Society has come a long way in recent years in its collective view of homeschooling. While I wouldn’t go so far as to say the stigma has been totally eradicated, things have gotten better, for the most part. In fact, more families are homeschooling now than ever before. This is my twentieth year as a homeschool mom. I am an avid advocate for children’s best interests in education. For one family, this might include sending a child to a private school. In another household, parents might discern that their kids thrive in a public school environment. Some families choose charter schools and some, like my own, educate children at home. The beauty of living in a free country is that parents may decide what is best for their children. If you educate your kids at home, you might be looking for some fun special event ideas for homeschoolers.
One of the greatest ironies I encountered when I began homeschooling 20 years ago has to do with socialization. We’ve all heard the concerns about homeschooled children not having enough social time. What I found so ironic about that is that, once I started homeschooling my kids, they had more than double the amount of social time than my eldest kids ever had when they attended outside schools. Most homeschooling parents I know are creative thinkers. They come up with some great ways to get their families together with other families in a fun learning environment. Still, everyone gets into a rut sometimes, when they feel fresh out of ideas, which is why I am sharing this post. It contains three fun special event ideas for homeschoolers. Even if your children attend outside schools, you might want to try some of these ideas in your family, as well!
Teach fire safety as part of your special event ideas for homeschoolers
One of my fondest memories of special events that my kids and I have shared together in our homeschooling journey is when our local volunteer fire department came to our home! We invited several other homeschooling families for a Fire Safety Day. There were approximately 35 to 40 students in attendance, plus parents. I had asked each parent for donations ahead of time, which the fire fighters did NOT request, but we wanted to offer to thank them for their time and to support our community.
The firefighters offered tours of their truck. They also let the kids help them shoot the fire hose, which was definitely a highlight of the day! Every child received a coloring book about fire safety and a small pack of crayons. After the presentation, we all shared a picnic lunch together. Children and parents also had an opportunity to greet each firefighter and ask them questions about their service. It was a fun and educational day, and two students who attended wound up becoming junior firefighters in their own communities!
Create history hikes for special event ideas for homeschoolers
How much do you know about the history of your community? My family is blessed to live in a rural community that is moments away from several state lines. We also live within driving distance of some famous historical landmarks, such as Gettysburg, Antietam Battlefield and more. If you want to schedule some special event ideas for homeschoolers this year, you might want to create some history tours. You can invite your outside school friends to join you, as well!
You might choose to do a history hike. This would take some planning ahead, so that you can learn where the historical landmarks are in your community. It doesn’t necessarily have to be war-related. You might have an old bridge or school building or homes in your area that are historically significant. You can map out a walking tour and make plans to share lunch and outdoor fun time, afterward. If you would rather take a road trip, you can schedule a driving history tour, instead. Some places, such as Antietam Battlefield in Sharpsburg, Maryland, have free programs for kids. They will give you scavenger hunt papers for children to find certain objects throughout their tour. If they complete the entire list, they receive a special certificate at the end of the day!
Co-ops are a fun way to learn at home
The time a family shares together throughout a homeschooling journey is an irreplaceable blessing. On occasion, however, it’s also nice for kids to experience learning from other adults, as well. Co-ops are definitely among the best special event ideas for homeschoolers. There are many styles of co-ops. A basic format is to invite other families to your home and use various rooms as classrooms. Each parent (or invited guest) teaches a class that kids do not usually have as part of their typical school lessons. Such classes might include a cooking class, painting, sewing, cartography or any other topic.
You might choose to meet once per week or once per month. You can arrange for a co-op to last for six weeks or keep it going all year long. It’s entirely up to you. If you want to make time for socializing after classes are finished, you can have every family bring a food item to share for lunch. In my experience, it is easiest to organize classes by age levels, although you might want to do it differently.
Special events are memorable experiences in homeschooling
Homeschooling is more than studying school lessons at home. It is a lifestyle. Experienced homeschoolers see everyday life as education. The world is the classroom, so to speak. Homeschooling is also challenging in many ways. It takes time and effort to do it well. Special events help break the monotony. They spark interest. It is a fun way to entertain your family and to build memories that you will cherish for a lifetime.
Like life, homeschooling is a continuing series of events, some of which are more pleasant than others. If you are struggling, feeling stuck in a rut or experiencing family issues that are disrupting your formal learning time, take a look at this post. It might help. In the meantime, keep special event ideas for homeschoolers in mind to add interest and diversity to your learning experiences!
