Homeschooling produces good results academically, as homeschooled students regularly outperform their traditional public school peers in the areas of both knowledge development and academic skill set. And while homeschooled children generally grow up with well developed personalities, it’s important to make sure they have exposure to other kids – the one thing that the public school provides that the home environment on its own may not.
While homeschooling benefits students in many ways, they still need extracurricular activities. This helps them to develop social skills, make friendships, and in many ways reinforce what they have studied. The flexibility of homeschooling means that field trips, sports, and other activities can be easily arranged. The types of available activities are almost endless, really coming down to your child’s interests. Here are a few ideas.
Scouting
Both the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts provide an excellent opportunity for children to develop friendships, learn about their community and the importance of service. They also get to engage in fun activities such as crafts, science experiments, and nature hikes.
Sports
Most communities have sports leagues for children. This is a way for children to develop their bodies and learn to work as a team. This could be softball, soccer, pee wee football, or hockey. If team sports are not the best choice, there are also individual sports such as tennis or archery that help students develop their coordination and focus. For instance, families searching for a fun gaga ball pit can find local recreational centers where kids can enjoy playing gaga ball in an engaging and safe environment. You can get Badminton Rackets and other sports equipment for your child.
Martial Arts
Through martial arts such as karate and tae kwon do, students learn self-discipline and to focus. All of this is done while getting some physical activity. There is the additional benefit of accomplishing goals in a structured environment.
Volunteerism
Through volunteering with community organizations, students learn skills in the real world. They also begin to understand the issues that face their friends and neighbors and how an act of service can help someone else.
Community service provides many roles for young people. A few suggestions include volunteering at a museum, helping at a community arts fair, a food pantry or an animal shelter. Working with a community clean-up project, or engaging in activities at a senior center are additional ideas. All of these things broaden a child’s view of the world of others.
Travel
Traveling with young people allows them to experience different cultures and attitudes. This broadens their worldview and further develops their social skills. International travel can really open their eyes to new experiences. It could be experiencing Mestizo drummers and chocolate making in Belize, learning how to snorkel and explore sea life in the Caribbean, or wandering the streets of Italy.
Whether traveling within the United States or in a foreign country, your child will be introduced to new cultures and foods. Getting a young person to try new foods helps them to experience a culture that they are not familiar with and deepens their curiosity about the world.
Swimming
Swimming is one of the best activities to involve your child in. Lessons can begin while they are very young (now recommended by AAP as young as one year old). Swimming skills that kids learn through swim schools like Aquatic Achievers will help protect them throughout their lifetime and also give them healthy exercise. While swimming lessons can start very early, their skill development will continue for many years. This gives them the opportunity to develop friendships while getting the exercise they need.
Children who continue their swimming activities may participate in more competitive activities. Swim meets allow students to push themselves to develop physically. They are also developing lasting friendships and the experience of human camaraderie.
Water is everywhere in our daily lives, from un-gated pools to drainage ponds. Helping children to learn safety in the water can keep them safer in everyday life.
Benefits of Homeschool Instruction
Many parents find that their children are happier with an educational experience that allows them to grow and learn in many different ways. Parents realize that they through their own efforts can equip their children with reasoning and logic skills that will last throughout their lifetimes.
As the demand for homeschooling resources has grown, so too have the available online resources, many of which are free. Co-ops and friends groups have also made educational materials more available. The neighborhood learning pod approach, where families combine resources to teach each other’s children in a combined way, is proving to be an excellent way not only to educate but also to provide socialization in a protected environment.
