How to Help Your Online Student Thrive Socially

September 17, 2025

There is a stigma associated with online and homeschooled students regarding the lack of socialization they experience in their academic setting. Except it simply isn’t true. Homeschooled and online students actually socialize quite a bit.

There is a stigma associated with online and homeschooled students regarding the lack of socialization they experience in their academic setting. Except it simply isn’t true. Homeschooled and online students actually socialize quite a bit. However, socialization is usually a concern for prospective online students and parents. The apprehension is understandable. It’s unknown territory, online students aren’t interacting with peers in person, and online learning has a different dynamic. But, rest assured, if you’re contemplating online education, there are plenty of ways to help your online student thrive socially.

Why Keeping Online Students Socially Engaged Is Important

Before we get into how to help your online student thrive socially, let’s take a minute to understand why it’s so important to keep them socially engaged. 

• Socializing helps prevent isolation and supports mental well-being. When a student is working alone at home, their online learning environment can feel isolating. Interacting socially helps students build relationships and connections with classmates and teachers, which fosters a community and sense of belonging. And that helps improve the student’s emotional and mental health.
• Social interaction increases engagement and motivation. Once connections and communities are formed, students become more excited and engaged with their academics, as they’re more likely to be motivated to participate in group activities and discussions. Which often means…
• Student academic performance improves. Research shows that highly engaged and motivated students perform at a higher level than their peers who are not as engaged with school. Engagement in school also tends to result in a deeper understanding of the academic material being taught. So it’s not a leap to deduct that student socialization leads to engagement, which leads to student success.
• Socialization builds important relationships. Online students have the opportunity to create lasting relationships with both their virtual classmates (if they’re enrolled in live classes) and their instructors. Consistent, productive interactions between students and instructors are not only the key to a positive learning experience, they also provide online students with a sounding board as well as a potential letter of recommendation down the road.

Now, let’s look at how these results can be achieved through socialization in an online learning environment.

5 Ways to Help Your Online Student Thriving Socially

Let’s examine the ways to introduce and maintain a steady level of socialization in your online student’s day-to-day schooling.

Get involved with volunteering

There are so many benefits to volunteering. It allows students to develop their communication, personal, and future professional skills. Through volunteering, students make a connection to their community and gain new and valuable perspectives. Volunteering also offers people a sense of physical and mental well-being; and in doing so, students begin to build confidence in themselves and their abilities. Volunteering also involves plenty of socializing! With fellow volunteers, with team leaders, with whomever the students are helping through their altruism. Students can take so many positives from their volunteer experiences–the opportunity to socialize is just the icing on the cake.

Join extracurricular clubs and sports teams

One of the big advantages of online school is the flexibility it offers. Students don’t have to sit through a traditional seven-hour school day. And that opens up a ton of time for kids to do what they love doing.

Whether it’s sports, afterschool clubs, local study groups, performing arts, or hobbies, online school gives students the freedom to pursue their passions. And many of those environments are very social. If your student isn’t involved in any outside organizations or activities, make it a priority to get them involved. Many local libraries offer academic and hobby-based clubs that are open to all kids. And just a little online research will likely turn up nearby theater groups or drama clubs, esports teams, and other groups that cover pretty much any interest students might have.

Plus, just about every area in the country offers club sports where kids can play competitively against other local students. And many public school districts now allow online and homeschooled students to participate scholastic athletics. Just contact your school district to determine whether your child is eligible to try out and join a team.

Not only are these ideal opportunities to socialize, they also allow your child to participate in the activities they love as they simultaneously develop lifelong skills (like teamwork, communication, etc.) they’ll use beyond school.

Gain career prep skills with a job or internship

It’s never too early for high schoolers to prepare for life after school. Like a part-time job! Again, the flexibility of online school gives students the time to work, learn new skills, and earn some cash. While fitting a part-time job into a traditional school schedule is doable, it’s also challenging. There simply aren’t enough hours in a day at times. But with a flexible online school schedule, students can put in daytime or evening hours and still have the time to complete their schoolwork and studies. Jobs are the perfect way to hone communication, teamwork, and socialization skills.

For high school juniors and seniors, an internship is also an amazing way to gain work experience. And because internships are typically in the field students are interested in pursuing beyond high school, they’re invaluable ways to see what a potential career might involve. Plus, an internship offers the opportunity to learn highly relevant on-the-job skills and connect with the right people.

Pursue in-person meet-ups or field trips

There may be more online or homeschooled students in your area than you realize. Check out Google and social media to find local groups of non-traditional students and families. Many of these groups and organizations help families set up field trips and get-togethers with other online or homeschooled students from your area. With that resource, you can start exploring the possibility of in-person field trips or meet-ups. Look for places to meet, and take in a museum, zoo, or aquarium. Or arrange for the students to meet up and go to a sporting event, concert, shopping, or even just to a coffee shop.

Hang out at home

Guess what? Hanging out with the family counts as socializing too! After all, you probably spend more time with your child than anyone. So, take advantage of family time with game nights, group outings with your clan or with extended family and other families you’re close with, or just meaningful conversation around the dinner table. The socialization skills kids learn at home are the same ones they’ll apply in school, college, careers, and beyond.

Holston Academy Can Help Your Online Student Thrive Socially

There are plenty of opportunities for your online student to thrive socially. And Holston Academy students know how to socialize! Check out the story of Sofia, who travels often and volunteers at pet shelters, a nursing home, and cleaning up parks.

And Kyle, a competitive golfer who aims to play in college. The flexibility of online learning with Holston Academy allows him to fit in training and tournaments while still receiving a high-quality, accredited education.

And Eddie, who’s part of a military family that moves frequently. Online learning with Holston Academy gives her the time to pursue her hobbies and passions–such as her roller derby travel team, competitive swimming, and serving as a representative for an anti-bullying organization, all of which have led to her making more and more friends. 

For more information about Holston Academy, fill out our form to request more information: https://holstonacademy.org/request-information/.