How Do I Know When and How to Homeschool My Child?
Homeschooling often begins when parents feel a pull to better meet their child’s academic, emotional, or spiritual needs. Through prayer, intentional planning, and supportive community, families can create a learning rhythm that fits their values and season of life. It’s a faith-filled journey focused less on doing it perfectly and more on walking obediently and growing together
Maybe you’re a mom who has spent the day rushing from work, to baseball practice, then home for a late dinner, homework, then baths, and are feeling like you haven’t truly connected with your child in days…. or weeks. Or, maybe you’re a dad talking with your child about navigating some really tough issues that have arisen in school while trying to preserve your child’s self-esteem and innocence and the thought pops into your head yet again: Should we homeschool our kids?
If that question has been buzzing around your house lately, first—welcome. You’re not the first parent to wonder if God is nudging your family in this direction. And yes, you can do this; you are AMAZING!
Knowing When to Homeschool
Homeschooling often begins with a tug on your heart. You may notice your child’s needs aren’t being met in their current environment, or perhaps you long for more family time and the chance to shape learning through the lens of your faith. Some families are drawn to the flexibility homeschooling offers, while others feel led to nurture their children’s hearts and minds in a Christ-centered way.
If you sense that your child would thrive in an environment where learning and faith walk hand in hand, that may be your “when.”
Knowing How to Homeschool
Once you feel called to homeschool, the “how” unfolds step by step.
1. Pray First. Before buying 47 different math books or downloading every printable the internet has to offer, ask God for wisdom. He promises to provide it.
2. Check Your State’s Rules. Every state has its own homeschool laws and requirements. Take time to research what’s expected where you live. Knowing these expectations helps to avoid unnecessary stress. An internet search will bring up the needed results, and each state has virtual homeschool groups with highly knowledgeable individuals that will walk you, and other new parents, through questions.
3. Clarify Your Goals. Ask yourself: Why are we moving towards homeschool; what is important to us? Do I want to have more quiet time to connect with my child to focus on emotional health and growth? Do I want to foster friendship groups for my child to focus on positive social relationships? How do we want our faith woven into daily lessons? What kind of education do we want for our children: hands-on learning, a focus on remediation or enrichment, or real-world application?
4. Choose Curriculum & Resources. It can feel overwhelming when you first start to look into curriculums. Keep referring back to your goals. If you have a goal of connecting with your child through quiet time at. home, don’t overload your schedule with out-of-home programs. If your goal is to help your child create positive friendships, look into local co-ops and extracurricular programs like music, sports, and art that meet during the day. If you want a focus on faith, you can choose all or part of your curriculum to also be faith based; you can also have none of it be faith-based and instead connect with your church programs and include a Bible lesson each day. If you want hands-on-learning, choose novel studies and hands-on science lessons. If your goal is remediation or enrichment, be sure to tailor the program to your child’s academic needs and don’t solely go by grade-level standards. If you value real-world application, schedule in a weekly field trip or service project; most communities have tons of free hidden gems (start with a virtual homeschool group or your library to make your list.)
5. Set a Rhythm. Homeschool doesn’t have to look like a traditional school day, but kids benefit from consistency. Create a daily flow that includes both structured learning and space for creativity, service, and rest. Some days will look like organized lessons at the table; other days will look like science in the backyard or a field trip with friends. All count and all are important.
6. Find Community. Homeschool co-ops, church groups, and online networks help you connect with other families. Bonus: your kids get new friends, and so do you.
You’ve Got This!
Homeschooling doesn’t mean you suddenly transform into a flawless teacher. It means you step into a role as your child’s primary influence—teaching academics, faith, character, and life skills all wrapped up together.
You’ll have days where everything flows beautifully, and days where you wonder if “recess” can last until bedtime. Both are part of the journey.
The good news? God equips the parents He calls. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Remember that homeschooling is not about perfection, but about obedience and growth. You don’t need every answer on day one. As you walk this journey, you’ll discover that homeschooling can be as much about shaping hearts as it is about shaping minds.
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The information provided on this blog is for general informational and educational purposes only. Nothing on this site should be construed as legal, financial, or professional advice. Laws and regulations regarding homeschooling may vary by state and jurisdiction, and readers are responsible for verifying applicable legal requirements and ensuring their own compliance.
