Homeschooling and Socialization Options

Homeschooling does pose challenges to your student’s socialization. Certainly, having day-to-day interaction with his or her peer group is an important part of high school. Homeschooling is often criticized for creating individuals who are unable to interact with others in a meaningful and appropriate way. However, this does not have to be the case.

While homeschooling, like the online high school courses provided by The American Academy, does not offer socialization avenues on its own, there are many opportunities for socialization outside of school. These options can be utilized to increase your student’s social abilities both within his or her peer group and with individuals outside of his or her age range. In this manner, your student will be poised to succeed in all social interactions.

League or club sports should be considered as socialization possibilities. Your student can participate in many sports that are typically offered in regular schools, such as football and baseball, and explore some interesting new sports options like bowling or lacrosse. Your child can get to know other high school students this way.

Another option for your child is to take classes. Continuing education schools or community colleges offer inexpensive and sometimes free classes for all sorts of learning options. Your student could enroll in dance, cooking, art, or acting classes just to name a few. In this way, your child would meet those within and outside his or her age range, thus expanding social horizons.

Volunteering is a third idea for socialization outside of being homeschooled. Your child can choose to volunteer for organizations that meet his or her interests. Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community. In addition, volunteering offers a myriad of ways to get involved with others socially.

However, perhaps your student still wants to be involved in typical high school activities like going to school dances or walking for graduation. There is always the possibility that he or she will be invited to dances by friends made through other social interactions. Also, there are homeschooling organizations one can join that host activities for students of online high schools, including graduation ceremonies.

Homeschooling is a fantastic option both socially and educationally. While there are not many social experiences within the context of homeschooling, homeschooling provides the free time a student needs to engage in activities outside of school. These activities include taking classes, joining club or league sports, and volunteering, to name a few. While the homeschooled high school student needs to make more of an effort to be a social than a typical high school student, it can be done with great results. In fact, the level of involvement in the community could make your high school student stand out from the crowd when it comes time to apply for college or even for a job.

The American Academy is an accredited online high school providing a quality homeschooled program that can be completed on your own terms, with classes starting every Monday and ending in as little as a week or as long as six months. Classes are affordable and convenient. You can log in anytime to your courses day or night. Your student could graduate high school early by being homeschooled at The American Academy.