How to Find Homeschool Community and Support
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Homeschooling can be lonely without a strong support system. That’s why it’s so important to find your homeschool community. If you’ve ever struggled to find your tribe, you’ll appreciate the following tips.
Have you had trouble finding a supportive homeschool community? You are not alone! I am right there with you! Finding supportive homeschool groups can be hard, especially if you’re an introverted homeschool mom like me.
We homeschool parents carry loads of pressure to be perfect and to do this homeschool thing right. We need allies, cheerleaders, and friends to support us on this educational journey. But finding our homeschool community and support system is frequently easier said than done.
Finding A Homeschool Community
To find your homeschool tribe, you’ve got to put yourself out there. Repeatedly! That’s hard. Rejection and feeling like you don’t belong are hard, too. It may take a while to find your people, but when you do, it is so worth it!
Finding a homeschool community can help in more ways than one. A strong homeschool support system allows you to:
- Make friends (we all need someone to talk to)
- Provide an opportunity for your kids to make friends
- See that no one is perfect
- Understand that we all struggle and can help lift each other up
- See that there are other homeschool parents in the trenches just like you
- Tap into a fantastic source of homeschool help (or just general parenting help)
A Supportive Community
It may surprise you, but finding your homeschool community doesn’t always have to include fellow homeschoolers. It can be any group that is supportive of your children and your family.
We have found a wonderfully supportive tribe through several different outlets unrelated to homeschooling. One of those is a volunteer program for reading to shelter animals. We do this weekly and my kiddos have made great friends with others who also love cats, dogs, and reading. Snuggling and reading to these fur friends give the animals exposure to people, which helps make them more adoptable. This beautiful volunteer program also gets the kids in the mindset of serving in the community.
My kids are not into traditional sports. However, they love to move! Through that love of movement, another place we have found support is with our local ballet classes and ballet theater. The children have made incredible friends while I have found like-minded moms! I even started an adult ballet class!
Then there are the horses. My son started a 4-H horse club this year, and now he and my daughter take weekly horse-riding lessons. We have met such lovely people at the horse barns. Some are also homeschoolers while others are not, but they are all incredibly compassionate and caring when it comes to my kids. I really appreciate that.
Finding Your Support System and Homeschool Community
One of the easiest places to start seeking community is through any number of extracurricular activities that you or your children already participate in or those you would like to try! Need some ideas?
4-H Club
As I mentioned, my son loves the 4-H horse club. And, I love it because it’s free! You can visit the 4-H Club website to learn more about what they offer and to find groups in your area.
Some common programs include agriculture, STEM, and healthy living, but there are many others, depending on where you live. We had a friend whose son developed incredible skills in archery through a 4-H club.
STEM Groups
If your child has a particular interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, look for local STEM club opportunities. In addition to 4-H, many organizations such as the Boys/Girls Clubs of America, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts offer STEM-related activities.
Ask your local librarian or check your library’s bulletin board. Or check your state and local homeschool support group websites and newsletters for potential leads.
Sports
Organized sports can be a great way to connect with a support system for you and your kids. In larger cities, there are often homeschool-specific sports opportunities. Other options include community swim teams, recreation leagues, Upward Sports, or gymnastics centers.
My daughter and I made friends with a mom and her girls after seeing them at both the library and YMCA swimming lessons. Yes, it was a little awkward for this introverted mama to strike up a conversation, but it turned into a years-long friendship for adults and kids alike.
The Arts
Whether your kids’ talents lie in fine arts (such as painting or sculpting), performance arts (such as dance or theater), or textile arts (such as sewing or knitting), their involvement in pursuing these interests can provide another path to finding your people.
Check to see what options are available in your community. Many hobby shops host a variety of art classes. Shops that sell sewing machines or quilting supplies often offer classes. And, most cities offer options for kids to pursue dance and theater.
Trampoline and Skate Parks
Your gymnast or skater boy (or girl!) may forge friendships at your local trampoline center or skate park. If you go during the day, you increase your odds of meeting fellow homeschooling families, but, as stated, your support doesn’t have to exclusively consist of other homeschoolers.
Co-op
If your area offers a homeschool co-op or two, consider checking them out. Some co-ops offer more extracurricular offerings such as field trips, art, and music, while others are focused on academics. Depending on your needs, this can be a great place to build your support system!
Community Service
Find your people and give back to your community at the same time by volunteering for local community service opportunities. Maybe your local animal shelter has a reading program similar to the ones my kids participated in. Or, maybe they need dog walkers.
Volunteer to serve meals at the soup kitchen or sort and tag items at the thrift store.
Library
Your local library is probably already a huge support to your homeschool, but be sure to dig a little deeper. Many libraries have book clubs or host special events for kids. Some even offer events and activities specifically for the local homeschooling community.
Church
If you and your family attend church, don’t overlook the friendship opportunities there. If you haven’t already, get involved in the activities they offer kids and youth, or in adult Bible study groups – because you need support and friendship, too, mamas!
Mom’s Night Out
Speaking of support for mamas, look for Mom’s Night Out opportunities. Most communities and local homeschool groups offer a monthly mom’s night. Getting together with a group of homeschooling moms has saved my sanity more than a time or two!
Community Classes
In addition to art classes, as mentioned before, check for things like cooking or cake decorating classes. Maybe you and your kids would like to learn sign language or take a writing class. Do you have a children’s museum, zoo, or aquarium? They may offer classes or volunteer opportunities.
Whatever your interests are, you’re probably not alone so see what your community has to offer.
Start Your Own Group
And, if you can’t find a good source locally, start your own homeschool support group! Chances are, you’re not the only one desperate for friendship and a support system.
If a homeschool support group just isn’t your thing, start any other kind of group for people with common interests. You might check to see if a local bookstore has space for hosting a book club, for example. (Or head to the library.) We were once part of a group that did story time for the littles while the bigger kids met to discuss the book they’d read that month.
Online Homeschool Communities
Don’t forget the online communities! You can find supportive groups on Facebook and blogs. Connecting with these online communities helps when you’re feeling lonely and can’t get together with “in-person” friends.
General groups are great, but you can also look for groups specific to your needs such as giftedness, special needs, large family homeschooling, gameschooling, or working homeschool moms. I am a big fan of the Homeschool Alliance, created by Brave Writer creator and author Julie Bogart. It’s a wonderful source of inspiration and wisdom from like-minded moms.
I love that online groups can help us find other moms with similar experiences as our own. Some of my best friends are the ones I met through these online forums.
When seeking your homeschool tribe, look for others with similar interests and those who celebrate the uniqueness of you and your kiddos. Don’t be afraid to meet new people…even people who may seem completely different than yourself. Those may be where some of your most fantastic supporters and friendships form.
What are your best tips for finding a supportive parenting and homeschool community?
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Erin Vincent is a homeschooling mom to two intense kids. They are child led with a heavy emphasis on read alouds, games, art, nature hikes, and hands on science! They traded the hustle and bustle of city life for the quiet farm life where opportunities for exploration in nature abound. When they're not homeschooling you'll find Erin curled up with a cup of coffee and a good book!. You can find Erin at Nourishing My Scholar.