I'm wondering how much social "community" other homeschoolers get from their homeschool groups.

There is only 1 secular group in our area. They seem very focused on giving the kids opportunities, classes, field trips etc and not very focused on general socialization. I'm felling a little disappointed because we don't need/want the activities as much as just time to hang out with other homeschool families. We're new to the area so it's particularly tough I think, meeting like minded homeschooling families. I always thought the point of a homeschool group was to create social time for kids.

Tell me about your homeschooling group, please.

Chole

We're a loose conglomeration of people who get together and hang out at the park... For the winter, we're bringing board games to the mall. It's nothing but social time for the kids, really. :)

Our local groups are very organized!! Seems this area is "big family" oriented, meaning most everyone has a larger family so they don't seem to need extra social time.

I have found that by joining in with these groups I usually make like-minded friends and we do our own social things, inviting others as we go along.

Also, the smaller organized group I belong to does do a social lunch after our co-op, usually at the park with a picnic. That is the best time of the day for me and the children!!!!

When I live in KY, I made some homeschooling friends through my LLL group and we just started our own social group that met twice weekly until the children got a bit older and that was too much. So once a week at a special place or someones home was awesome. I miss those mamas and that relaxed atmosphere!!!

Our group is very relaxed; we don't really plan any activities. We hang out at the park once a week and the mamas socialize while the kids play. I need it at least as much as my boys do.

Our local groups are very organized!! Seems this area is "big family" oriented, meaning most everyone has a larger family so they don't seem to need extra social time.

This is exactly what SO was saying & the reason I wanted to hear about other groups. We have a very small family, especially for around here. DD is an only child & there is only 1 other child in our extended family who lives over an hour away. Socialization from family isn't going to happen for us.

Any great ideas on how to make more social contacts? We've tried putting DD in classes and events but she's like me & doesn't make friends while in structured settings. She gets so focused on the "work" that she doesn't even bother to learn the other kids names! I think that's what makes our event focused homeschool group such a poor match.

Thanks mamas.

Chole

that is exactly what I find, too. While I would like a class or something, I think we need (much more!) a social time of games, play and just relaxing fun.

BTW - it sounds like school... my boys don't have real friends outside of school, they just go, do the work, socialize while there, but nothing outside of that. We were hoping for more social time... sigh...

We have this issue too. We do have scheduled "park times" but either the parents of kids Whitley's age have a lot of older kids and aren't interested in get togethers or nobody really talks. There is a lot of inconsistency too in who comes.

I feel sad b/c she doesn't really have many friends. She has lots of acquaintances.

I'm wondering how much social "community" other homeschoolers get from their homeschool groups.

There is only 1 secular group in our area. They seem very focused on giving the kids opportunities, classes, field trips etc and not very focused on general socialization. I'm felling a little disappointed because we don't need/want the activities as much as just time to hang out with other homeschool families. We're new to the area so it's particularly tough I think, meeting like minded homeschooling families. I always thought the point of a homeschool group was to create social time for kids.

Tell me about your homeschooling group, please.

Chole

Well, my HS group recently split in two over religion but...

Yes, I'd say 90% of the HS stuff is co-ops, field trips, YMCA sports, etc. Sometimes I feel like I am trying to recreate school. ITA about the need to just hang out. Only occassionally does that happen. Usually there's another reason we're getting together, like watching an art movie or something.

Myheart goes out to you. It can be so frustrating.
Amy

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who feels the need for less "school" and more "social". It's given me the confidence to ask around in my homeschool group as well. I didn't want to say anything at first because I figured if that's the way the group was being run it must be because that's the way the members want it. Optimistic of me? So I'm going to see if there aren't some people in the group interested in doing more free hang-out time.

Thanks everyone.

Chole

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who feels the need for less "school" and more "social". It's given me the confidence to ask around in my homeschool group as well. I didn't want to say anything at first because I figured if that's the way the group was being run it must be because that's the way the members want it. Optimistic of me? So I'm going to see if there aren't some people in the group interested in doing more free hang-out time.

Thanks everyone.

Chole


I think it is optimistic and a great way to look at it. You know what you want. It just may take some time to find the right group of people ready to step out and join you. I just got back from Co-op registration, we belong to 2. Afterwards, a mom friend and I took the children and went to McDonald's (the only place to go here in the winter). They had more fun there than anywhere because they could just play and be kids!! I do like the set-up of the new co-op though (it is a split from another large one in the county). It is morning and afternoon with an hour for social lunch planned in. You can choose to go either mornings, afternoons or both!! For me, with so many little ones, it will be nice to go for a 1 1/2 hours of "organized" time and then get to do a social lunch with everyone. Also, the facility it is in is right across the street from a great waterfall (short downhill hike)!!! Lots of fun after the co-op!!

