Homeschooling your children is incredibly rewarding, but many homeschooling families experience feelings of loneliness. You might not know other homeschooling families or struggle to find ways for your kids to have more social interaction. The good news is there are plenty of resources available to help you locate other parents who homeschool. Here are the top five ways to connect with homeschooling families around you.

Connect with Homeschooling Families Online

Searching for fellow homeschoolers online is a great place to start. You can Google homeschooling groups and organizations to see which ones are in your area. And you can use social media to your advantage as well. Join a Facebook group for homeschooling parents and introduce yourself. You can also ask if any of your fellow group members live in your state or region. Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram are also great ways to share ideas with other parents and get to know some of them.

Also check out Meetup.com, where you can see if there are homeschooling groups in your area. While social media and online communities can be very valuable, nothing can beat meeting other homeschooling families in person.

Research Local Homeschool Groups or Associations

Another excellent way to connect with homeschooling families around you is through a local homeschool group, association or co-op. With a simple Google search, you can easily find what groups are available in your area. Try searching the name of your state plus terms like “homeschool support groups” and “homeschool associations”. Most if not all states have homeschool organizations that you can become involved with.

There are also many websites you can check out, like the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, or HSLDA. Take a look at HSLDA’s Home School Organization’s page, where you can search for homeschool support groups by state. When you visit the link for your state, you will find a listing of groups by county for even more options.

Try Out Some Travel Apps

Don’t underestimate the value of travel apps in helping you connect with other homeschooling families in your area. Travel apps like BreadcrumbsHQ can help you to identify places around you where other homeschooling families are likely to be. You can locate public parks, museums, and nature trails to visit with your child during school hours as an educational and fun outing. If you see other families, try striking up a conversation. If they are out and about during school hours, there’s a good chance that they may be homeschooling families as well.

Travel apps can also be very useful when you are planning to meet up with other homeschooling families. They can help you to find new locations for group visits, field trips, and socializing with other members of your homeschooling community.

Check Your Local Library

Be sure to check with your local library to inquire about homeschooling programs. The availability and quality of these programs vary depending on your location, but they are certainly worth checking out.

Some libraries have homeschooling groups that meet regularly. In some cases, the librarian will teach a lesson or give a presentation to the kids. Even if your library does not host regular homeschooling groups, your librarian may know of events in the area. Your librarian might also be able to connect you with other homeschooling families.

If you homeschool, the library is also a valuable resource. It’s a good location for holding lessons and meeting new people. Try bringing your kids to the library during typical school hours, and you just might happen to meet other homeschoolers and their parents.

Attend a Homeschooling Conference or Convention

If you can attend a homeschooling conference or convention, you are in luck! While the speeches and events are informative, the chance to connect with other parents who homeschool is a great benefit. An organization you should check out is Great Homeschool Conventions, which holds conferences in the Midwest and Southwest, California, Texas, and Missouri. These conventions host dozens of speakers, workshops, and special events. They are also a great way to connect with other homeschooling families.

These are some excellent ways for you to connect with homeschooling families in your area. There are plenty of resources online to help you find homeschooling groups. You can also get creative with travel apps to find a place to meet other homeschoolers. While you might feel isolated sometimes, there are plenty of ways for you to connect with other families who homeschool.

Are you a homeschooling parent? What are some of your favorite ways to connect with other homeschooling families? Let us know in the comments or by posting on our Facebook wall.