Ultimate List of 25 + Ways to Socialize: Bigs Edition!
* This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content. *
Ultimate List of 25+ Ways to Socialize: Bigs Edition!
Hey there, hip homeschool mom! We hope you and your family had an amazing summer. As we get back into the full swing of normal routines, you may be thinking about how to help your child juggle education with a rich social life. Because the truth is, even if others call us “unsocialized,” we homeschool families are quite the opposite. We are very intentional about socialization! And as a homeschool mom, I believe both aspects of that are important: the intentionality and the socializing. Socialization is a vital part of our children’s lives, friendships, and education. The ways we choose to socialize our kids matter!
With that in mind, we’re sharing an Ultimate List of Ways to Socialize for each of the following age categories: Littles, Middles, and Bigs! Today’s list is all about the Bigs!
So, what is a “Big?” Bigs refers to our big kids! For the purposes of this list, we’re mostly talking about tweens and teens between about 12 to 18. Kids in this age range are usually pretty confident about their interests, which often end up being the main connecting point for their friendships.
Bigs may already have an existing, or developing, core friend group. (Which is great!) As parents, we want to support our teens’ friendships while also helping them grow in positive ways (both emotionally and practically). However, this is also a stage that begins the shift towards young adulthood, where teens start to take more responsibility for their extracurricular and social activities.
I think we, as parents, can help our Bigs most by seeking out and encouraging them to participate in opportunities that will help them grow meaningful friendships while also continuing to learn and develop confidence.
But what if your Big is more of a loner? Chances are, if your big kid has an absence of friendships in their life, they start to feel it during these formative years. It can be lonely to be without a few good friends during this stage of childhood and adolescence. Fortunately, there are many great ways for teens to find valuable friendships as they take on responsibilities and pursue their areas of interest in a more independent and focused way.
This list of ways to socialize: bigs edition strives to keep the complexities of “Bigs” in mind while recognizing that the simplest way for them to socialize continues to be connecting with others over their areas of interest! Check out this Ultimate List for your Homeschooler of Ways to Socialize: Bigs Edition, and see if any of them might interest your “big kid!”
The Ultimate List of Homeschoolers’ Ways to Socialize: Bigs Edition!
1. Local Library Activities: The library has been on our socialization list for every single age for good reason; they have social activities for every age! Check with your local library to see if they offer opportunities for book-loving teens such as book clubs (or the opportunity to start one), crafting clubs, writing workshops, or even volunteer opportunities. And if your Big has an event or club idea that would be a good fit for the library, encourage them to pilot it!
2. Museum or Art Gallery Teen Events: Many museums and galleries offer teen-specific events, volunteer opportunities, and even internships. Your Big might be able to help out with art classes for younger students or take pictures for social media. These are great ways for your Big to connect with peers while deepening their knowledge of art and history. Volunteer/internship opportunities like this also look great on a job resume or college application for your art or history-loving kid.
3. Connect with Your Local Aquarium, Zoo, or Nature Center: Do you have an animal-loving tween or teen? Check with your local organizations for programs like youth leadership, job shadowing, or volunteer positions that allow your Big to explore their interest in animals and nature while making connections with others.
4. Debate Team or Club: Whether you have a quick-thinking teen who loves to argue, or an older child who could use a confidence boost or practice with public speaking, debate club can be a wonderful resource to gain hands-on experience that can be useful in the real world. Check out your community to see if there are any debate teams in your area. If there aren’t, check with your local homeschool organizations to see if you can start one! Debate helps teens develop critical thinking and communication skills while connecting with others about important topics.
5. Local Co-ops or Homeschool Group: If you’ve been involved in co-ops throughout your homeschool journey this far, encourage your Big to take on leadership roles within co-ops or homeschool groups. These years are a great time to get more involved, lead group projects, mentor younger homeschoolers or help plan events.
6. Language & Culture Club: For older teens, consider advanced language practice or conversation groups, or even connecting with international pen pals through a language and culture club.
7. Strategy Game or Debate Nights: Host or organize a strategy game or debate night with other families. These activities allow teens to engage in friendly competition and develop critical thinking skills.
8. Fitness or Running Club: Do you have an older child who is interested in fitness? See if you can encourage him or her to join or start a fitness or running club with some friends. They can set goals to work towards together, like training for a 5K race or getting in a certain number of training days a month.
9. Entrepreneurship & Farmers Markets: Encourage your teen to start a small business or side hustle. This can be a fantastic way to learn about responsibility, money management, and social skills. By participating in local markets in the community, they can connect with other young entrepreneurs.
10. Teen Programs at Science Centers: Many science centers offer specialized STEM workshops for teens. Your Big can take advantage of these opportunities to learn and meet others with similar interests. It could even lead to a good job or internship opportunity!
11. Homeschool Road Trips: A Homeschool Road Trip is always a great way to make friends that can last a lifetime! If you’re planning a road trip with other homeschooling families, involve your teen in the planning process. For example, they could research and choose some stops along the way, or document the trip through blogs or vlogs. This lets them feel more involved in their travel experience and contribute to the group as your family and friends make memories together.
12. Group Science Days: Get together with other homeschooling teens for a day of more advanced science experiments. These collaborative projects allow your Bigs to share their knowledge, work as a team, come up with their own hypotheses… and try out experiments they’ve researched to watch some cool chemical reactions! Parents can take turns planning a project for tweens and younger teens, while older teens may want to take on more of the planning themselves.
