What is a Homeschool Support Group?
A support group is a structured group of parents who educate their children at home. They gather together to share information and help each other. Support groups usually hold meetings for parents and children, and they may engage in activities such as park days, field trips, book clubs, sports, and game nights. Many groups also have different age level subgroups such as teen-only groups or young-child groups.
Why Should I Join a Support Group?
There are many benefits to joining a support group for the new and experienced home education families, for both parents and children.
Benefits to Parent:
• Sharing Knowledge – curriculum, resources
• Saving Money – some may offer group discounts on field trips, special classes, organized sports and also buy curriculum in bulk to save money.
• Car pool – drive sharing and shuttling to events
• Encouragement – especially important for new homeschoolers, other parents in the group who know and understand what you are going through
• Community – associating with like-minded people
• Safety – knowing your child is safe and parents are helping out
• Friendships – special parent-only events offer a great chance to bond
Benefits to Youth:
• Friendships – many homeschoolers develop life-long friendships from being a part of a support group
• Community – knowing they are a part of a community and being able to count on other adults as well
• Outings with Friends – field trips, special classes, sports are way more fun with friends
• Participating in Group Activities – the spirit of cooperative learning and fun which can be more difficult to find for homeschoolers
• Learning from Peers – a mix of age ranges allows for a more diverse learning experience
• Parent Encouragement – not just from their own but other parents
• Group Graduations, Dances, etc. - events which are typical of the school experience but are now part of the omeschool experience
How Can I Find the Right Group?
Finding the right support group may mean some trial and error or it could be an instant success. The end result should be a support group where you and your child/ren feel comfortable and supported, because homeschooling should allow your family to avoid some of the pitfalls found in traditional schooling.
What should I look for?
When beginning the search for a support group, there are a few key points you need to think about:
Size of the Support Group
Size of a group is not as important as the level of involvement in the group. Are there 200 families in the group you are looking at? Only 50 families? How many of these people are actively involved in the group? That is the number that is important. There are groups that have a large number of families, but there are only few families that are still actively participating in the group. The more families that are involved, the better the benefits can be. You are more likely to find other children around your child’s age, with at least some of the same interests than in groups with little involvement. Some groups may also be small but mighty, offering you a closeness without the wrangling it can take to get so many people on the same page. Only you can decide what benefits your family more.
Religious Affinity
Many homeschool groups out there are strictly for members of one specific religion. These groups may ask that members sign a statement of faith. If religion is an important part of your life and curriculum, you'll find a great benefit from being supported by people having similar beliefs. If you do not want to be a member of a faith-based homeschool group, your search should be for a secular or all-inclusive group. These groups are generally open to people of all (or no) faiths, and ask only that there is no bashing of other faiths. This option is great for multi-faith families or those of agnostic, atheist, and pagan beliefs. These groups can be harder to locate in some areas, but they are there.
Age of Members
Are your children just beginning kindergarten or first grade? Did you just move from a different area or out of state, but you have older students? Do you have a mixture of older and younger children? A good homeschool support group has plenty of children in the same age range as your children. Children are amazingly good interacting with people of all ages, especially homeschooled children, but it can be difficult if your little one has no one but you to interact with or if your older teen is hanging out alone or only with the parents. Groups can be in flux, too, so it can take more than one visit to determine if you've found the right place for your family.
Parent Personalities
We are always concerned about our children getting along with the kids in the group, but often overlooked, but equally important, is how you get along with the other parents. If you do not get along with them (at least some of them) you are less likely to be involved and that is not helping anyone. Most groups have park days and require that you go to one of these, or another event for a “try before you buy” day. (This does not mean that you have to pay for all support groups, but most do ask for a donation toward group activity supplies, field trip deposits, and other group needs. In larger groups this may be a small fee of $10.00 per family, others are up to $35.00 per family. It often depends on the area, the size of the group, and what the group does with the money.) You don't have to create lasting friendships with the others parents – though this often happens – but you have to be able to share in the communal experience with them.
Group Activities
Take a look at the activities that the group does. Do you want to go to a park day every week and let your child play with other kids? Are you interested in group classes, sports, band, or book clubs? Is the group going on regular field trips? Are they doing community service projects? Are there special groups for specific age children? Does the group have academic learning opportunities? If certain activities are important to you, make sure the support group either has them or is open and eager to join you in creating them.
What if there isn't a group in my area?
Starting your own homeschooling support group is not as difficult as it may seem. You can start with one more family and build from there. Go to your local library and ask to put a notice up stating that you want to start a new group; find homeschooling message boards; and check out your state resources for local homeschool support groups here on the directory. Other places to find homeschoolers in your area are community centers, parks, and enrichment programs.
Although there are many factors that go into finding the right support group for your family, these are the key points that should be on top of everyone’s list. All the best to you in finding a support group to enrich your homeschooling adventure!
If you have a support group you would like to submit to the directory, please Submit support group here.
Do you have other questions you would like answered about support groups? Contact us and we will add them to this article (as well as answering you back individually).
Home Educators Resource Directory (HERD) is owned, managed, and maintained by parents passionate about giving their children the best education. The Directory’s mission is to provide resources, support, and information helpful to the diverse community of educators around the globe. Along with offering a rich store of varied resources, the Directory maintains a catalog of local and global support groups and calendars highlighting local events.
The HERD monthly newsletter keeps educators apprised of current homeschool events and supplies informational articles for both the new and experienced. We invite you to stay informed with your own newsletter subscription, explore our many resources by visiting the Directory http://www.homeeddirectory.com/ and check out all the information to be found on our blog.
Permission to reproduce this article granted only with the entire article, bio and all links included.