Best Wishes Chole on finding what you need!!

I didn't want to say anything at first because I figured if that's the way the group was being run it must be because that's the way the members want it. Optimistic of me? So I'm going to see if there aren't some people in the group interested in doing more free hang-out time.

Thanks everyone.

Chole

That's a great idea. I think you'll be very successful!

I jsut signed up for a local h/s group that is Christian based.
This is a scary step because already I have been sent an email about supporting the patriot act. I replied is this a homeschool list or a political list. After a few comments back I see that I need not worry about that, but still.

I joined the group however for their 2 times a month classes- Ben really wants some pre school time with other kids.
Rachel could use a more structured environment with other peers and the classes offered are Egyptian - fallen Rome history and also a careers course with the assessment test (sicne she is toying with the whole what to do when I grow up)
Already she has been offered a section in the newsletter since she is a good writer and the teens have a once a month social.
Crossing my fingers on this one....if it is a positive experience then next year I may bring my boys home from public school.... still uncertain about how to do all of them again.

The largest local group that I know of is heavily social. And not in a good way. The group has all the problems you would associate with a really bad school recess situation but multiplied by hours on end.

A few of us sort of spun off and have a get together that works better for our families. Ok :) so there are lots of other spin offs that happend because of the neg stuff that goes on at the above group. Ours just happends to me the most local for me.

We have been lucky with this smaller group of 5 consistant families. We vary on our educational philosophies, religons, and our reasons for homeschooling. But we all come from simmilar parenting beliefs that makes for open dialoge and problem solving (something that sorely lacked in the first group)

A couple of neat things have happend with our weekly meetings. When fall came and we changed our day of the week we found ourselves sharing the park with a Religious Homeschool Group. As strict and "school at home" as that group tends to be our park days are enriched by being at the park at the same time. We've also ended up with some random :) extra families that found us at the park and now come back to play at the same time. Neither situation has detracted from the dynamics of our group because we tend to come earlier and stay later than the others so our kids still get their bonding time with each other.

It has totally been a case of "build it and they will come"

If your needs are not being met with a group. Find a way to make it work for you.

In my daughters case she wasn't finding apporiate girls to play with (the one she like the best was the worst type of "mean girl" but in a 5 yo body) since most of our close friends have all boys. With our current group she has found 2 wonderful female roll models. Wonderful as far as she's concerend and steller as far as I'm concerned. She also has hula class that allows her to hang with other girls/women. No she's not making life long friends there, or at least not yet, but it is meeting her personal need for hanging out with girls. She's the one who has expressed and shown the need for more girl time.

All of that said we have loads of groups locally, and semilocally to choose from. Some I wish were closer so we could realisticly attend.

As for meeting like minded homeschooler in a new area all I can do is share where I most frequently meet new ones in public. Classes during the day, most especially our spring swimming lessons bring out new, to me, homeschoolers almost each and every session. Nothing like a little chit chatting with the other moms. And everyone seems to know someone who homeschools. The library. Go during the day and look for other kids. Ask the staff if they know of any other homeschoolers or groups. They might surprise you. Ours staff knows, they can't tell me who or when I might see them but just knowing they exist helps me keep an eye out. Cruise the local parks during the day to see if you see any simmilar aged kids. Around here the 1-4 time frame seems to be the best for running into other hs'ers. Take those field trips, the more you and your daughter get to know the others the more likely it may spin into something (I should take that advice more often myself)

((hugs)) I hope you find what you are looking for.

Our group is very relaxed; we don't really plan any activities. We hang out at the park once a week and the mamas socialize while the kids play. I need it at least as much as my boys do.
Me too.

Whoops, it's the same group. :lol:

I expect more organized things from our Campfire group. (which happens to be about the same people.) Our park day is just that-- PARK.

Bona Dea...that is fabulous.
I have considered starting my own group, but I am not a very organized person for things outside of my home.

Kudo's to you girl!

OMG Deanna, I cannot beleive how big your beautiful Belle is!

This is exactly what SO was saying & the reason I wanted to hear about other groups. We have a very small family, especially for around here. DD is an only child & there is only 1 other child in our extended family who lives over an hour away. Socialization from family isn't going to happen for us.

Any great ideas on how to make more social contacts? We've tried putting DD in classes and events but she's like me & doesn't make friends while in structured settings. She gets so focused on the "work" that she doesn't even bother to learn the other kids names! I think that's what makes our event focused homeschool group such a poor match.

Thanks mamas.

Chole


What about an organized event like story hour at the library....a great place to meet friends, but not so "focused" that she'll be too busy working to make new friends? Or you could look into something like 4-H, or Girl Scouts...