50 Ways to Teach Social Skills to Homeschoolers

Written By: The Good and the Beautiful Team Published On: October 21, 2019

Do Homeschooled Children Lack Social Skills?

It’s a common worry that homeschooling leads to a lack of social skills or that children will feel isolated. But homeschool socialization can be rich and meaningful when it’s built intentionally into everyday life—at home, in the community, through service, and in activities where children learn to communicate, cooperate, and make friends across different ages and settings.

The goal isn’t to pack every day with constant interaction. Healthy social growth comes from steady, real-life practice: learning manners and empathy at home, building confidence in public spaces, and developing friendships through shared interests. With a simple plan and consistent opportunities, homeschoolers can gain strong social skills while still enjoying the flexibility and family time that make homeschooling so special.

What Research Says About Homeschool Socialization

Multiple studies have found that homeschooled children score as well as, or even higher than, public school norms on key social skills like cooperation, assertiveness, empathy, and self-control.
Research reviews often note that the common fear of “lack of social skills” is not strongly supported by the evidence when children have regular opportunities to interact outside the home.
In studies using mixed playgroups, homeschooled children have been described as well adjusted, and some findings have shown fewer behavioral concerns compared with traditionally schooled peers.
Researchers and child-development experts also emphasize that healthy socialization doesn’t come from one setting alone; children grow as they practice social skills at home, in the community, and with people of different ages.

Homeschooling doesn’t mean you need to be isolated from the world. In fact, homeschooling can help children grow into great leaders. As you read these tips, please keep in mind that you don’t have to constantly be seeking socialization for your children. Your homeschoolers have time to do many wonderful things that they might not have time for if they were in school all day! Take advantage of this time and try some of the ideas below for how to socialize homeschoolers.

50 Ways to Build Social Skills as a Homeschool Family

Homeschooling allows for wonderful social opportunities that help your child develop a confident, kind, and beautiful personal identity and set of behaviors. Learn 50 unique ideas on how to socialize homeschoolers in this post!

Download the FREE Printable of 50 Ways to Build Social Skills as a Home School Family

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If you like these tips, please like the post, comment, and share any additional ideas you have! Also, make sure to read our Homeschool & Socialization blog post for more information.

Social Skills at Home

1. Remember that while friends are important, children can learn great social skills by modeling their parents and by working out issues with siblings.

2. If it is a healthy option, visit extended family or plan for your child to go on outings with trusted relatives, such as a visit to the museum with a favorite aunt.

3. Have your child read books that model good social behavior, which includes all books on our free The Good and the Beautiful Book List. Yes, children need to get out of the house, but books are great teachers too.

4. Have children give oral book reports to their grandparents in person or over the phone. Both talking to adults and summarizing books benefit the child in several ways.

5. Host foreign exchange students and encourage your children to interact with them in safe ways.

6. Practice social skills by role-playing social situations.

7. Create opportunities for your children to play and interact with extended family (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc.) if possible.

8. Have the children write letters of encouragement to family members and friends.

9. Find a pen pal that your child can write letters to on a regular basis.

Social Skills Through Service

10. As a family, serve in a humanitarian organization, which gives your child the opportunity to work with others and be in varied situations.

11. Get involved in serving others by delivering meals through Meals on Wheels™ or by serving at a local food pantry or soup kitchen.

12. Make cards and distribute them to elderly homes, hospitals, and other nursing facilities for holidays and general greetings. When handing them out, say hello and wish the recipients well.

13. Distribute treats in bags decorated with patriotic drawings and stickers to local veterans. Include simple notes of appreciation such as “Thank you for your service” on the inside. (Tip: Look for a hat indicating they have served in the military. Once you start to look, you’ll find plenty. If not, try local retirement homes and communities. These and similar facilities should have a room to leave a few notes too.)

14. Find volunteer opportunities available for your child in the community, such as volunteering at the library, tutoring, mentoring, serving on the youth city council, etc. Many websites exist for this purpose, and opportunities can also be found in your local newspaper.

15. Visit a nursing home and befriend a senior citizen whom your child can talk to and serve.

16. Become friends with a widow or widower in your neighborhood.

Social Skills Outside of the Home

17. Get involved with a church congregation and its activities.

18. Look for local social media homeschool groups in your area to learn about and participate in local activities.

19. Attend local community events with your family.

20. Travel with your children and allow them to meet new people and see many different situations.

21. Have your child interview a person who holds a job the child is interested in (such as a librarian, firefighter, city planner, electrician, plumber, farmer, doctor, dentist, chef, nurse, or veterinarian). The child can prepare interview questions, record the interview, and then write a report.

22. Help your child start a business, such as walking dogs, running a lemonade stand, shoveling snow, cleaning, or yard work.

23. Have your child complete part of your errands, like handling the checkout at the grocery store or library, making a phone call, ordering at a restaurant, and other tasks.

24. Join with other homeschool families, if possible, for electives (art, music, etc.) or for one or more core classes. The Good and the Beautiful science units are the most commonly used of our curriculum for co-op groups.

25. Have your child take the lead in a restaurant, allowing him or her to answer for how many are in your party and help pay the bill. Don’t forget to have the child do the math for the tip! Remind the child to use his or her best manners with the server.

Social Skills Through Play and Activities

26. Have your child take music or art lessons.

27. Playgrounds and parks can allow younger children to meet and interact with new children while you oversee.

28. Have your child join a community orchestra or choir.

29. Have your child participate in a community play.

30. Get to know your neighbors and those in your community. Have your children help plan a block party, barbecue, potluck, game night, or other fun activity that will bring out those of all ages.

