-of-content-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);background-color:var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id33694_bc2efc-92 .kb-table-of-contents-title-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id33694_bc2efc-92 .kb-table-of-contents-title-wrap{color:var(--global-palette5, #4A5568);}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id33694_bc2efc-92 .kb-table-of-contents-title{color:var(--global-palette5, #4A5568);font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id33694_bc2efc-92 .kb-table-of-content-wrap .kb-table-of-content-list{color:var(--global-palette7, #EDF2F7);font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;margin-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id33694_bc2efc-92 .kb-table-of-content-wrap .kb-table-of-content-list .kb-table-of-contents__entry:hover{color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id33694_bc2efc-92 .kb-toggle-icon-style-basiccircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:after, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id33694_bc2efc-92 .kb-toggle-icon-style-basiccircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:before, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id33694_bc2efc-92 .kb-toggle-icon-style-arrowcircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:after, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id33694_bc2efc-92 .kb-toggle-icon-style-arrowcircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:before, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id33694_bc2efc-92 .kb-toggle-icon-style-xclosecircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:after, .kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id33694_bc2efc-92 .kb-toggle-icon-style-xclosecircle .kb-table-of-contents-icon-trigger:before{background-color:var(--global-palette1, #3182CE);}<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" data-pin-description=\"If your homeschooled kids are struggling to find their tribe, try these simple but effective tips to help your homeschooler find friends. \" data-pin-title=\"Ways to Help Your Homeschooler Find Friends\" src=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/teenagers-having-fun-playing-soccer-ball-on-a-park-8033814-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"Teenagers Having Fun Playing Soccer Ball on a Park\" class=\"wp-image-84874\" style=\"width:778px;height:auto\" title=\"10 Ways to Help Your Homeschooler Find Friends\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/teenagers-having-fun-playing-soccer-ball-on-a-park-8033814-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/teenagers-having-fun-playing-soccer-ball-on-a-park-8033814-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/teenagers-having-fun-playing-soccer-ball-on-a-park-8033814-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/teenagers-having-fun-playing-soccer-ball-on-a-park-8033814-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/teenagers-having-fun-playing-soccer-ball-on-a-park-8033814-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/teenagers-having-fun-playing-soccer-ball-on-a-park-8033814-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/teenagers-having-fun-playing-soccer-ball-on-a-park-8033814-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/teenagers-having-fun-playing-soccer-ball-on-a-park-8033814-123x82.jpg 123w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/teenagers-having-fun-playing-soccer-ball-on-a-park-8033814.jpg\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Easy Ways to Help Your Homeschooler Find Friends<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your child is struggling to find her people, try these simple tips to help your homeschooler find friends.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Join A Support Group<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An excellent way to get involved with local homeschoolers is to join a homeschool support group. Most organizations offer a variety of opportunities to get together, such as field trips, play dates, co-ops, and holiday parties. Search for homeschool support groups by state on<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hslda.org\/orgs\/default.asp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <b>Homeschool Legal Defense Association&rsquo;s Home School Organizations<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> page. You can find more groups listed by county when you click on the link for your state.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can also go directly to your statewide support group&rsquo;s website to find local listings. Most statewide homeschool associations maintain a listing of support groups within the state. If neither of those work, try searching your state name plus the keywords &ldquo;homeschool support group.&rdquo;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Check Out Online Groups<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For many years, my local source of homeschool support was a Yahoo-based email group. (Anybody remember those?) The group began in my family&rsquo;s first year of homeschooling with three or four homeschooling moms who barely knew each other but desperately wanted to forge friendships for our kids and ourselves.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/a-mother-caring-for-her-sick-daughter-8376257-500x333.jpg\" alt=\"A Mother Caring for Her Sick Daughter\" class=\"wp-image-84875\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/a-mother-caring-for-her-sick-daughter-8376257-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/a-mother-caring-for-her-sick-daughter-8376257-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/a-mother-caring-for-her-sick-daughter-8376257-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/a-mother-caring-for-her-sick-daughter-8376257-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/a-mother-caring-for-her-sick-daughter-8376257-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/a-mother-caring-for-her-sick-daughter-8376257-720x480.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/a-mother-caring-for-her-sick-daughter-8376257-800x533.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/a-mother-caring-for-her-sick-daughter-8376257-123x82.jpg 123w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/a-mother-caring-for-her-sick-daughter-8376257.jpg\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Within a few years, it grew into a huge group of over 100 families that became an incredible source for making friends, both online and off. The group eventually moved to Facebook and continued to grow.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Check your local homeschool support group&rsquo;s website for links to their social media accounts or search for local groups directly on Facebook. One of the benefits of an online support group is that members can get to know each other online, alleviating some of the awkwardness that can accompany meeting in person for the first time.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Online groups are also a fantastic way of making connections with the homeschooling community ahead of time if you&rsquo;re going to be moving to a new area. It was quite common for out-of-town families to join our group before moving to the area. They really appreciated having new friends eager to meet them when they arrived!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Visit Kid-Friendly Places During School Hours<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Head to your local playground, library, indoor play area, or children&rsquo;s museum. Any place where kids tend to congregate is worth checking out. (Chick-fil-A was always one of our favorites!) If there are school-aged children there during regular school hours, there&rsquo;s a pretty good chance that they&rsquo;re homeschoolers. Don&rsquo;t be afraid to ask. We&rsquo;ve made friends that way a few times.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And, by &ldquo;ask,&rdquo; I mean, your kids can ask the kids or you can strike up a friendly conversation with the parent and ask them. Don&rsquo;t just ask the kids. That&rsquo;s creepy.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Join Homeschool Classes Or Co-Ops&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While the emphasis may be on learning in class or co-op settings, there&rsquo;s always a little time for kids to chat before or after. Suggest a group play date or schedule something with the parents if you notice that your child has made a connection. If you&rsquo;ve got older kids, you may not have to do much of anything. My teens usually come home from classes with a new social media friend or two and numbers saved to their phones for texting.