When people hear that a family home educates, one of the first questions they ask is, “But what about socialisation?” It’s often said with genuine concern. The assumption is that without school, children miss out on learning how to get along with others, build friendships, and have fun. But is that really true?
Speaking as one of those families, no, not by a long shot. In fact, many home-educating families I know really have to juggle their children’s social calendars!
What “Socialisation” Actually Means
For home-educated children, socialisation is largely the same, it just doesn’t happen in a schoolyard.
In education, socialisation isn’t about being around lots of people every day. It’s about learning to communicate, cooperate, and manage relationships in healthy ways. These are life skills, not just school skills. Children don’t only learn them in classrooms or playgrounds. They learn them wherever they interact with others, such as in families, neighbourhoods, clubs, and community groups.
The School Myth
Schools are often seen as the main place children learn social skills. They do provide daily interaction, but that doesn’t always mean healthy socialisation. Many parents remove children from school because of bullying, anxiety, or peer pressure. These experiences can harm confidence and social growth.
A 2021 survey by Education Otherwise found that over 40% of families chose home education partly due to negative school social experiences. Removing a child from that environment often helps them rebuild trust and confidence before forming new friendships elsewhere.
What Socialisation Looks Like in Home Education
Home-educated children usually mix with a wide range of people, not just those their own age. They talk to shopkeepers, librarians, and neighbours. They join clubs, attend home-education groups, social events, art and theatre activities, and take part in sports and volunteering. They interact with adults and younger children alike.
In many UK areas, home-education groups have weekly meet-ups. Some are purely social, while others include science workshops, sports, nature walks, art classes, and drama sessions. Parents organise these through Facebook groups, WhatsApp, or local education networks. Many families attend more social events each week than children in school.
Examples include:
- Home Ed Hub — lists regional meet-ups across the UK
- Education Otherwise — offers support and member events
- The Home Education UK Facebook group — with over 60,000 members sharing advice and activities
Mixed-Age Interaction Builds Confidence
At school, children are grouped by age. In home education, age doesn’t define friendships. A 10-year-old might learn alongside a 7-year-old and a 14-year-old. This exposure to different ages and abilities helps children learn patience, empathy, and leadership.
They also spend more time with adults, learning to communicate clearly and respectfully. Studies show that children who mix with a broader age range often become more confident speakers and problem-solvers.
A 2018 study from the Centre for Personalised Education (CPE) found that home-educated children scored higher on measures of emotional maturity and communication than their school-based peers.
Common Social Opportunities for Home-Educated Children
There are plenty of ways children meet others through home education:
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Local activity groups: Sports, Scouts, Guides, drama, music, martial arts
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Community volunteering: Animal shelters, food banks, libraries, and care homes
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Group learning: Parents take turns leading lessons or themed projects
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Museums, zoos, and outdoor education centres: Many offer daytime sessions for home-educated learners
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Online classes and meet-ups: Ideal for older children or those with medical or social anxiety
These can usually be found through local Facebook home-education communities.
The Socialisation Balance
Home-educated children don’t need to be social all the time. Many families value the freedom to choose when and how to socialise. For some children, especially those with additional needs or anxiety, fewer but more meaningful interactions work best.
Schools are not the only way to learn teamwork or friendship. Playing football with friends, joining a choir, or helping at a community garden can teach collaboration just as effectively.
Real-Life Examples
In Birmingham, Home Ed Connect runs weekly sports and science sessions in local parks. Dozens of children attend, from toddlers to teens. Parents say their children have formed long-term friendships that feel more genuine than those they had in school.
In Cornwall, a home-educated teen started a book club that meets monthly at the local library. What began as four friends has grown into a lively group of over twenty young readers.
These examples show that socialisation in home education is thriving, it just looks different.
What Experts Say
Dr Alan Thomas, researcher and author of Educating Your Child at Home, has studied home education in the UK for decades. His research shows that children learn social skills through everyday family life and community involvement. He found no evidence that home-educated children struggle socially in the long term.
The idea that home-educated children miss out on socialisation doesn’t hold up to real evidence. Much of the worry comes from outdated assumptions based on American homeschooling models. The UK’s home-educating community is far more inclusive, engaged, and social.
Home-educated children may not walk school corridors, but they build friendships, teamwork, and confidence through real-world experiences. They learn social skills at their own pace, surrounded by people who value and respect them.
For many families, that’s not just enough—it’s better.
Have a wonderful week!
Kel