31. Start a book club in your neighborhood. This will allow your child to interact with other children and will teach the skill of group discussion.

32. Help your child run a summer camp for children in your neighborhood. Your child could do a history camp, a cooking camp, etc.

33. Get rid of the idea that your child should mainly be socializing with kids their own age. Children learn so much from interacting with people of all ages, including mentoring and helping younger children.

34. If your child excels at something (art, music, etc.), allow him or her to give lessons to other children.

35. Start a group that you and your children can attend with others in your community. Nature, field trip, or game night groups can be educational and wonderful social activities!

36. Have your children participate in activities and hobbies one-on-one with each parent, building strong bonds and gaining new skills.

37. High schoolers can often join dual enrollment classes at local colleges, allowing them to earn both high school and college credit at the same time.

38. Join your local 4-H club.

39. Attend a local summer camp.

40. Participate in local community craft classes at stores such as Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, Home Depot, and Lowe’s.

41. Most public libraries offer community classes. Some even have specialized events for homeschoolers. Contact your local library to find out what’s available in your area.

42. Contact your local YMCA to see what classes or events are available for children.

43. Some states allow homeschoolers to participate in public school extracurricular programs such as marching band, sports teams, choir, drama club, etc. Contact your local school to find out what might be available for your child.

44. Plan a science fair with local homeschoolers. Have it in a public location, like a coffee shop, and invite the public.

45. Start a chess club, a jump rope club, or anything that meets on a regular basis, even if it’s only once a month, to help the child learn how to plan and host a small event.

46. Participate in a local parade as a homeschool group or with another establishment, like the library, parks and recreation, or another group.

47. Support another homeschooler or friend by attending an activity, like a soccer game or a play that he or she is in.

48. Teach your children plenty of outdoor games like hopscotch, jump rope (with rhymes), red rover, etc., and encourage them to invite neighborhood kids out to play. Your yard will quickly become the yard to which all of the children flock!

49. Let teenagers get a job where they will interact with coworkers, supervisors, and/or customers.

50. Have your child join a team sport.

The natural events that occur in your life will offer many social opportunities. Pick one or two items from our list above to throw in the mix if you feel that your child needs more social opportunities.

If you like these tips, please like the post, comment, and share any additional ideas you have! Also, make sure to read our Homeschool & Socialization blog post for more information.

In addition, keep in mind that many children go through some periods of life without a close friend, even many who are in public school. Often, having no friends is better than having bad friends. Whether it is a simple friendship, service opportunity, or get-together, children flourish when they are given ample time to develop.

Do you have any other suggestions about how children might hone their social skills? We'd love for you to share them below in the comments!

Safety Note: Never leave your child with someone you do not know or trust.

How Often Should Homeschoolers Socialize?

Homeschool socialization doesn’t have to mean a packed calendar. What matters most is steady, real-life practice—learning to communicate, cooperate, and make friends in everyday settings.

A simple rhythm can help you stay consistent without feeling overwhelmed.:

A Simple Weekly Socialization Rhythm

1 peer connection: playdate, co-op, team practice, youth group, club
1 mixed-age connection: church activity, service project, family gathering, community class
A few real-world moments: errands, ordering food, talking with neighbors
1 service opportunity each month: volunteering, delivering cards, helping someone in need

If a season is quieter, that’s okay. Even small, regular interactions add up over time.

Join the Conversation!

We'd love to hear from you! What does your family do to encourage homeschool socialization? Comment in the discussion below.

Download the FREE Printable of 50 Ways to Build Social Skills as a Home School Family

Click Here for Free Download

Frequently Asked Questions About Homeschool Socialization

How do homeschoolers make friends?

Homeschooled children make friends the same way all children do, through shared experiences and common interests. Co-ops, church groups, sports teams, clubs, neighborhood play, music lessons, library classes, and community programs all create natural opportunities for friendships to grow. Because homeschoolers often interact with children of different ages, they may develop friendships across a wider age range, which can strengthen empathy and leadership skills.

What if my child is shy?

Shyness is not a weakness. Some children are naturally more reserved, and that can be a beautiful trait. Homeschooling allows parents to gently support shy children by providing smaller, lower-pressure social settings. Start with one trusted friend or a small group activity. Role-play conversations at home. Celebrate small steps forward. Over time, confidence grows as children feel safe and supported.

Is homeschooling isolating?

Homeschooling does not have to be isolating. Isolation happens when families withdraw from community life, but homeschooling itself offers flexibility to engage in meaningful social experiences. Take advantage of school hours when museums are quiet, libraries offer programs, and service opportunities are available. Ask other homeschool families or social media homeschooling support groups for recommendations of local homeschool co-op or social groups. With intentional planning, homeschool families can be deeply connected to their communities.

Can online activities count as socialization?

Online activities can be part of healthy homeschool socialization when they are interactive and balanced with in-person experiences. Virtual classes, book clubs, language exchanges, and supervised group discussions allow children to practice communication skills in structured ways. However, face-to-face interaction remains important for developing nonverbal communication, cooperation, and real-world confidence.

What are the signs of poor social skills?

It’s normal for children to be shy or awkward sometimes. But if a child often struggles to share or take turns, can’t handle simple conflict, avoids other kids completely, interrupts constantly, or becomes very anxious in social settings, they may need extra practice and support.

The good news is that social skills can be taught over time through gentle coaching, role playing, and low-pressure opportunities to interact with others.

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1 comment

Madison

As a quick note, “no friends” or “bad friends” aren’t the only options. Good, close friends are better than bad or no friends, if you are choosing to compare.