A support group is a structured group of parents who educate their children at home. They gather together to share information and help each other. Support groups usually hold meetings for parents and children, and they may engage in activities such as park days, field trips, book clubs, sports, and game nights. Many groups also have different age level subgroups such as teen-only groups or young-child groups.
Why Should I Join a Support Group?
There are many benefits to joining a support group for the new and experienced home education families, for both parents and children.
Benefits to Parent:
• Sharing Knowledge – curriculum, resources
• Saving Money – some may offer group discounts on field trips, special classes, organized sports and also buy curriculum in bulk to save money.
• Car pool – drive sharing and shuttling to events
• Encouragement – especially important for new homeschoolers, other parents in the group who know and understand what you are going through
• Community – associating with like-minded people
• Safety – knowing your child is safe and parents are helping out
• Friendships – special parent-only events offer a great chance to bond
Benefits to Youth:
• Friendships – many homeschoolers develop life-long friendships from being a part of a support group
• Community – knowing they are a part of a community and being able to count on other adults as well
• Outings with Friends – field trips, special classes, sports are way more fun with friends
• Participating in Group Activities – the spirit of cooperative learning and fun which can be more difficult to find for homeschoolers
• Learning from Peers – a mix of age ranges allows for a more diverse learning experience
• Parent Encouragement – not just from their own but other parents
• Group Graduations, Dances, etc. - events which are typical of the school experience but are now part of the omeschool experience
How Can I Find the Right Group?
Finding the right support group may mean some trial and error or it could be an instant success. The end result should be a support group where you and your child/ren feel comfortable and supported, because homeschooling should allow your family to avoid some of the pitfalls found in traditional schooling.
What should I look for?
When beginning the search for a support group, there are a few key points you need to think about:
Size of the Support Group
Size of a group is not as important as the level of involvement in the group. Are there 200 families in the group you are looking at? Only 50 families? How many of these people are actively involved in the group? That is the number that is important. There are groups that have a large number of families, but there are only few families that are still actively participating in the group. The more families that are involved, the better the benefits can be. You are more likely to find other children around your child’s age, with at least some of the same interests than in groups with little involvement. Some groups may also be small but mighty, offering you a closeness without the wrangling it can take to get so many people on the same page. Only you can decide what benefits your family more.
Religious Affinity
Many homeschool groups out there are strictly for members of one specific religion. These groups may ask that members sign a statement of faith. If religion is an important part of your life and curriculum, you'll find a great benefit from being supported by people having similar beliefs. If you do not want to be a member of a faith-based homeschool group, your search should be for a secular or all-inclusive group. These groups are generally open to people of all (or no) faiths, and ask only that there is no bashing of other faiths. This option is great for multi-faith families or those of agnostic, atheist, and pagan beliefs. These groups can be harder to locate in some areas, but they are there.
Age of Members
Are your children just beginning kindergarten or first grade? Did you just move from a different area or out of state, but you have older students? Do you have a mixture of older and younger children? A good homeschool support group has plenty of children in the same age range as your children. Children are amazingly good interacting with people of all ages, especially homeschooled children, but it can be difficult if your little one has no one but you to interact with or if your older teen is hanging out alone or only with the parents. Groups can be in flux, too, so it can take more than one visit to determine if you've found the right place for your family.
Parent Personalities
We are always concerned about our children getting along with the kids in the group, but often overlooked, but equally important, is how you get along with the other parents. If you do not get along with them (at least some of them) you are less likely to be involved and that is not helping anyone. Most groups have park days and require that you go to one of these, or another event for a “try before you buy” day. (This does not mean that you have to pay for all support groups, but most do ask for a donation toward group activity supplies, field trip deposits, and other group needs. In larger groups this may be a small fee of $10.00 per family, others are up to $35.00 per family. It often depends on the area, the size of the group, and what the group does with the money.) You don't have to create lasting friendships with the others parents – though this often happens – but you have to be able to share in the communal experience with them.
Group Activities
Take a look at the activities that the group does. Do you want to go to a park day every week and let your child play with other kids? Are you interested in group classes, sports, band, or book clubs? Is the group going on regular field trips? Are they doing community service projects? Are there special groups for specific age children? Does the group have academic learning opportunities? If certain activities are important to you, make sure the support group either has them or is open and eager to join you in creating them.
What if there isn't a group in my area?
Starting your own homeschooling support group is not as difficult as it may seem. You can start with one more family and build from there. Go to your local library and ask to put a notice up stating that you want to start a new group; find homeschooling message boards; and check out your state resources for local homeschool support groups here on the directory. Other places to find homeschoolers in your area are community centers, parks, and enrichment programs.
Although there are many factors that go into finding the right support group for your family, these are the key points that should be on top of everyone’s list. All the best to you in finding a support group to enrich your homeschooling adventure!
If you have a support group you would like to submit to the directory, please Submit support group here.
Do you have other questions you would like answered about support groups? Contact us and we will add them to this article (as well as answering you back individually).
Home Educators Resource Directory (HERD) is owned, managed, and maintained by parents passionate about giving their children the best education. The Directory’s mission is to provide resources, support, and information helpful to the diverse community of educators around the globe. Along with offering a rich store of varied resources, the Directory maintains a catalog of local and global support groups and calendars highlighting local events.
The HERD monthly newsletter keeps educators apprised of current homeschool events and supplies informational articles for both the new and experienced. We invite you to stay informed with your own newsletter subscription, explore our many resources by visiting the Directory http://www.homeeddirectory.com/ and check out all the information to be found on our blog.
Permission to reproduce this article granted only with the entire article, bio and all links included.
