100 ways homeschool kids get socialization

November 6, 3:01 PMMankato Homeschooling ExaminerAlicia Bayer

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Homeschoolers of all ages playing at the park

credit: Alicia Bayer

The socialization myth is one of the most persistent plagues on homeschooling families.  The public seems to have an image of homeschooled children locked in their houses, lined up in school desks in the basement while Mom points to a blackboard.  The reality is that most homeschool families spend as much time outside of the home as in it, and socialization opportunities are everywhere.

Here are 100 ways that homeschool kids can get socialization...

1. Park days
2. Scout Groups
3. Little league
4. Hanging out at friends' houses
5. Homeschool coops
6. Homeschool Days at sites like the Jeffers Petroglyphs
7. Volunteering
8. Playing with neighbor kids
9. Homeschool swim days
10. Playing with cousins and other relatives
11. Taking part in community theater
12. Library clubs
13. Church groups
14. Homeschool Memberships to science museums
15. Community education classes
16. Homeschool ice skating days
17. Homeschool ski days
18. Shopping and running errands with the family
19. Science conferences for kids like the Science and Nature Conference
20. Joining historical reenactment groups like the SCA
21. Chatting with friends on the internet
22. Homeschool bowling days
23. Taking part in History Fest
24. Chatting with and helping out neighbors
25. Calling friends on the phone
26. Pen pals (online and snail mail)
27. Art conferences like the Young Artists Conference
28. Spending time with family and playing with siblings
29. Visiting nursing homes
30. Weekly homeschool programs like Maplewood's
31. Playing on local soccer leagues
32. Traveling and meeting new people from all over
33. Not-back-to-school parties for homeschoolers
34. Zoo programs
35. Homeschool days at Valley Fair
36. Homeschool days at the Renaissance Fest
37. Gymnastics classes
38. Joining the local historical society and taking part in events
39. Group tours of factories and plants
40. Reading clubs and book clubs
41. Social groups like Minnesota Homeschooling Teens
42. Language classes
43. Homeschool support groups for families with young children, like ECHO
44. Music classes and lessons
45. Attending rendesvous events like Bloomington's
46. Interviewing celebrities for the news (yes, one of my children did this!)
47. Getting celebrities to visit your little town (yep, she did that too)
48. Karate and other martial arts classes
49. Photography clubs
50. 4-H
51. Woodworking clubs
52. Astronomy clubs
53. Homeschool band
54. T-ball
55. Running errands, making purchases, dealing with shops and businesses
56. Art classes
57. Sleep overs (even on "school" nights!)
58. Lego robotics competitions (the competition and the time with group members building their entries)
59. Striking up conversations and making friends with people of all ages, all over
60. Talking with parents and other adults in their lives
61. Spending time in book stores
62. Odyssey of the Mind group challenges
63. Walking the dog
64. Writing conferences like the Conference for Young Writers
65. Garage sales
66. Babysitting and doing other jobs in the community
67. Visiting with elders in the community
68. Taking part in nature programs
69. Bringing outgrown clothes and toys to shelters
70. Chatting with the staff at museums, parks and nature centers
71. Helping out at the humane society
72. Visiting beekeepers and farmers
73. Getting together with homeschool families for theme days
74. Going to openings at local art galleries (or just going on a Tuesday afternoon,  talking about the art and chatting with the staff)
75. Visiting local horse stables and trading learning or riding lessons for work
76. Homeschool parties for holidays like Valentine's Day, Mardis Gras and Halloween
77. Hanging out at the mall
78. Nature clubs
79. Taking part in free woodshops for kids at Home Depot
80. Touring pumpkin patches and apple orchards
81. Summer camp
82. Taking part in extracurricular programs like band and sports through local schools (homeschoolers are eligible to take part in public school programs in MN but not in all states)
83. Wacky homeschool events like pajama parties in the park
84. Trick or treating
85. Bringing cookies to the local fire station
86. Visiting children's museums like The Works
87. Joining groups like the Betsy-Tacy society (our kids frequently help out at this one by dressing up as period girls and selling lemonade, doing readers' theater skits, etc.)
88. Homeschool days at Vertical Endeavors and other rock climbing centers
89. Attending free family concerts like these from the MN Orchestra
90. Homeschool theater programs like Stages
91. Camping parties
92. National unschooling conferences (which tend to have days of fun activities for parents and kids alike)
93. City celebrations, carnivals and fairs
94. Staying with friends and relatives out of town
95. Winter waterpark getaways with other homeschoolers
96. Dance classes
97. Taking part in online communities like New Moon Girls
98. Taking part in real archeology digs
99. Lemonade stands
100. Just being out experiencing life!

This is just the tip of the iceberg.  I know other homeschool families could add lots more!