Homeschooling, a word that has an entire new meaning than it did just 5 years ago. Ever since having children homeschooling was something that was on the radar for our family. My siblings and I were homeschooled as young children, and I definitely feel like that has had a huge impact in the way I view the public school system.
Until recently we lived in the richest county in the US with an “amazing” school system, but week after week news articles would come out about a new “scandal” happening within the school system which raised huge red flags within the community and even led to protests. Even now, living in a new state, the public school system is rated below average so it makes it even easier to decide to homeschool when that time comes.
Sometimes it’s really hard to not let fear control your life, especially when you have your children to look after and keep safe you tend to look at things in a different way. I can’t lie, a big reason we plan to homeschool is because of the violence that has been so prevalent in public schools in the recent years. It is absolutely terrifying. Up until a few months ago Isla had never been babysat by anyone except my mom and my sister but we knew she was craving socialization and needed that structure that we were lacking while traveling in our RV. We decided to enroll her in a 1 day a week enrichment program at a local dance studio (if you’re local and interested in knowing the name you can email me, I don’t want to put it here for everyone to see where she goes to school). The program has given her so much confidence and helped her develop the sweetest friendships. It was hard to let go. It was scary. The first two weeks Daniel and I sat in the car outside of her school, not because we didn’t trust her teachers (they’re literally angels on earth) but because it was new to us. What if she needed me? What if she accidentally got hurt? There were so many thoughts running through my brain those first few days, and still even now 3 months later. The point I’m trying to make is that you don’t have to be 100% stuck on one thing. For us I think a combination of homeschooling and some type of peer group, co-op, and/or extra curricular activities is what will work best for our family when we take that leap into the homeschool world. But right now Isla is only 3.5 and Elliot just turned 1 so we still have time.
Right now we spend most of our time doing open ended play, crafts, and spending time outside exploring. That is truly the best way that young children learn and is how we plan to start our early years homeschooling. Our favorite places to learn right now are out in nature, mostly at the beach and the park. They learn so much just by simply taking in their surroundings, by seeing, touching and hearing. Occasionally, I will have Isla sit down for a lesson, usually reading or writing, because she enjoys it so much. My goal is to make learning fun, and I like to think I’ve done a really good job at that so far. Isla is so beyond smart and loves to learn new things, it also comes naturally to her so she makes it easy. Even at 3.5 years old I deeply feel that homeschooling is the best route for Isla, she is such a free spirit and is so incredibly strong willed, I truly can’t imagine her thriving in the public school system. Elliot is still so young I can’t tell what direction he will go in. Right now he seems much more go with the flow but ultimately I would hope to keep them both on the same curriculum as long as it suits both of their needs. I do want to emphasize that I don’t think it’s the wrong decision if you decide to go the public school route, there are so so many pros and cons of both options. What’s important is that it works for you and your child/children.
Today I wanted to write an informative post, and since my children aren’t at the age to technically homeschool, I connected with three mother’s who are at different places in their homeschooling journey. I hope you take the time to read their stories and how they came to the decision to homeschool, the challenges they faced, and the advice they have for others.
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First is Carolyn, mom of three children who homeschooled from ages 5-13. Carolyn is actually my mom but I asked if she would be interested in sharing her point of view because who else better to give you the ins and outs of homeschooling than someone who did it very successfully with 3 children for many years.
Why did you choose to homeschool your children?
I chose to homeschool my children because I wanted something different for my children’s education than the standard routine of sending them away all day, five days a week. I wanted them to experience learning in a different environment than a traditional classroom. There is so much idle time in a traditional school setting. There are so many different ways of learning and I wanted to give my children the opportunity to learn in the most effective way for them.
How do you create a structured learning environment at home for your children?
I created a specific room in our house, actually called the “school room”. It was a lifesaver in keeping me organized and giving the kids a place to do have all of their schoolwork and supplies. Although we were very flexible because our schedule was constantly changing, I did set a routine of getting our core work completed.
What curriculum or teaching resources do you find most effective for early childhood homeschooling?
When my children were little, they mostly learned by living. Math, reading, science, history were all really easy to teach in the day to day routine of just doing things. As they got older, structured curriculum were used so that I could make sure everything was covered.
