Homeschool support groups exist to provide encouragement and support for homeschool parents as well as provide activities and field trips for the children. Some groups provide record keeping services while others are for fellowship only. There are groups that are specific to a religion, secular (non-religious) or inclusive, meaning that all are included – all religions as well as the non-religious.
The trick is finding the group that meets the needs of your family. Does the group provide the record keeping and paperwork that you need? Are the activities geared towards the ages of your children? Check out different groups by reading their mission statements online. Talk to others in the group if possible. Some groups will allow you to attend a few events before making your decision to join or not.
Support groups are generally run by homeschoolers, so expect to be involved in the planning and running of activities, field trips and events. Your experience in the group will depend a lot on what you put into it. Being an active member and participating in the meetings and activities will most likely yield a better experience than sitting on the sidelines. However, it is very easy to over-extend and end up burning out. So you’ll have to find the balance for your family.
To find a support group in your area, select your state from the map below. To add your support group to our state listings, please fill out the Homeschool Support Group Form.
