20 Simple Catholic Homeschool Socialization Activities (That Aren't Co-ops!)
One of the biggest homeschooling myths is that homeschool children don’t have as many opportunities to socialize as kids in school. This simply isn’t true! In fact, homeschool children have so many MORE diverse activities for socialization than most people realize. Today I will share 17 Simple Catholic Homeschool socialization activities that aren’t co-ops.
Also, it is ok for meet ups to start small with you and just 1 other family. Be on the lookout in your parish or community for another family that may want to meet up.
Parish Socialization Opportunites
The first place to pursue socialization opportunities for your homeschoolers is in your own parish! The parish is the heart of Catholic family life where we all come together to pray, worship, and support each other. Here are 9 ideas for parish homeschool socialization:
1. Daily Mass
Daily Mass is a great place to meet other like-minded Catholics – and even homeschoolers! Attending Daily Mass has obvious spiritual benefits, and is great for the whole family.
Do you have a wiggly toddler who has trouble sitting still at Mass on Sunday? Daily Mass is great for teaching your toddler about Mass and allowing him or her to practice praying and sitting quietly. Daily Mass is usually shorter than Sunday Mass and less crowded.
You could even start a Daily Mass homeschool meet up group with even 1 other homeschool family. Try making a plan to attend on First Fridays or First Saturdays together.
Daily Mass is also a great way to get to know your pastor and other supportive parishioners.
2. Family Adoration
Ok, so you won’t be getting to know each other during Adoration, but praying together with other families always bears great fruit! You could always plan to meet at a playground, park, or library before or after adoration.
I have written more about starting a family Adoration group at your parish here.
3. Family Rosary Prayer Group
Hosting a Rosary prayer group with other families has many benefits. It’s great for your children to see other families and kids praying the Rosary! You could try hosting a group once a month or even once per season (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter). Hosting a Rosary at your home for special feasts ang holy days is also a fun and meaningful tradition!
Ask the families to bring a dish to share, and host a laid back potluck following the Rosary. The kids and parents get to socialize! Win, win!
4. Liturgical Pray and Play
I found that when my kids were babies and toddlers, it was hard to find other Catholic homeschool moms. This type of group is great for the early years and for new homeschool moms to get to know each other!
Pick a park or location with plenty of room to play. Start the meet up with a prayer. Choose a Saint book or other Liturgical picture book to read aloud. Then, release the kids to play!
Setting up a play date outside of your home eliminates a lot of stress around set up and clean up, and is a laid back way to make new friends!
5. Little Flowers/Blue Knights Clubs
Behold Publications has these 2 amazing options for Catholic kids: Little Flowers Girls Club and Blue Knights Boys Group. They are like scouts, except completely Catholic! We had an amazing experience being part of a Little Flowers group last year. The girls all became close friends praying and growing in virtue together! I would be happy to write more about our experience if you would like to learn more.
6. Mommy and Me Church Group
Check if your group has a Mommy and Me group! If they don’t, why not start one? If you are looking for social connections, chances are there are other families looking for that too!
In our group, we had babies and toddlers from ages birth to 5 years old. Older siblings are always welcome, and 1 caregiver is required to stay with the child. This makes it laid back and fun. You can also teach the moms and dads helpful tips for living the Faith at home, and they will appreciate it!
Some ideas for activities are ABCs, counting, read alouds, puppet shows, and songs – all Catholic, of course!
7. Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy Club
In this club, children and their families perform the corporal and spiritual works of mercy together. Be sure to visit this post on how to live out the Works of Mercy with kids.
For example, you could visit nursing homes, volunteer at a soup kitchen, or help in your parish’s outreach. Pray for the living together, and pray for the dead by visiting a cemetary and praying for the deceased. Volunteering and praying with other families would be spiritually and socially fulfilling!
8. Church Choir
Many churches have children’s choirs! Our children’s choir sings regularly at Mass, and puts on shows throughout the year at the parish.
9. Rosary Makers
This group gets together to make Rosaries! The Rosaries are then usually donated to different ministries.
Academic or Extracurricular Meet Ups
Meet ups can also involve academics, extracurriculars, or hobbies. Do you have any special training, hobbies, or skills? Share these with your children and the homeschool community!
1. Classical Catholic Learning Club (Latin, Greek, Philosophy)
Catholic Classical homeschooling is growing in popularity – and, for good reason! Classical Education is the education of the Saints.
You could choose 1 or more Classical topics for this meet up such as Philosophy, Latin, or Greek. Think of activities that would be good for group learning such as skits, presentations, or Jeopardy-style games.
This meet up could take place in your home, a park, parish, or library! Keeping it simple is usually best, with minimal supplies. Focus on groupwork activities to fully utilize the opportunity of having a large group present.
2. Small Group Learning Club (Religion, Art, Science, History)
Maybe you are a trained artist or your husband is a coder! Bring your special skills to create learning opportunities for your children and your homeschool community. Find out what skills and talents other parents could also share.
Again, this could take place in a home, parish, or library.
3. Book Club
Choose a book, and meet up to discuss it! This could align with a book you are already reading for your curriculum, or, choose one of the many Catholic fiction or non-fiction options available for kids.
4. Field Trip Group
This type of group would attend fieldtrips together. Some ideas for field trips are:
- a local Shrine or your diocese’s Cathedral
- a farm
- the post office
- the fire station
- a nature preserve
- a museum
- aquarium
- planetarium
Be sure to check if the location has group rates or special opportunities for groups. You may be able to set up a special tour or other unique learning activity.
5. Nature Hike Group
A nature hike group goes on hikes together! Explore your your natural forest, beach, or mountain – carefully and cautiously, of course.
Be sure to bring field guides to help you identify the different birds, animals, and plants that you may see. There are also many nature apps. Google Lens is great for helping to identify plants.
6. Hobbies and Play Groups
This is a more informal group that would get together primarily to socialize. This could even start at a very young age. Some ideas include:
- crafts to do together
- toddler free play
- chess club
- read aloud group
- lego play time
7. Sports Meet Up
Plan a get together with other homeschoolers and play baseball, softball, kickball, basketball, lacrosse, tennis, etc.
8. Handicraft Club
Handicrafts are so fun, and are very useful for kids to learn. If you don’t have any skills, consider hiring a teacher or watching some videos on youtube to learn a craft. Some ideas are:
- knitting
- sewing
- crochet
- weaving
- spinning
- woodworking
9. Board Game Club
Board game meet ups are great for the winter for something cozy and fun, but could also be held outside when the weather is nice! Try a Catholic board game or card game!
10. Playground Meet Up/Field Day
This type of meet up would be ideal to do in the fall when the school children are back in school and the playgrounds are empty!
Keep it simple by asking everyone to bring their own lunch and just let the kids play on the playground. Scope out nice playgrounds in your area and in surrounding areas.
Another idea is to bring a kickball, frisbee, or even supplies for a three-legged race! Put together an old school type field day, and let the parents and kids all have fun together!
11. Library Play Date
Finally, when the weather is bad or when you just want to chill, invite other families to meet up at a library. Find a library with a good children’s section so there is plenty for the kids to explore.
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