What Do Kids in Online Schools Do About Extracurricular Activities?

An online school allows your child to be taught by certified teachers with the flexibility of being home-schooled, but learning at home limits social contact and participation in activities. Finding extracurricular activities for your child gives her social interaction and enriches her education. Exploring options helps you pick opportunities that match your child's interests and expand her education.

  1. Online Action

    • Some online schools offer virtual extracurricular activities to expand the online offerings beyond the basic academic courses. Student groups vary, but might include clubs based on academics, art, music, journalism or games. Virtual groups allow the online school students to socialize with one another outside of the virtual classroom environment. Online extracurricular activities are limited and don't allow for in-person socialization. For example, an online school can't organize a sports team because the students are spread throughout the state or country.

    Public Schools

    • Home learners are often allowed to participate in extracurricular activities offered to students in the local school district. Each state sets its own regulations concerning home-schooling and participation in school district activities. Some states set specific requirements, while others don't address extracurricular participation. For example, Arkansas bases home-school student participation on standardized test scores, while Hawaii law doesn't address participation in public school activities, leaving the decision to the districts, according to the Home School Legal Defense Association. Check with your state's education department or with your local school district to determine whether your child is allowed to participate in district extracurricular activities.

    Community Groups

    • Most communities offer an assortment of public groups and clubs suitable for online learners. Recreational sports leagues typically allow kids of all abilities to participate without the tryouts and competition that comes with a school sports team. Check with the city parks and recreation department or recreation centers to find teams and athletic programs. Nonprofits and private businesses also offer activities, such as dance, music and art. Public libraries often schedule weekly story times for young children and book clubs for older kids.

    Home-school Groups

    • Local home-school groups often organize special activities for the participating families. Even if your child learns through an online school instead of direct instruction from a parent, you can join a home-school group to access these extracurricular activities. Another option is to organize your own clubs for other homeschooling families in the area. Many clubs, such as a chess club or book club, don't require special knowledge to organize. The other homeschooling parents might have expertise to offer for the clubs. For example, a parent who knows how to paint could lead a home-school art club.

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