How To Plan Social Activities For Your Homeschooled Child

Steps

1. Look for established groups. There are likely many different homeschool groups for a variety of activities and ages in your area. They may meet once or twice a month - or even more often - for games, physical activities, music or drama clubs, field trips, or crafts.
2. Consider starting a group. If you don't find any for the age range or activities that interest your child, start your own! Would your children enjoy a reading club? Chess? Swimming? Ice skating? Gardening? Singing in a choir? Hiking? Volunteer work? The possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Likely other families would also be interested but haven't taken the initiative to do it themselves.
3. 

   Mayday activity
   Plan an activity. Plan something that is age appropriate for all in the group, such as mini golf, a trip to a museum, the movies, a get-together art class, basketball game, or simply pizza and kickball.
4. Find a location. You can look to churches, community centers, parks, libraries, or even businesses for rooms to fit your group's needs. Some may charge a fee, but others will be happy to let you use their facilities for a donation or service hours - or even at no charge!
5. Advertise your group or activity. Contact other homeschool parents through local organizations. Advertise on homeschool forums, newsletters, websites, or in the newspaper.
6. Keep a regular schedule. Plan events to fit your schedule, and make it a regular occasion - such as every third Saturday or the first Wednesday of each month.

Tips

• Don't limit yourself to homeschool-only groups. After-school-hours activities with other children are a great way to keep involved in the community as a whole.
• Look for classes offered through your city or community groups - such as art, drama, dance, or music classes. Your local public library may also offer age-appropriate activities.
• Check out sports classes at the Y and other community recreation centers, or sporting events with children of similar ages to your child.
• Look to other organizations such as scouts or 4H for fun and educational activities with a variety of other children.
• 

  Sledding with a group
  Not every activity has to be educational. Plan fun times as well as more education-based activites.
• Join your local religious group. No matter what your religion, they will welcome you with open arms and also get you socializing with the group.

Warnings

• Stick with your schedule. Not everyone will be able to make every event, no matter how you try to work it out.