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Socialization comes in many different forms for children---birthday parties, sports, children of parents' work mates, play dates, organizations like Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts and, of course, in the traditional school setting.

Many parents are fearful of homeschooling because such a large part of children's socialization comes from their time spent with classmates. And when living overseas, there is the additional fear that their child might miss out on making connections with the local culture. But with just a little creativity and asking around, a good balance can be found between homeschooling and friends.

1. Just ask

There's my motto again. If you were in the United States, you might go to the local public school and ask to have your child participate in their physical education program or in the after school activities-- so why can't you do that right where you are now? By approaching the principal or headmaster and explaining your homeschool situation, chances are they will be happy to include your child in the school's after school activities (this is especially so if the child has siblings already attending the school).

Participating in the after school programs of international schools (or other local English taught schools) not only gives your son or daughter a chance to make friends, but also helps them pick up what they might be missing at home--art, sports and a language.

Note: The Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America is a truly global organization, tending to be non-school affiliated, meaning that generally speaking, no special arrangements need to be made with the host school-- only with the leaders.

2. Encourage "play dates"

Once a week, have your child pick a friend to come over and play. Or to take out for a weekend ice cream and trip to the park to keep the friendship alive and well.

3. Consider adding other children

Chances are you're not the only one experiencing a school crisis, so why not add another child to the home school environment you've already created? You'd not only be helping someone else but giving your child a classmate or two, and if you plan to return to a traditional school in the future it encourages a more realistic school environment with noises and raised hands.

4. Some employers will pay for activities that would normally take place in a traditional school setting

Once again, ask around. Find out what some of your child's closest friends are doing and enroll him in the same sport or organization, either in a school or through a club or gym. And to step outside the "expat bubble" for a few hours a week, try finding an instructor that teaches in the countries native language and where team mates are most likely made up of different nationalities.

5. Places Where Parents can Find Support and Guidance

Support can come from the teacher you correspond with at the distance learning school (to make international phone calls cheaper, check out Vonage and Skype ), international and national on line support groups , websites meant to lend a helping hand to parents of children with learning disabilities, homeschool newsletters, books (Amazon.com delivers internationally with no hassles and usually within the week) and other parents of local homeschooled children. Seek out and use these resources, especially as problems arise to find or offer new solutions. Good luck and enjoy!

Heather Domnick is a freelance writer and lifelong expat having traversed the globe from Peru to Hong Kong and Illinois to Chile. She contributes articles on Chilean expat life to the Santiago Times and the Chile Information Project.

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