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a side benefit, you get a break from teaching one or more subjects that maybe aren&rsquo;t your favorites or that are enhanced by a group setting approach.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"750\" data-pin-description=\"If your homeschooled kids are struggling to find their tribe, try these simple but effective tips to help your homeschooler find friends. \" data-pin-title=\"Ways to Help Your Homeschooler Find Friends\" src=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-94-500x750.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-84727\" title=\"10 Ways to Help Your Homeschooler Find Friends\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-94-500x750.png 500w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-94-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-94-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-94-720x1080.png 720w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-94-800x1200.png 800w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-94-150x225.png 150w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-94.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-94.png\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Host A Get-Together&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether it&rsquo;s a&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/how-to-start-a-homeschool-book-club\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><b>book club<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, an art show, a nature club, or just a play date, if you invite them, they will come (usually). If you&rsquo;re not comfortable hosting an event in your home, try a local park, a kid-friendly restaurant, a library, or even a bookstore.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Our homeschool group had two very successful <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/hiphomeschoolmoms.com\/homeschoolers-guide-starting-book-club\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">book clubs <\/a><\/strong>at our local bookstore &ndash; one for middle school and up and a group for younger students that was more of a story time with a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/onlypassionatecuriosity.com\/category\/subjects\/art\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">craft project <\/a><\/strong>to keep the littles occupied while the big kids talked.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" data-pin-description=\"If your homeschooled kids are struggling to find their tribe, try these simple but effective tips to help your homeschooler find friends. \" data-pin-title=\"How to Help Your Homeschooler Find Friends\" src=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-91-500x500.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-84730\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-91-500x500.png 500w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-91-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-91-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-91-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-91-70x70.png 70w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-91-720x720.png 720w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-91-400x400.png 400w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-91-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-91-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-91-96x96.png 96w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-91.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-91.png\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Go To Homeschool Events&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My youngest met her BFF at a homeschool dance hosted by a local organization. It wasn&rsquo;t our support group, but a larger group that hosts community-wide social events for homeschoolers throughout the year. The two girls had a few mutual friends, so they wound up hanging out and chatting during the dance.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My son also met his BFF (they&rsquo;ve been friends for more than a decade now!)&nbsp; at one of our early email-based group&rsquo;s homeschool outings. The other boy&rsquo;s mom was one of the parents who got to know some of the other moms through the email group before their move here from out of state<\/span>, so score one for online homeschool support groups!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Go To Church<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yeah, I know not everyone attends church, and you shouldn&rsquo;t go just to meet friends. However, we are church-goers, and ours has been a fantastic place for forging friendships. My son and his BFF met Musketeer #3 (also over a decade-long friendship for the three) at church. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The kids have met other friends in their life groups on Sunday morning and youth group on Sunday night. Because it&rsquo;s a large church with students from a variety of local schools (public, private, and home), we don&rsquo;t have to deal with too much of the clique-iness that can happen when all the kids know each other from school.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8. Pursue Hobbies&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pursuing your child&rsquo;s hobbies has the added benefit of providing a fantastic way for him to meet friends. Common interests can provide the spark that ignites a fledgling friendship. Consider activities such as:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" data-pin-description=\"If your homeschooled kids are struggling to find their tribe, try these simple but effective tips to help your homeschooler find friends. \" data-pin-title=\"Ways to Help Your Homeschooler Find Friends\" src=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-87-500x500.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-84734\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-87-500x500.png 500w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-87-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-87-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-87-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-87-70x70.png 70w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-87-720x720.png 720w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-87-400x400.png 400w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-87-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-87-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-87-96x96.png 96w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-87.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-87.png\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sports<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Drama and community theater<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dance<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Homeschool or community classes such as art, photography, music, or baking<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Volunteering (My kids used to love volunteering at the local animal shelter!)<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scouting<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4H<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Music classes or choirs<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When we first began homeschooling, my oldest was into all things <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/4cRddod\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">American Girls<\/a><\/strong>. We heard about a small, parent-led group that met weekly to read the books, do a craft, and make a recipe. There were only four or five girls who attended, but that&rsquo;s where my oldest met her kindred spirit. They&rsquo;re both now approaching 30 years old and still maintain contact!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whatever your child&rsquo;s interests, check out your local homeschool support group&rsquo;s newsletter or social media outlets (like our <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/HipHomeschoolMomsCommunity\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Hip Homeschool Moms Facebook Community<\/a><\/strong>), check community event pages, and follow related groups or businesses on social media to keep up with events that might provide a chance both to pursue that interest and forge new friendships.