Discover essential homeschooling tips to enhance your child’s learning experience. Explore resources, strategies, and support for successful home education.

Unlocking Educational Potential at Home: A Homeschooling Journey
I never in a million years thought I would be a homeschooling parent. I also never thought I would be the type of homeschooling advocate that I am. Let’s be real, most people have the wrong idea about homeschooling, mainly from a lack of education and experience with it. Whether you’ve been homeschooling 5 years or 5 minutes, I want to share some homeschooling tips that every parent needs to hear. It may be the first time you’re hearing it or a gentle, loving reminder.
Researching Homeschooling: Comparing Curriculum Options and Philosophies
One of the most important homeschooling tips is research. There are so many curriculums and philosophies out there, it can be quite overwhelming. I spent a good two years researching homeschool before I started and still felt completely lost when we actually started.
Learn as much as you can about the various available curriculum. To gain insight from their experiences, speak with other homeschooling parents and their homeschooled children, watch Youtube videos, visit blogs, and read reviews from people who have really used the material.
The same can be said about the different homeschooling philosophies. Why did you decide to homeschool? Maybe your child was struggling in a traditional learning environment. Yet, most new homeschooling parents bring their kids home and try to replicate public school at home.
Exploring the Legal Framework Surrounding Homeschooling in Your Area
Every state in the US has different laws governing homeschooling. In addition to reports and standardized examinations, several states need attendance records. Other states don’t need much. I live in a state with some of the lowest requirements.
The best place to find this information is at HSLDA– The Homeschool Legal Defense Association. They will provide detailed information on how to withdraw from public school, homeschooling requirements including testing & mandatory subjects, plus resources and more.
Finding Support Groups and Community Resources for Homeschooling Families
Join a homeschooling group in your community. Homeschoolers themselves are among the best sources of information about homeschooling. They will be able to answer your questions and see how lots of different people homeschool.
You can also learn what other activities, co-ops, classes, and sports are available for homeschool children in your area. It’s amazing how I live in a relatively small community and yet, a close friend of mine does classes and groups I have never heard of and vice versa.
Many local homeschooling groups have arranged all sorts of things for the kids, including field trips, sports teams, and even competitions.
Choosing a Curriculum That Matches Your Child’s Learning Style
Curricula has come such a long way in the past 10 years. There are so many different ones to choose from, it can be overwhelming. Even if you do your best to research all the curriculum, you may start it and decide it doesn’t work for you.
Don’t be afraid to try new things. If you spend half the year using something and your child hasn’t made any progress, it may be time to switch things up. The same can be said for the reverse. Just because it may take a few weeks or months to really click, doesn’t mean you should change curriculum every few weeks. As you continue, you will learn a balance.
Focus on finding curriculum that matches your child’s learning styles and needs. You also want it to be in your budget and work with your family culture and lifestyle.
Designing a Dedicated Homeschooling Zone: Optimizing Space for Learning
You really don’t need a homeschool room to homeschool. Nor do you need your homeschooling space to look like a public school classroom. However, I do believe having a designated area for homeschool will make it easier and more efficient to establish a homeschooling routine. You may want desks for your children or the kitchen table will do just fine. If you have toddlers, you’re going to need to make sure all of the homeschooling materials and supplies are out of reach.
Choosing Resources and Materials to Support Your Homeschooling Approach
It is important when homeschooling to set specific goals. Remember though, homeschool is a way of life. It is not only about academics. It is also about family culture. In our family, our goal is “Heaven, not Harvard”. This means, it’s our personal desire to lead our children to Christ, not just focus on grades and achievements. This means, we prioritize time together as a family, being involved in our church, implementing Bible into our homeschool curriculum, and I have to constantly remind myself, progress is more important than perfection.
Planning for Flexibility and Adaptability in Your Homeschooling Schedule
Once you’ve thought about goals for your child, it’s time to create a schedule that supports those goals. Make a plan of what subjects you are planning to do on each day. Don’t overdue it with field trips and extracurriculars, especially at the beginning. Playing outside and visiting friends is plenty for exercise and social interaction. Once you have a solid routine, you will see what you can or want to work in.
Overcoming Challenges and Celebrating Milestones in Homeschooling
Don’t forget to enjoy homeschooling. You chose this lifestyle for a reason. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows, but on those good days, it feels like magic. You have been given an amazing opportunity to spend hours a day with your children that many parents don’t get. Don’t let academics let you forget that. Your children are only with you for a limited time. Remember to incorporate lots of cuddles, life skills, chores, games, fun, books, and love. It may sound cliche, but it’s absolutely the most important part of home education.
Book marking this for later, thank you!
Thanks for checking it out!! 🙂