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What About Socialization? The Question Every Homeschool Mom Hears 💬

October 15, 2026·5 min read

By Natalie

The first people to ask me were my mom and my husband. It's a normal first question, and everyone gets it. But it made me question whether homeschooling was the right choice.

If you're hearing it too, at a family dinner, at the park, or in your own head, this one's for you. Want the practical list of ideas instead? It's all in our homeschool socialization guide.

What the research actually says 📚

Here's the honest version.

A 2013 review in the Peabody Journal of Education, a peer reviewed journal, looked at the research on homeschooled kids and socialization. It reported that studies found homeschooled kids with good quality friendships and good relationships with their parents and other adults. The author's conclusion: "An alarmist view of homeschooling... is not supported by empirical research." The same review notes that what homeschooled kids think about their own social skills is less clear.

A 2021 study in PLOS ONE followed more than 12,000 young people from their teens into their mid twenties. The 187 who were homeschooled volunteered more often and scored higher on forgiveness as young adults. They were also less likely to finish a college degree. The study has real limits: the homeschool group was small, the families were mostly well educated, and a study like this can't show that homeschooling caused any of it.

So the research is mostly reassuring, but it's limited. Most studies are small or can't prove cause and effect. What seems to matter most is the opportunities you build in.

And if the social side is part of why you're homeschooling, you're not alone. In a 2019 federal survey, 80 percent of homeschooling parents named a concern about the school environment, such as safety, drugs or negative peer pressure, as one of their reasons.

The honest part: it takes planning ❄️

Social time doesn't just happen when you homeschool. You plan it.

Winter can be a bit more challenging for us. Sports and activities take a break, and the weather keeps us inside a bit more.

When a season slows down, add one standing plan, like a weekly park day or an indoor class, until things pick back up.

My advice to a new homeschool mom 💛

Focus on keeping your kids active in outside events, sports and activities. Make an effort to stay connected to other homeschool families and groups. And if you'd like more structure, join a charter.

Charter schools are an option in some states, like California, but not everywhere. Your state's guide shows what's available where you live.

For a full list of ideas by age, plus which states let homeschoolers join public school sports, see our homeschool socialization guide.

Frequently asked questions

Do homeschooled kids have friends?
Yes. They make friends the same way other kids do, through regular time with the same people: co ops, teams, classes and other homeschool families. The difference is that you choose where, and you do have to plan for it.

Are homeschooled kids socially awkward?
Research doesn't support that as a rule. A 2013 peer reviewed review concluded that an alarmist view of homeschooling isn't supported by the evidence, though the research is limited. Kids are different, in school or out, and the opportunities you build in matter most.

How do homeschooled kids learn to handle conflict?
The same way other kids do: by spending time with other kids. Teams, classes and group days all bring the normal bumps of sharing, taking turns and disagreeing, with a grown up nearby to help them work it out.

What if my kid seems lonely?
Add one standing plan, like a weekly park day, a class or a team, and give it a few weeks. Ask your kid what they'd like to try. Small and regular usually beats big and occasional.