How do I stop my child feeling lonely when learning mainly at home? 

Parenting Perspective 

Accept Their Feelings and Maintain Connections 

Loneliness is one of the most common worries children have when moving from school to home education. They may miss the daily buzz of classmates, playground chats, and shared jokes. The first step is to accept your child’s feelings rather than telling them to ‘just get over it’. Listen with patience and reassure them that their feelings matter. 

Where possible, help them stay in touch with friends from their old school, playdates, calls, or occasional meetups can help keep those bonds alive. Join local home-school groups or online communities where you can find families who organise park days, co-learning sessions, or simple meetups.¹ If you are just starting out and do not yet have a big network, invite one or two families for an easy outdoor activity or craft afternoon. 

Encourage Unstructured Play and Community Activities 

Make sure your week includes plenty of unstructured play, not just formal lessons. Let your child have a say in joining clubs, sports, or community classes where they can meet other children with similar interests. Even one good friend can make a huge difference to how settled and happy they feel. 

Remember, you do not need to recreate the exact social life of a classroom. Your aim is to help your child build healthy, enriching friendships that feel safe and genuine. With your support, they will come to see that friendship and fun are not tied to school buildings, they can blossom anywhere there is trust and kindness, InshaAllah. 

Spiritual Insight 

Loneliness can feel heavy for a child, but Islam reminds us that we are never truly alone when we stay connected to Allah Almighty. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Al Hadid (57), Verse 4: 

‘And He is with you wherever you are. ‘

This beautiful Ayah reassures you and your child that Allah Almighty’s presence surrounds us, bringing comfort and hope even in moments of isolation. 

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 2586a, that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘The example of the believers in their mutual love, mercy, and compassion is that of a body… ‘

This Hadith Shareef teaches us the importance of healthy companionship; relationships built on mutual kindness and support. Use this as a chance to talk with your child about the qualities of good friends and the beauty of sincere company. Make Dua together for righteous companions and invite your child to help plan how to find them, this gives them a sense of agency and hope. Be patient; friendships may take time to blossom, but with sincere intention, trust in Allah Almighty’s wisdom, and steady effort, your child will feel less alone and more rooted in a circle of caring bonds.