How do you address socialization for your homeschooled children?
Extracurricular activities were a huge part of my children’s socialization. We would make sure that there were lots of play dates with friends and family. We also joined many different homeschool co-ops.
Can you share a typical day or routine for homeschooling your children?
Our typical day changed constantly but I tried to keep mornings free so the kids could play and do the things that they enjoyed before starting structured school. We would then get our academics done. We were on the go a lot to different co-ops, and to various activities and events.
What role do extracurricular activities play in your homeschooling approach?
Extra curricular activities played a large role in our homeschooling routine. It enabled us to learn by doing and to be able to learn about things, in detail, that we were really interested in. Often times, it encompassed a socialization event, and / or would include education in course studies.
How do you assess your children's progress and ensure they are meeting educational milestones?
For their core academic classes, as they got a little older, I used a specific curriculum in order to make sure that all educational milestones were being met. In their younger years, I didn’t really worry whether or not they were being met. I just let my children do what they could and for the most part they were ahead of schedule.
How do you handle potential challenges or setbacks in the homeschooling journey?
Although it was difficult at times, I would remind myself that the reason that we chose to homeschool for so that we didn’t have to be “stuck in a box” and that it was ok if things didn’t always go as planned. Part of the joy of homeschooling is figuring out what works best for each child and having the flexibility to be able to change what you’re doing for the best interest of your child.
What advice would you give to parents considering homeschooling for their young children?
My advice would be to let them play. Provide them with enriching activities and let them learn by doing. Find out what they are passionate about and learn by really delving into what they love.
In what ways do you involve or collaborate with other parents or homeschooling groups for support and ideas?
Our homeschooling groups were a huge support over the years of homeschooling. We belonged to various different homeschooling co-ops. Some were purely just for socialization, but most were academically-based.
How do you encourage a love for learning in your children through homeschooling?
I encouraged the love of learning by letting my children learn about things they were really passionate about. Academics can be pulled into most any subject. If they’re learning about what they love they’re going to learn more. I also figured out how each kid likes to learn and how they learn the best and easiest. Doing that makes it easier for them to learn therefore enjoy it more.
Feel free to add anything else you’d like my readers to know.
My oldest of three children is now in his early 30s. With him and his two sisters, we covered just about every type of schooling that is available. We homeschooled, public schooled, and private schooled. Every child is different, but the homeschooling, to me, felt more meaningful and productive. If I had to do it again I truly think that I would homeschool more. It is a full-time job and it is a lifestyle. Unfortunately, with society, and with the way that the public school system is struggling, I think homeschooling is, even more so, a great alternative.
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Next is Jen, a small business owner and mom of two. Jen is a huge self starter and knows how to get things done when it comes all things motherhood and her dance studio / life coaching businesses. Jen owns Heartbeatz Dance Academy in Charleston, so not only does she get to nurture and educate her own children, she has a large educational impact on many other children as well. Jen is a leader in the community and a great resource when it comes to supporting and developing young minds.
Why did you choose to homeschool your children?
The idea of sending our kids to school for 7-8 hours a day for 5 days a week didn't fit with the lifestyle we wanted to create for our family. We also didn't love the idea of not being able to influence our children and wanted to create strong family values that a school cannot teach.
How do you create a structured learning environment at home for your children?
When they were younger we made sure to set a schedule and include playtime with learning time. We also made sure to include them in life skills such as chores around the house and cooking. We recently found a co-op in line with our views and we have them there a few days a week for more structure now that they are older.
What curriculum or teaching resources do you find most effective for early childhood homeschooling?
We absolutely LOVE the Good and the Beautiful for reading and language arts and Singapore for math!
How do you address socialization for your homeschooled children?
We keep them in sports and co-ops and spend lots of time with friends and traveling to meet new people and see other cultures!
Can you share a typical day or routine for homeschooling your children?
We wake up and prioritize cleaning our space, taking care of our bodies and getting ourselves ready for the day. On the days they go to the co-op we make sure that after the co-op we are fully present for them. On the days we are home, we take it slower and focus on house work, school work and outside time!
What role do extracurricular activities play in your homeschooling approach?
