Homeschooling support groups are groups of homeschooling families that meet together regularly to provide encouragement and opportunities for socialization. Since homeschooled children do not attend public school, belonging to a support group can provide much needed association for both the children and the parents. Support groups are often organized according to the location, homeschooling method, curriculum or religious affiliation of the members.http://www.midnightbeach.com/hs/listlist.html

Families that are looking to join a homeschooling support group can often find nearby groups by searching the Internet or by inquiring at the local library. If there are no groups in your area, you can start your own or you can join a virtual support group.http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/weblinks/support.htm There are many Internet-only support groups for homeschoolers. These are usually available in Internet forums and social networking groups, such as Yahoo Groups.http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=homeschooling

Homeschooling families that want to join or start a local homeschool support group can use the Internet to find help in doing so. Some of the helpful websites available are:

1. A to Z's Cool Homeschooling - This website is a kind of one-stop shop for homeschoolers, providing information about curriculum, methods, and planning. It also has an extensive list of homeschool support groups in each state of the United States as well as articles about how to start a support group or join one.http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/weblinks/support.htm
2. Jon's Homeschool Resources - Along with listings of support groups in each US state, this website also lists groups that are available outside the US, groups for US military families and groups according to their religious leaning.http://www.midnightbeach.com/hs/listlist.html
3. Local HS - If you're looking for a comprehensive list of all of the homeschooling support groups in the country, this is it! You can also search the listings for groups located near you or add your own group to the directory.http://localhs.com/