13. Culinary Competitions: If your Big has a passion for cooking, why not host culinary competitions with some friends? For example, you could play your own version of “Chopped,” where you have to figure out how to work with whatever is in the fridge, or make dinner with a budget of $10, or try a complex baking recipe straight out of “The Great British Baking Show.” These events are a fun way for young chefs to showcase their skills, learn new recipes, think creatively, and connect with others who share a love for food.
14. Visual Arts Club: If your Big has a passion for visual arts, suggest they join or start a film, graphic design, or photography club. These clubs provide a platform for creative expression and the opportunity to meet others who share their artistic interests. It could even turn into a side business, or simply a way to contribute to local organizations they are a part of.
15. History Buff Club: For history buffs, consider organizing historical reenactments, practice reciting historical speeches, or even recreating historical meals or costumes. These activities bring history to life and offer a unique way to socialize with peers, too.
16. Organize Community Service Projects with friends: Encourage your Big to take the lead in organizing a community service project with some friends. As the parent, you can help by facilitating and guiding the process. What are they interested in? What would work for everyone’s schedules? Participating in local cleanup, visiting a nursing home, or collecting and donating items to those in need are all wonderful activities that can build character and help tweens and teens develop confidence in their ability to help others.
17. Wilderness Survival Skills: If your teen loves to be outside, consider helping them start a club focused on wilderness survival skills. These activities combine socialization with the opportunity to be outside, observe the world around them, and learn valuable life skills in a fun, hands-on environment.
18. Church Youth Group Activities: Church youth groups are a great place for your tween or teen to be involved and make friends, especially if they are interested in learning more about faith. Youth groups also offer a family-style environment with positive adult leaders and chances for older kids to build friendships, and participate in service projects and group events. Sometimes these extend into smaller groups for deeper study, or even musical opportunities like worship band or choir.
19. Craft Fairs or Upcycling Projects: For creative teens, organizing a craft fair or working on upcycling projects with friends can be a rewarding experience. It’s a great way to socialize, express creativity, and even make a positive impact on the environment.
20. Local 4-H Leadership Programs: 4-H has been on all of our lists for each age range, but for older kids this organization offers fantastic opportunities for leadership and community involvement. Encourage your Big to take on a leadership role within 4-H, where they can mentor younger members and find some projects to be involved in with areas that interest them.
21. Trail Life (for Boys) or Frontier Girls (for Girls): These organizations are perfect for teens who love the outdoors. They offer advanced skills training and leadership opportunities, providing a chance to socialize with like-minded peers while learning and growing.
22. Martial Arts: Unlike some extracurriculars where kids may feel like they have to get started super young, martial arts is a practice that kids and adults can begin learning at any age. It’s a great extracurricular activity to develop discipline and physical fitness while making new friends.
23. Portfolio Development & Art Exhibits: For the artistically-inclined teen, these years can be a good time to help them focus on developing their arts portfolio, possibly by exhibiting their work in local galleries or participating in art shows for teens. This can open doors to new friendships by helping them connect with other young artists who are serious about art.
24. Competitive Sports Teams: Especially if your child has always loved sports, joining a competitive sports team is a fantastic way for your athletic teen to spend time with friends regularly, develop teamwork skills, and enjoy healthy competition.
25. Get Involved in Different Aspects of Theater: If your Big has an interest in theater, encourage them to explore your local community or children’s theater groups, and even to look into roles beyond acting! Theatrical teens can get involved in all aspects in a good community theater, such as assistant directing, helping with graphic design or promotion, costume design, or scriptwriting. These experiences can help deepen their creativity and be a powerful, team-work experience that creates deep connection and a sense of work ethic.
26. Advanced Homeschool Choir or Band: Music-loving teens who have been honing their skills for a few years may want to take their passion to the next level by joining a homeschool choir or band. This is a great way to regularly practice music and spend time with friends who will support their passion.
27. Book Club: The tween or teen years are the perfect time for older kids to join or start a book club with friends! Not only does this encourage social time and a love of reading, it will also help them build communication and leadership skills.
28. STEM/Robotics Competitions: If your Big has a passion for technology, participating in STEM or robotics competitions can be an exciting way to socialize. These teams also offer advanced learning for your science-lover and teamwork experiences. It can also lead to future opportunities in college and adulthood!
29. Chess Tournaments & Club Leadership: For older kids who enjoy chess, participating in tournaments or starting their own chess club can be a great way to socialize and practice strategy thinking! This can even lead to chess competitions down the road.
30. College Prep Groups: If your teen plans to go to college, joining a college prep group, or just practicing with a friend (or friends) can be incredibly helpful. They can study for the SAT/ACT together and get support for college essays and applications.
31. Internships/Apprenticeships and Jobs: Last, but definitely not least on our ways to socialize: bigs edition, the teen years are the perfect time for older kids to get some real-world experience through internships or jobs. With their flexible school schedules, homeschooled kids are in a unique position to make work experiences part of their education! Internships or jobs are also a valuable way to make friends, while getting experiences that will definitely help them out in the future.
This is just the jumping off point, but we hope this list of 25+ ideas for ways to socialize: bigs edition gives you some inspiration for ways to help your Big homeschooler(s) make deeper friendships, get some leadership and teamwork experience, and consider how their unique interests may have a role in their future!
Bonita Jewel visited India when she was 16 and stayed for 12 years. She holds an MFA in Creative Writing and has worked as a freelance writer and editor for 13 years. Now settled in California with her husband and three children, Bonita's writing explores faith, family, belonging, and of course, the joys of writing, reading, and finding oneself part of a Greater Story. Find her at bonitajewel.com and bonitajewel.substack.com