I know saying that homeschoolers are having touble socializing is a bit unpopular. The whole socialiation mantra. But what if you are having trouble? We see lots of kids each week but are having trouble moving it from aquaitances to friends. Our 6 yo is very scial and gregarious. From a very young age he's had friends and made friends easily. Until this year.
We moved here two years ago when he was 4. Most of our socializing was with my ap moms group I found. That was fine at 4 and even 5 but this year there is no one close to his age left. They've all gone to school. We still see them and my younger two like it but he usually doesn't want to go.
Two years ago we also joined a hs group but you see different people at each field trip and park days have a huge age range. He's just never seemed to click with anyone there. I don't know whether it's that they all knew each other first or what but they don't seem very inviting (cool field trips though
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He's also been taking classes at a local art center for about two years. He'd always talked about kids each session. Last year he became friends with two different children. Both went to school this year and live pretty far away. He moved into the 6 - 9 yo homeschool group. I thought it would be great; this way if he befriended anyone they'd be hs'ers. They'd be available for playdates and parks. But he's never mentioned anyone even when asked.
He just started a hs enrichment program this year. It's a K-1 class for hs'ers one day a week. It's at a school and they do art, music, pe, computers, library, etc (all the enrichments, no reading, math) He loves the program. He always says he only plays with one girl. We've given her our name and phone number with a note saying to call if she ever wants a play date. I've met the mom a few times and gotten an enthusiastic 'yes, she talks about him all the time' followed by a noncommital 'um, playdates, gotta go'.
He's also in swimming and gymnastics but those are classes where you are supposed to listen not goof around.
At his bday this year the only kids he wanted to invite were the kids from my moms group (that are all in school and now only invite their school friends to their parties) and the one girl from his enrichment class that didn't come.
He's around kids a lot. I know he does a lot but that's because he loved being around other children. Other than joining a new homeschool group I don't know how to help. He really wants his own friends that could come over for playdates or sleepovers or meet at the park.
We don't know what to do but it's breaking our hearts. We seem too mainstream for the vegan, no electronic having, hs'ers and way too crunchy for the school at home, mainstreamers.
We moved here two years ago when he was 4. Most of our socializing was with my ap moms group I found. That was fine at 4 and even 5 but this year there is no one close to his age left. They've all gone to school. We still see them and my younger two like it but he usually doesn't want to go.
Two years ago we also joined a hs group but you see different people at each field trip and park days have a huge age range. He's just never seemed to click with anyone there. I don't know whether it's that they all knew each other first or what but they don't seem very inviting (cool field trips though
)He's also been taking classes at a local art center for about two years. He'd always talked about kids each session. Last year he became friends with two different children. Both went to school this year and live pretty far away. He moved into the 6 - 9 yo homeschool group. I thought it would be great; this way if he befriended anyone they'd be hs'ers. They'd be available for playdates and parks. But he's never mentioned anyone even when asked.
He just started a hs enrichment program this year. It's a K-1 class for hs'ers one day a week. It's at a school and they do art, music, pe, computers, library, etc (all the enrichments, no reading, math) He loves the program. He always says he only plays with one girl. We've given her our name and phone number with a note saying to call if she ever wants a play date. I've met the mom a few times and gotten an enthusiastic 'yes, she talks about him all the time' followed by a noncommital 'um, playdates, gotta go'.
He's also in swimming and gymnastics but those are classes where you are supposed to listen not goof around.
At his bday this year the only kids he wanted to invite were the kids from my moms group (that are all in school and now only invite their school friends to their parties) and the one girl from his enrichment class that didn't come.
He's around kids a lot. I know he does a lot but that's because he loved being around other children. Other than joining a new homeschool group I don't know how to help. He really wants his own friends that could come over for playdates or sleepovers or meet at the park.
We don't know what to do but it's breaking our hearts. We seem too mainstream for the vegan, no electronic having, hs'ers and way too crunchy for the school at home, mainstreamers.
And if you want to have a play date during winter break, call me.
I see it really affecting her self-esteem greatly. The one close friend she does have, she doesn't get to see often... once a week for maybe 30 minutes if we are lucky.
might give you some ideas on how to nurture friendships through playdates.
Maybe I need to start my own homeschool group? Oh wait! I did start my own group (Ok... not HS specific, but of a topic I can relate to and with the ability to meet new moms) but although it has become a successful group, it hasn't helped me personally. <sigh>
