Extracurricular Activities for Home Schooled Kids

One of the most common questions raised when it is discovered that you teach your children at home goes something like this: “what about their social interactions?” Well, as it is with children who are educated within the ‘traditional’ public school environment, there are many choice parents can make to expand their home schooled children’s experiences; including the so-called ‘peer’ issue. Here are some suggested extracurricular activities to consider that will ensure your home school child is ‘well-rounded’ socially:

1)   Community organizations such as Scouting or 4H. This is a great opportunity for children from a home schooled environment to meet others and take part in ‘outside the home’ activities. Things like hiking, camping, survival techniques as well as learning how to make a campfire, etc., can teach your home schooled children things you may not be able to provide within the home.

2)   Sports activities. Playing football, baseball, basketball, etc. are great ways of learning what it is like to be on a team. Plus, it is a wonderful way to get much needed exercise for your growing boy or girl. Also, most public schools make their sports programs available for home schoolers; all you need to do is sign them up and get them there and back. There are also community sports related organizations your home schooled children can join.

3)   Field trips. Every public school has the occasional field trip, either to the local museum or zoo, as well as many other locations; home schooled children can do the same. Some of the advantages: no need to give permission for your child to go with the public school class, you will be able to give one on one attention whenever your children ask questions during the outing, and an opportunity for follow-up by further studying a subject your child shows interest in during the field trip, back in the home schooled ‘classroom’.

4)   Community theater groups. If your child is showing interest in acting, you can enroll them in one of the local theater groups. This can give them the opportunity to explore an interest you are not able to provide within the home educational environment. It is also good to see if these types’ outings can be considered meeting state requirements, as well as the possibility for college entrance to stage acting.

5)   Community service. There are many needs within any community and the opportunity for home schooled children to serve others can be invaluable. It can teach patience, kindness and self-sacrifice. These ‘giving of self’ attributes learned within this type environment will go a long way in shaping who your children will become. They can volunteer for soup kitchen serving, food banks or nursing home help. Everybody wins in a situation such as this.

6)   Music or singing lessons. By learning to play an instrument or to use their voice in singing, the child also learns to appreciate music. You can either hire an instructor in town or possibly find other home schoolers within your community that has someone who can teach your child to play an instrument or learn how to sing. This also supports others who are homeschooling their children.

These are but a few of the suggestions to consider when finding extracurricular activities for your home schooled children. Talk to your children and find out what they would like to do as an extracurricular activity and go for it. The main thing is to ensure that each of your children have a well-rounded education, whether it is within the public, private or home schooling environment.