Dance for my daughter and my son likes to try out all the sports!
How do you assess your children’s progress and ensure they are meeting educational milestones?
The co-op helps us with this and they are fabulous! We are not super worried about rushing them and want to make sure education is not stressful or something they dread.
How do you handle potential challenges or setbacks in the homeschooling journey?
We adjust and adapt as needed. There is no right or wrong way to homeschool. It looks different for every family and trusting your intuition will always lead you in the right direction.
What advice would you give to parents considering homeschooling for their young children?
If you are thinking about it, you are ready. Lean on other homeschooling families and communities and find your people. Don't try to do it alone, support groups and like-minded families make it so much more fun and comforting!
In what ways do you involve or collaborate with other parents or homeschooling groups for support and ideas?
There are SO many local groups in Charleston - it is incredible! We love our co-op but before that went to a lot of free meet-ups and groups in the community.
How do you encourage a love for learning in your children through homeschooling?
By staying present and including my kids in everything I can. We have such a strong relationship, which is not something I had with my parents, and I am forever grateful I chose this path, even when at times it can be challenging.
If you're local to the Charleston area be sure to follow along Jen's journey on Instagram.
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Finally is Megan. A mom of two little ones, ages 5 and 2. Even though Megan is new to the whole homeschool world, she has such a deep understanding of what it means to put your child’s needs first and you can see that in her Q&A.
Why did you choose to homeschool your children?
I chose to homeschool my son because of how crazy the world is getting and I just feel safe having him with me and knowing exactly what he’s learning.
How do you create a structured learning environment at home for your children?
I go through the same routine everyday Monday thru Friday and I make sure he still is doing school on regular hours such as if he was going to school!
What curriculum or teaching resources do you find most effective for early childhood homeschooling?
So the curriculum we use is called “K12”, it is through a public school but it’s at home 24/7! They do field trips & live classes on the computer with his classmates and teachers!
How do you address socialization for your homeschooled children?
For socializing, we put our kids in sports to keep them active and to be around other kiddos and we also go to church. There are also homeschooling groups through our church, and Facebook groups you can meet other mamas with little ones and we can get together and socialize and work together as well.
How do you assess your children's progress and ensure they are meeting educational milestones?
Since he is in an actual homeschooling program, he is getting/meeting all the requirements that other students meet like at an actual school! He still gets report cards, does quizzes, testing to see where he is etc.
How do you handle potential challenges or setbacks in the homeschooling journey?
How I deal with challenges, if he’s struggling with something we break it down step by step and take a breather, take a sip Of water and try again! I try to make it fun not stressful!!
What advice would you give to parents considering homeschooling for their young children?
My advice is, if you really set your mind in doing it but you’re scared and nervous about it, DO IT! I was nervous at first to but I am sooo happy I went through with it and it’s worth every up and down. I wouldn’t change my decision at all! I am very happy with doing this.
How do you encourage a love for learning in your children through homeschooling?
We encourage love every morning by starting out with hugs, breakfast and kisses! We make sure we have a smile on our face and positive attitudes! We also have our little affirmatives we say every morning before he starts school (i can do anything, I am smart, I am brave etc)
Feel free to add anything else you’d like my readers to know.
Don’t compare yourself to other moms or your kids to other kids! Every kid learns differently and that’s OKAY!! YOU know how YOUR kid learns and what is too much or too little for YOUR kid!! Give yourself grace. You will mess up. Every homeschooling mom does! And that is OKAY!! I am still learning as we go!
Take regular breaks!!!
Set lesson times and encourage frequent breaks for them. Especially if they get overwhelmed. Set your goals!
Megan regularly posts about her homeschooling journey over on her Instagram. Be sure to giver her a follow to stay connected!
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I wanted end on this, no matter what educational route you decide to take, the most important thing is that your child is loved, happy, and healthy (so cliche but truly the end goal for all parents). I hope this blog post gave you a little insight into the homeschool life, both the highs and the lows. If you thought this post was helpful, signup for my email list to be the first to read any new blog posts about this topic and many others. I’ll be having an open forum regarding this post in my motherhood support group “The Everyday Darling Motherhood Collective” next week so be sure to join!
