5 Things I Would NOT Do as a Beginner Homeschooler

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I was homeschooled and I’ve been homeschooling my own children for several years, and yet, I still had/have things to learn.

One of the great beauties of homeschooling is that every situation, every family, every individual is unique.

There is no one-size-fits-all.

That makes it both wonderful and challenging.

You can get all the advice in the world and still have to figure out how it works best for your family.

With a few years of experience under my belt, there are some things that I look back on and can learn from.

There are things that I would encourage beginner homeschoolers to consider…or not to consider in order to make the process of starting just a little bit easier.

That is what this post is about. It’s not a post with sweeping statements that are said as truth. No, it’s simply my lived experiences that I hope to encourage other homeschool parents with.

If you’re just getting started with homeschooling and feel totally overwhelmed by it all. These tips should be of help and encouragement to you.

Things I Would Not Do as a Beginner Homeschooler

Some of the things listed are things that I’ve personally gone through while others are things I’ve noticed others struggling with. Plus, I am thankful to have had my own homeschool mom impart her wisdom after yeeeeears of experience.

#1 Defend My Choice to Homeschool

Here’s the thing. There are usually two reasons that people have for asking you about homeschooling.

One reason that people ask about it is from a place of genuine curiosity. It’s a concept that they’re unfamiliar with or just want to know more about.

It’s totally fair (and usually fun) to have a conversation with them.

Then there’s the other reason that people ask and it’s typically because they want to criticize your decision.

They’re not interested in having their opinion of homeschooling changed, but they do feel as though they have the right to make you defend your personal choice for your children.

One way to waste a whole lot of your time is to spend it trying to defend your choice to homeschool to people whose minds aren’t going to be changed, regardless of how solid an argument you present.

I encourage you to put your blinkers on, make no apologies for your choice, and just do the work of homeschooling your kids.

Caring less about what people think of your choices is a rite of passage when it comes to homeschooling.

Related Post: All the Benefits of Homeschooling

#2 Sign Up to All The Activities

This is probably the number one thing that I see leading homeschool moms (and families) right into burnout.

Because there is such a strong stigma surrounding homeschoolers and the myth of lack of socialization, homeschooling parents seem to feel a need to prove society wrong.

One way in which I see that happening is by homeschool moms enrolling their kids into a bunch of extracurriculars.

First of all, the lack of socialization is a myth. The vast majority of homeschool children are very adept at socializing with not just their peers, but also people of all different ages.

There is no need to go overboard trying to socialize your kids.

Secondly, healthy socialization is not achieved simply by enrolling our children in a myriad of activities where they’re almost always just with their peers.

Healthy socialization skills are developed mostly through the simple tasks of everyday life. Chatting to neighbors, making phone calls, going to the store. Every single one of those things develops socialization skills.

Don’t get me wrong, extracurriculars are a wonderful resource. However, when they’re used purely for the purpose of socialization OR they are overdone, they no longer serve your family.

Instead, you’ll end up drained and exhausted.

Go easy on the extracurriculars and trust that they are not, in fact, necessary for children to develop awesome social skills.

#3 Feel Judged By Other’s Homeschool Choices

Feeling a bit insecure when you begin homeschooling is normal, especially if you don’t know anyone else doing it.

It’s a brave and daring choice to make for your family.

One thing I just want to encourage you to do is to be true to what is right for your family and not worry about what others are doing.

Homeschoolers tend to have strong opinions on things. We typically know our own minds and don’t mind sharing our thoughts.

However, one of the most beautiful things about homeschooling is the freedom to do it in a specifically unique way that caters to your own family’s needs.

While we all may think that our way is the best way, the truth of the matter is that our way is the best way for OUR family.

Ignore the opinions of others and stick to what works for you.

The truth is, most homeschool moms are so very busy just trying to keep on top of everything that they haven’t even given your homeschooling choices a thought.

#4 Overload On Homeschool Curriculum

Slowly slowly. That is the best way to begin your homeschool journey.

I would not recommend trying to do all the things right off the bat.

It takes time to adjust to homeschooling and it can be quite exhausting for everyone. I recommend just beginning with your basic subjects (Language Arts & Math) and expanding on that once you have a good rhythm going.

There’s lots of time to add in all the extras once you’ve found your flow.