Importance of Socialization in Online School - Connections Academy® -推荐正规买球平台

This article was originally published September 2017 and was updated January 2025.

Although online students do not attend a school where they learn in the same room with the same kids every day, there are many ways online school students socialize and form friendships outside of the forced proximity of brick-and-mortar schools.

What is Socialization in Online School?

Socialization in online school refers to how students create a community, build relationships and interact with peers and teachers while learning remotely, including how students learn social skills and create a sense of community. For many kids, this happens when they attend in-person school. Students in online school do the same, just in a different way.

Students who attend online school learn to socialize and interact with their classmates and teachers through in-class discussions, extracurricular activities and events. While many of these interactions happen through a screen, many students also participate in in-person activities such as community events and field trips. The amount of in-person socialization all students receive, whether attending online school or a brick-and-mortar school, depends on the amount of effort that is put in.

What is the Importance of Socialization?

It is important for children to learn how to socialize because it helps them to build their communication skills as well as learn how to be empathetic and understand social norms. They learn how to build friendships and solve problems. These are important life skills for students to have, not only in a classroom setting, but throughout their lives.

For children who attend online school, mastering these skills can help them to build confidence as they become more comfortable communicating with their peers and teachers. As students become more confident, they can step out of their shell, explore new hobbies, and make new friends.

Why is a Lack of Socialization Bad?

We are meant to be social beings, so when we don’t socialize, it can harm our health, no matter our age. A lack of socialization can be harmful for students because it can lead to depression, anxiety, and have negative impacts on the immune system. Not socializing can also lead to loneliness and low self-esteem.

Many online schools, including Connections Academy, often organize peer tutoring sessions to facilitate peer-to-peer interactions. As a Learning Coach, you may also want to suggest ideas such as joining clubs or forming a Learning Pod.

What is the Importance of Socialization?

It is important for children to learn how to socialize because it helps them to build their communication skills as well as learn how to be empathetic and understand social norms. They learn how to build friendships and solve problems. These are important life skills for students to have, not only in a classroom setting, but throughout their lives.

For children who attend online school, mastering these skills can help them to build confidence as they become more comfortable communicating with their peers and teachers. As students become more confident, they can step out of their shell, explore new hobbies, and make new friends.

Examples of Socialization

Parents and Learning Coaches of students in online schools know that there are different types of socialization that transcend the traditional classroom setting, and they often leverage the flexible scheduling to customize their students’ socialization opportunities to their student’s interests and needs.

Here are ways online school students can benefit from the different types of socialization:

One-on-One Interactions with Adults

Parents, guardians, Learning Coaches, teachers, and other adults can partner with their student to set behavioral expectations, helping students develop organizational skills, and teach them to interact respectfully with others.

While doing schoolwork, eating dinner, or just relaxing at home, parents and Learning Coaches can spend more time with their students, instilling good conversational and social skills. Parents and Learning Coaches may also want to seek support from online teachers and counselors who understand the importance of socialization. They can work with students in groups and provide one-on-one sessions while teaching core academic skills. Students can also socialize with adult members of their religious communities who share their values and can serve as role models.

One-on-One Interactions with Peers

Online schools, like Connections Academy, provide one-on-one interactions for students and their peers with socialization opportunities such as secure chat and breakout rooms for collaborating during virtual class sessions. These opportunities help to teach well-established expectations of appropriate behavior and include a zero tolerance for online bullying. These are vital skills both in and out of the classroom.

Group Interactions

Online schools value the importance of socialization and give students ample opportunities to learn how to work well in groups and collaborate with others. They learn how to set goals and negotiate work assignments and deadlines as well as how to collaborate with peers from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds and those from different geographic areas. With so much group work and play occurring online today, online school students may actually have an advantage over students in more traditional learning environments.

How Learning Coaches Can Encourage Socialization in School

There are many things that Learning Coaches can do to encourage students to socialize both in and out of the classroom.

Arrange Playdates and In-Person Gatherings

Depending on proximity, Learning Coaches and parents may want to schedule playdates and in-person gatherings with their students’ classmates. Whether you meet at someone’s house or at a public space such as a restaurant or activity center, getting together in-person allows students to get to know each other better and form relationships that can be beneficial during class and free time.

Participate in Virtual Clubs & Extracurricular Activities

Many Connections Academy-supported schools offer virtual clubs and extracurricular activities for elementary, middle and high school students. Students can find topics such as art, chess, gaming, and other specialties, and may also discover a new hobby or activity in the process. By participating in a variety of clubs and activities, students can explore their interests and make lasting friendships. Students also learn valuable collaboration, leadership, and communication skills.

If your student enjoys sports, look to see what opportunities exist there. Many communities have recreational teams that allow students of all ages to participate and socialize. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn how to work as a team while meeting new people.

Join a Learning Pod

Learning pods are designed for collaborative learning and can provide socialization opportunities to help students feel connected to others. There is no lack of socialization in a learning pod as students work together and interact with their Learning Coach and peers. Learning pods can be hosted virtually or in person. Besides learning together, some Learning Coaches may also suggest other group activities such as visiting a park or museum, which can provide additional opportunities to socialize and grow and emphasize the importance of socialization.

Attend Field Trips and other in-person events

Take advantage of all your online school and community has to offer when it comes to field trips and in-person events. These are excellent opportunities for students to socialize and get to know their peers. Check to see if there are online newsletters that list these types of events. You may also want to look for activities posted on community bulletin boards and on social media. Join online groups that often promote activities for kids. If you have a community center, take advantage of the various activities that they have to offer as well.

Public libraries can be another great source of fun events for children. Many libraries host craft and movie night events for kids of all ages and host speakers on various topics. Being proactive can be helpful in maximizing your student’s socialization opportunities. Depending on their age, you may also want to encourage them to keep an eye out for events that interest them and provide socialization opportunities that they are interested in.

Look for Volunteer Opportunities

As a Learning Coach, you can look for volunteer opportunities that can be done as a family. Community centers, public libraries, and online community boards are all excellent places where you can find volunteer opportunities that everyone can participate in. You can also do a simple online search for volunteer opportunities in your area.

If your student is old enough, you can also encourage them to explore volunteer opportunities on their own. Ask them what they are interested in. Perhaps they love animals and would like to volunteer at an animal shelter, or maybe they enjoy reading and want to volunteer at the library.

Whatever the cause, volunteering can help students socialize as they interact with adults and peers who share a common interest. Since volunteering can occur regularly, students can build relationships and form new friendships. Volunteer leaders can also interact with students as they introduce them to new ideas and activities in which they are interested.

With parental encouragement and support, students who attend a Connections Academy-supported school often put their group skills toward the greater good, volunteering in their communities, religious organizations, environmental groups, and local humane societies due to the flexibility to make their learning day work for them. While they sharpen their social skills and their social conscience, they can make a difference in their communities while learning.

And isn't that how parents want their kids to be socialized?

To learn more about online school opportunities, contact the Connections Academy team.