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"263\" data-pin-description=\"If your homeschooled kids are struggling to find their tribe, try these simple but effective tips to help your homeschooler find friends. \" data-pin-title=\"Ways to Help Your Homeschooler Find Friends\" src=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-93-500x263.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-84728\" style=\"width:720px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-93-500x263.png 500w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-93-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-93-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-93-720x378.png 720w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-93-800x420.png 800w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-93-150x79.png 150w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-93.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-93.png\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">9. Be Bold&nbsp;<\/span>in Helping Your Homeschooler Find Friends<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Megan and her BFF did meet and chat at a dance, it wasn&rsquo;t until the other girl&rsquo;s mom called and suggested a hang out (or whatever you call it when they&rsquo;re teenagers and too grown for play dates) that they really cemented their friendship. The mom and I were acquainted through homeschool circles. When she learned that Megan and her daughter had talked and discovered some common interests, she stepped way out of her comfort zone by calling me and arranging a time for the girls to get together, and the rest is history.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your child hits it off with a potential friend at an event and they&rsquo;re unlikely to see each other on a regular basis afterward, take the initiative to provide opportunities for them to get to know one another.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"263\" data-pin-description=\"If your homeschooled kids are struggling to find their tribe, try these simple but effective tips to help your homeschooler find friends. \" data-pin-title=\"Ways to Help Your Homeschool Find Friends\" src=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-89-500x263.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-84732\" style=\"width:728px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-89-500x263.png 500w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-89-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-89-768x403.png 768w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-89-720x378.png 720w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-89-800x420.png 800w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-89-150x79.png 150w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-89.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-89.png\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">10. Maintain Friendships&nbsp;<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&rsquo;re <\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/homeschooling.about.com\/od\/gettingstarted\/fl\/4-Tips-to-Easily-Transition-from-Public-School-to-Homeschool.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">transitioning from public school to homeschool<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or moving to a new area, make an effort to maintain your kids&rsquo; current friendships. Arrange visits and play dates or let the kids chat over Skype or FaceTime. Encourage them to write letters and provide time for them to talk on the phone, text, email, or chat over Facebook.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"750\" data-pin-description=\"If your homeschooled kids are struggling to find their tribe, try these simple but effective tips to help your homeschooler find friends. \" data-pin-title=\"Ways to Help Your Homeschooler Find Friends\" src=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-92-500x750.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-84729\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-92-500x750.png 500w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-92-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-92-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-92-720x1080.png 720w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-92-800x1200.png 800w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-92-150x225.png 150w, https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-92.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Untitled-design-92.png\"><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leave time in your school schedule for your kids to hang out with their public school friends after school, on weekends, and on school holidays.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most kids just need an opportunity to get together to start forming friendships. Fostering those friendships may take a little more work for homeschooling parents than it would for parents of children in a typical school setting, but the results are worth it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And, remember, because homeschooled kids aren&rsquo;t segregated into similar age groups like kids in traditional school settings, age differences don&rsquo;t really mean much to them. So, don&rsquo;t limit potential friendships to kids close to your kids&rsquo; age.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><b><i>How have your homeschooled kids met their friends?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If your child is struggling to find his or her people, try these 10 simple tips to help your homeschooler find friends.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":84881,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_wp_convertkit_post_meta":{"form":"-1","landing_page":"","tag":"0","restrict_content":"0"},"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"default","_kad_post_title":"default","_kad_post_layout":"default","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"default","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"default","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[125],"tags":[17423,17422,17108],"class_list":["post-33694","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-homeschooling-how-tos","tag-friend-groups","tag-friends","tag-homeschool-friends"],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":125,"label":"Homeschooling How-to's"}],"post_tag":[{"value":17423,"label":"friend groups"},{"value":17422,"label":"friends"},{"value":17108,"label":"homeschool friends"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/girls-drawing-on-steps-4910560-500x749.jpg",500,749,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Kris Bales","author_link":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/author\/kris_wuhsmom\/"},"comment_info":4,"category_info":[{"term_id":125,"name":"Homeschooling How-to's","slug":"homeschooling-how-tos","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":143,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":140,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":125,"category_count":140,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Homeschooling How-to's","category_nicename":"homeschooling-how-tos","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":17423,"name":"friend groups","slug":"friend-groups","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":17440,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":17422,"name":"friends","slug":"friends","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":17439,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":17108,"name":"homeschool friends","slug":"homeschool-friends","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":17125,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw"}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/girls-drawing-on-steps-4910560-scaled.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33694","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33694"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33694\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":84951,"href":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33694\/revisions\/84951"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/84881"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33694"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33694"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33694"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}