My oldest daughter has asked me to find her someone to email or snailmail pen pal with. She she started homeschooling in 5th grade she never made any lasting friendships in PS so when we started homeschooling she lost track of everyone around us. We live in a small community so I only know of 3 other families that homeschool and there are no groups within 45 mins of our home that i  know of. We were going to a very small church where all the kids were much older or much younger than my daughter. We are in process of looking for a new church but it's hard to find a place we are comfortable with and is close to home. She went to summer camp and made friends but no one would email her back after camp was over.  So right now she is 11 she loves crafts, drawing, rides 4 wheelers, loves animals, video games and has no one to talk to about the typical tween girl life.  I'm just heartbroken to see her unhappy  If anyone knows of a reliable site to find penpals or has a daughter that would like to talk to her please let me know.

thanks for the help

angel

Yikes!  I sympathize with your daughter.  At 11, she's probably very interested in connecting with kids her age and it's difficult when you live in such a small community.  I don't know of a specific place for you to find homeschooling penpals but will try to help you brainstorm.  Have you checked out any homeschool magazines?  How about online communities?  I know of MANY online communities for homeschoolers, some which even have dedicated chat rooms for kids only.  Yahoo and msngroups may have something that appeals to you and your daughter.

Do you have a public library?  Librarians usually know everyone around and can also help you set up something like a pen pal situation.

If you can, I highly recommend attending a conference for homeschoolers.  There are several all over the country and they are a great place to meet other homeschooled children.  After a conference, the kids often enthusiastically correspond.
  Sorry I couldn't be of more specific help.  Good luck.

lynne,

thanks so much for all the ideas I am grateful for any information we will check these out and see what we find.

angel

I used the Student Letter Exchange for years when I was a kid. It's still around, and you are guarenteed a pal.

www.pen-pals.com (I think)

Here's a yahoo group were you can search for pen pals

link

It is set up specifically for homeschooled kids.  I have heard good things about them but have not used them personally

HTH

Thanks so much to everyone for all the help I think we have solved the no one to talk to problem. Now I just have to set a few limits on how much time is for chat and how much time is for school. LOL will the problems ever end.

angel

Hey there!

Has your daughter found a pen-pal?  Do you think she would like another one?  My oldest daughter is thirteen and my youngest is ten.  My ten year old has a pen-pal in Australia from Girl Guides (the international version of Girl Scouts)  Somehow my oldest daughter's request for a pen-pal through them didn't get fufilled so she is looking for someone to write to.

She loves horses, doing arts and crafts and of course annoying her little sister.  She is in the ninth grade in some subjects, eigth in others.  We live in a very small town and don't get to know our neighbors too well.  We are members of a homeschool co-op but it is mostly younger kids and it is about thirty minutes away.

Thanks and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sandy

I really want to thank everyone that has responded toni is now on cloud 9 she has 2 email buddies and 2 snail mail buddies.

Now i have a 10 year old that is very jelous LOL  so anyone have a pen pal for her???

thanks

angel

All my kids have pen pals yea i have happy kids again thanks to everyone for all your help.

angel