Don’t think you have to have everything to get started in homeschooling. There are things that you just don’t need to homeschool no matter what someone else might tell you. Just take a minute and think about these 5 things that I am saying you don’t need. Then you can get started on your journey.
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5 Things You Don’t Need to Homeschool
I know because, after many years of homeschooling, we don’t have these things. And we don’t feel as though we are missing out, or that my children’s education is lacking.
Homeschool Room
The great thing about homeschooling is that you don’t have to replicate a schoolroom. You are going to need a place to put things, but a hutch or bookcase works wonders. My children often do their worksheets at our dining room table, and occasionally at our kitchen island.
Math can be completed in bed, on the couch, or even outside now, we aren’t stuck in one room to do our homeschool lessons.
Unlimited Budget
Boxed curriculum can be really expensive. Do you need it? Nope. You can homeschool your kids with the most expensive curriculum or with free resources that you search out, and your kids can have the most amazing education either way.
An expensive curriculum is going to save you time – from finding the resources to the planning and scheduling time.
Also, you can head to your local library, and grab a library card. This is a great way that you can get started on homeschooling within a small budget getting all the books you need/want for free.
Belong to a Co-op
I don’t belong to a co-op. Not that we haven’t tried, but secular in very religious areas makes it a bit harder, and I’m not willing to change how I homeschool my children to fit in a co-op.
We do have amazing friends that homeschool and have views similar to our own. When you homeschool and have homeschool friends it’s nice to meet at a museum or science center together during school hours for your own field trips.
Use the BEST Curriculum
You don’t have to use the curriculum that gets the best ratings, or the one your friends recommend, instead, think about your year-end goals and think about what you need to get there.
We use workbooks, being Canadian we use The Complete Canadian Curriculum ones. Not Canadian? No problem, we’ve used the Comprehensive Curriculum workbooks too when we first started out.
Be Involved in a lot of Activities
Too many activities are going to burn you and your child out. Pick one, maybe two. Try to pick something your child is honestly interested in. My girls have been in gymnastics and in dance (at different times) and while they really enjoyed it, they would rather hang out in the woods with friends now.
There are many things you don’t need to homeschool your children. While some people may find that these items are helpful, they are not necessary for a successful homeschool experience. With the right planning and resources, you can create a homeschool curriculum that meets your family’s needs.