5 Key Ideas for New Homeschoolers

Self-directed learning gives the child ownership of their education. JGalione/Getty Images

If you’ve recently jumped ship on the school system and are tiptoeing your way into the sea of the homeschooling lifestyle, welcome! You certainly aren’t alone. More and more parents are seeing what you’ve seen and sensing that call from within to take matters into their own hands.

It took bravery and faith to get to this point.

The good news is that deciding to do it in the first place was probably the hardest part of this whole endeavor. Now that you’re officially homeschooling, here are a few ideas to consider to make the most out of this amazing opportunity that you’ve wisely grabbed hold of for your family.

Don’t Duplicate School

One of the biggest mistakes that new homeschoolers make is trying to recreate a school environment at home. Just when they’ve made what they’ll likely look back on as one of the best decisions of their lives, they turn around and mimic the failing system that they just escaped from.

Homeschool isn’t school—and thank goodness for that. If you want to reignite that inner spark of curiosity and wonder that you know still resides within your child despite being dimmed in school, if you want your children to have the freedom to create, explore, learn, and dive deep into their interests, if you want your family to toss aside the burden of being beholden to a school calendar and bogged down with pointless homework assignments—let go of the urge to duplicate the constructs of school in your home.

Instead, Deschool

Before you set up a classroom in your kitchen, block the calendar from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and start handing out worksheets to your kiddos, allow me to introduce the concept of “de-schooling.”

Deschooling is the process of giving yourself and your children the time and space necessary to let go of the ideas that you’ve been programmed to accept about what school is for and the basic nature of education and learning. It’s a process of shedding deeply ingrained notions to experience a paradigm shift in your understanding that will allow your children to freely learn and your family to fully enjoy the many benefits of homeschooling.

If you think about it, we’ve all just kind of accepted that you go to school to learn, that learning fundamentally happens at school, and that school is necessary for an education. What’s more, many people think that the typical constructs of school—such as working between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., homework, a teacher lecturing at the front of a classroom, grade levels, and reading levels—are the best strategies for a solid education.

Since you’ve started to homeschool, you clearly can see that these are false notions, but, like most who’ve come before you, you and your children may still need some time to let these deeply ingrained ideas go and embrace the freedom and wonder that homeschooling has to offer.

To do this, start slow. Fill your days with books, projects, field trips, and creative exploration. Notice what interests your children most and gauge where they are in terms of reading and math. Watch documentaries. Build things. Volunteer your time. Try new community activities. Meet up with other local homeschoolers.

This may not sound like school, and it isn’t, but it will certainly be filled with learning for both you and your children. As you go, gradually add whatever structure you see fit to add in.

Minimize Screens

Another mistake that homeschoolers can easily make is allowing screens to suck the energy, joy, and creativity out of their homeschool. We’re all well aware of the addictive nature of screens. While they can be used to enhance learning in many productive ways, be very wary of their overuse in your homeschool.

If the vast majority of your homeschool days are detached from the digital world, you’ll all benefit. Set out some craft supplies, put on some soft classical music, and let the magic happen.

This is one of those things that you’ll have to stay vigilant about throughout the entire homeschool journey. Use screens strategically, and your efforts will bear fruit.

Embrace Self-Directed Learning

One of the key advantages of homeschooling is the ability to tailor the education to your child’s interests and learning style. Encourage their natural curiosity, and provide a wide variety of resources, books, and experiences to foster a love for learning. Allow their questions to drive the curriculum, and let them explore their passions deeply, granting them a sense of ownership over their education.

Have Fun and Keep Going

Finally, get ready to enjoy parenting on a whole new level. As you guide them through their elementary, middle, and high school years, you’ll be so glad that you were the one who supported them, provided their resources, guided them, allowed them to experience the world, and gave them this ticket to freedom.

What’s more, you’re probably going to learn more than you ever learned in school yourself. When a family chooses to homeschool, both the children and the parents get an education.

There will be ups and downs, struggles and successes, and you’ll likely doubt your choice more than once. Keep going. There’s no one on the planet more devoted to the success of this venture than you.