by Alysa Dudley

Created on: June 28, 2009

It's late August and excitement is in the air. There are new fall clothes and school supplies in the stores. It seems like everyone is getting cool new backpacks and binders. Homeschoolers can feel left out.

Homeschoolers feel the changing cycles of the seasons like everyone else. They have friends who are going back to school which means spending less time with them. Homeschoolers are also involved in many activities that begin in the fall such as dance, scouts, art classes, etc.

Children are learning all the time, even when they are not formally studying. Many families have a looser schedule in the summer than they do from September through May.

Younger children may not like being different from their friends. They notice all the excitement and wonder why everyone else is going to school. A celebration of this back-to-school time can help ease the transition and make them feel special.

The best activity for celebrating this time of year is the Not-Back-To-School Picnic. These picnics are organized by homeschool support groups, at least in Massachusetts where I live. When other kids are going back to the routines of school, homeschoolers get to celebrate by playing, biking, and finding tadpoles. Parents get to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. These picnics highlight the joys of homeschooling.

For one of the homeschool support groups I belong to, the not-back-to-school picnic is the most well attended event of the year. People who do little else with the group all year will attend the picnic. We meet at a state park in an area around a pond. Homeschooling families bring their own food and chairs or blankets. We have a fun tradition in which the support group buys ice cream, everyone attending brings toppings, and we have an ice cream smorgasbord.

Some homeschoolers really enjoy getting supplies to use in their studies. Take a not-back-to-school shopping trip to a store selling pens, pencils, markers, and other items usually purchased for school. A brand new notebook to start the season has lots of space to record new experiences. A new backpack in a favorite color or with a favorite character will make a homeschooler feel special.

You can also buy some not-back-to-school clothes. Children will enjoy picking out a few new outfits for the fall. You don't have to spend a lot of money to make this another fun way to begin the fall season.

The items that symbolize going back to school can be quite significant. There are times when a homeschooled child will say I want to go to school. When the parent asks why? the child will often say something like because I want a backpack like Suzie has. It's amazing how a few simple supplies can make a difference.

Homeschooling is definitely something to celebrate. Special activities at the beginning of the typical school year will reinforce positive feelings about homeschooling. It will create excitement about the new learning adventures that await.

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