Homeschooled students tend to have unique experiences when it comes to making friends. This can be especially true for those who have only started homeschooling recently, have yet to find friends in the homeschooling community, or don’t have friends who also live nearby.
Making a connection with like-minded individuals may require searching a bit further and creatively utilizing the available resources to make meaningful connections.
Understanding Different Ways to Make Friends
When it comes to making friends, homeschooled students might find themselves feeling a bit unsure of how to go about it. That’s why it’s important to first understand different ways of making friends in order to make the process less intimidating. One way is through mutual interests in activities, such as joining a book club or a robotics team.
Another way is through organizations devoted to homeschooling, like field trips, or attending community events. Finally, there are social media platforms, like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, that are great ways to link with those who share similar interests.
Benefits of Joining an Organization
Joining an organization devoted to homeschooling can be an especially great way for a homeschooled student to make friends. The benefits of joining an organization become even more evident when it is a homeschool specific organization. These organizations provide an organized framework to connect students and help them stay involved with the broader homeschool community.
Many of these organizations provide community events such as science days, student consults, and social functions, that can increase homeschoolers’ opportunities to form meaningful relationships. Furthermore, some organizations offer support networks and resources such as mentoring programs, college and career readiness guidance, and academic materials.
This additional support can further enhance the opportunities for homeschoolers to find individuals with similar interests and backgrounds.
Metting People Through Online Resources
Social media is an increasingly popular way for people to meet, build meaningful connections, and keep in contact with others. Therefore, homeschooled students can also use these platforms as a way to make friends.
Through social media, homeschooled students can find other homeschoolers or people with common hobbies and interests. For example, Facebook itself has many groups or pages that are devoted to homeschooling and connecting homeschoolers together. In addition, there are many websites and blogs dedicated to providing advice for homeschoolers.
These sites can serve as great resources for those looking for advice on how to make the most out of their homeschool experience, as well as for advice on how to make friends and positive connections with other homeschoolers in the community.
Attending Local Events or Field Trips
Joining clubs or activities related to one’s interests is a great way to make friends, but sometimes it can be beneficial to be part of something bigger. Attending local events or field trips is a great way for homeschoolers to make new friends and connect with people of similar ages and interests. Field trips are great ways to experience and explore new places while interacting with new people.
Local events, such as art festivals and lectures, can also provide unique social opportunities. At these kinds of events, homeschoolers can engage and network with others, find common interests, and build meaningful relationships.
Participating in Homeschool Events & Activities
Homeschoolers can even take part in homeschool-specific events and activities. Participating in events like academic competitions and projects is a great way for homeschoolers to make friends within their homeschooling organization as well as to meet other homeschoolers from all over the country.
Furthermore, some homeschool groups and programs offer things such as field trips to cool places, TED talks, and hangout spaces, all of which can result in finding new friends. For example, some homeschool programs organize activities such as recreational classes, movie nights, and field trips that can serve as informal ways to gather a group and make lasting friendships based on shared interests.
Networking with Friends of Friends
Making a concerted effort to connect with friends of friends can also be beneficial. If a homeschooler’s current friends have other friends who have similar interests but do not homeschool, they can be an invaluable asset in forming relationships within the broader community.
Similarly, if a homeschooler’s friends have other homeschooled friends, the homeschooled buddy system can be a great way to meet other homeschooled peers.
Utilizing Technology for Social Interaction
The internet and various social media platforms can also be leveraged for social interaction in the homeschool setting. Online group chats can also be a great way for homeschooled students to meet and develop friendships with people from different locations or backgrounds.
In addition, apps such as Discord, Snapchat, or Skype can provide a virtual safe haven for homeschooled students to talk and make friends from the comfort of their own homes.
Becoming Involved in Local Clubs & Organizations
Homeschoolers can take the initiative to become more involved in the local community in order to make friends. Clubs and organizations offer great opportunities to meet like-minded people and make a meaningful connection.
Organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs or the YMCA often have programs such as sports teams and after-school activities that can get homeschoolers connected with the community. Starting a local homeschoolers club can also be a great way to build relationships with those in the area.
Maintaining Connections
As with any relationship, forming a strong bond with friends requires effort and communication. Homeschooled students should make sure to maintain their connections with their friends over time.
Staying in contact with friends from field trips or guest lectures is important in order to form and sustain meaningful relationships. There are also lots of creative ways to stay connected with friends, such as virtual hangouts, exchanging letters, or setting up shared movies or games on Netflix.
Conclusion
The key to finding lasting friendships for homeschooled students is understanding different ways to make friends and taking action to become an active participant in their own socialization process. By joining organizations tailored to homeschoolers, getting involved in the local community, and utilizing online resources to reach out to others, homeschoolers have a range of options to find and nurture friendships.
The best way to make friends is by taking the initiative to reach out and maintain those connections over time.