How to Keep Homeschooled Children Socially Engaged

For parents who chose to homeschool before 2020, ensuring their children were socially engaged was already top of mind. However, when coupled with the swift social distancing measures brought on by COVID-19, the semi-solitary nature of homeschooling can seem magnified tenfold.

In recent months, homeschooling parents—especially those who are new to the process—have dealt with their fair share of struggles. One of them has been preventing their kids from feeling socially isolated. 

In July, a survey conducted by Varsity Tutors found that 47% of parents are considering homeschooling this fall—an astounding amount considering that only about 3% of American kids had been homeschooled previously.

Given the increasing popularity of homeschooling in the U.S., parents can try the following measures to ensure their children still interact meaningfully with their peers. 

Capitalize on social media

Social media is one way to bring young people together. One study by Common Sense Media found that 23% of children aged 8-12 have their own social media accounts. Even more surprisingly, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 75% of teens aged 13-17 have at least one active social media profile. So why not use the omnipresence of social media for your child’s benefit? 

When used for the right reasons, social media can keep your children connected to their peers. But how? You and your child can create a Facebook group centered around a specific goal or activity, such as science experiments or singing—the sky’s the limit. Within this group, you can plan virtual meetups during which all participants can interact in real time. 

If your child is a teenager, he or she will likely prefer to do the organizing independently. Younger kids will need more assistance with the logistics, but they should still be involved in the process. If you’re unsure about who to add to the group, consider the possibility that there’s a similar group already in existence that you can join. 

The group(s) your child participates in don’t need to be academic in nature—allow your student to indulge in hobbies through social media, as well. The most important thing is for your child to feel like a part of something bigger and to relate to their peers. Learning would be an additional benefit of this social media endeavor but should not necessarily be the sole focus of it. 

Take advantage of library programs

Public libraries tend to be an overlooked and underestimated resource for keeping young people socially engaged and involved in their communities. A survey conducted in the fiscal year 2017-2018 found that American public libraries offered an average of 17.3 programs for every 1,000 people. Of the 17.3 programs, 9.5 were geared toward children, and 1.7 were oriented toward young adults. 

Far from being limited to book clubs, the programs offered by libraries span several distinct disciplines and pastimes. For instance, in August 2020, the Huntington Public Library in New York extended free or low-cost classes in yoga, writing, piano, sign language, and craft-making—all of which are conducted via Zoom. (Public libraries take social distancing seriously, with many moving their media online and even limiting patrons’ time allowed on the premises.) 

With the wide program selection that most libraries extend, there’s likely to be an activity of interest for students of all backgrounds. And, in the unusual case there isn’t, your child can request a specific course or workshop directly with their local librarians. Most libraries are open to new ideas based on patron demands. If enough patrons show interest in your child’s proposal, their wish may be granted.

Turn to educational video games

While video games often have a bad reputation, educational ones can serve to promote your child’s learning and encourage social engagement with their peers. The Family Lives Foundation explains that, “Play is one of the main ways in which children learn and develop. It helps to build self worth by giving a child a sense of his or her own abilities and to feel good about themselves.” The foundation also notes how play can develop “essential skills such as problem solving, working with others, sharing and much more.”  

You may already know that some video games include a chat function where players can message one another. The same is true for certain educational video games. In fact, the chat function is an easy way for your child to make new friends with similar interests. Your child can then play the same games on a team, which encourages cooperation and collaborative learning. View the Open Education Database for a list of 50 educational video games that homeschoolers love.  

Homeschooled students can remain just as socially engaged as any other type of student in the COVID-19 era—they may just need a little bit more effort and creativity on the part of their parents. 

Tiffany Sorensen holds a Master of Science in Spanish-English Translation from New York University. She works remotely from sunny Mexico, where she gives English and Spanish classes, writes educational articles, and designs practice tests for the ACT.