by Katie Julius

The most common “concern” for many families when they are considering homeschooling is “socialization.” But, there’s no reason to fear! Ask any homeschooler and they’ll tell you there’s no shortage of opportunities to meet and make friends, for both you and your kids.

While there are plenty of opportunities, finding friends in your area can be a challenge for families new to homeschooling. Try these five ways to find homeschool friends as you embark on your new homeschool adventure!

1. CHEA’s Homeschool Directory

Our directory is your first stop to finding a community of like-minded people. The groups on this directory have been screened by CHEA to meet certain criteria. If you’re looking for a faith-based community with a focus on private home education, these groups are for you!

2. Search on Facebook

There’s a group for everything these days on Facebook. If you search the name of your city, town, or regional plus “homeschool” or “homeschooling,” you’re bound to find a group near you. While these groups may be virtual only, some do organize meet-ups and activities such as park days or field trips. The members of the Facebook group may also be aware of more structured in-person groups near you.

3. Go to the Park

There are so many homeschool families in California today. Chances are, if you head out to the park or a local educational venue (museum, nature center, zoo, aquarium, etc.), you’re bound to run into other homeschoolers. If you can make a connection with another family who also homeschools, you’re off to a great start in forming your community!

4. Get Involved in Activities

Whether it’s an art class, recreational sports team, church group, or any number of other types of classes and activities, if you’re doing it during the day time, it’s likely you’ll find homeschool friends there too. And bonus – you already have a shared interest with them! 

5. Start your own Group

I know this may sound kind of daunting, but if you’re looking for homeschool friends, it’s likely other people near you are too. It doesn’t have to be anything big and formal; consistency is the key. Even if it starts with just one or two other families, if you commit to always being at the park on Mondays at 1:00 p.m. or going on a field trip on the third Thursday of the month, other people will find out about it and your group will quickly grow. Here are some resources to get you started.

Where have you found your homeschool community?