Fall 2025/Banner
There are many books about homeschooling that share many good tips. Here are some tips that I have gathered on my eighteen-year homeschool journey.
- Is your house ready for guests every day? Try assigning your kids morning chores to be done before breakfast and be ready for anything!
- Is exercise on your kid’s schedule? Kids aged five to seven years old can build up to doing 200 sit-ups every morning, working out some wiggles before school time!
- Do you serve cooked food for lunch? You can decide what to eat, and you can make a schedule the kids will love—grilled cheese Mondays, French toast Tuesdays, mac and cheese Wednesdays, hot dogs, bacon and eggs, tuna salad, leftovers, fruit, pizza, etc., and they can learn to cook with you!
- Do you change the scenery during the day? Your school work doesn’t need to be in one room. You can do math at the kitchen table, read aloud in the comfy living room, and do other subjects in other areas, even outdoors. Let the scenery change as needed!
- Do you make time for friends and family? I found it easier to schedule play dates and visits with relatives during weekdays, rather than waiting for evenings or weekends. Also include time with other moms who bless and encourage you!
- Do you take advantage of already planned activities in your area? There may be story time at the library, homeschool days at skating or bowling, free ice cream, free movies, free zoo days, etc. Invite another family and have fun! There is no need to plan from scratch.
- Do you record activities? Take lots of photos and make a yearbook for your family. You and the kids will love the reminders of all the people you spent time with!
- Do you include music and art in your life? This can include lessons, classes, or just time set aside with access to instruments and supplies—easy enrichment!
- Are you involved with sports? Be careful; I have a caution with sports involvement. They can be fun but also so very time-consuming with the possibility of injuries. Be sure the experience is worth what you would sacrifice to do it. Family time might be the more worthy choice in the long run. (This includes watching sports on TV!)
- Do you participate in church and charitable activities? Faith, religion, and added compassion are always a life bonus. It’s so important to hand down what’s meaningful to you. Share in these activities together!
- Do you make room for animals in your life? Animals are a blessing to interact with, so, please make time for pets. Kids connect with them in a big way.You can volunteer at PetSmart, shelters, or rescues if you really can’t have your own pets, but please make the effort. Adults usually love animals too!
- Do you travel? As much as we love the home part of homeschooling, it also gives us a great opportunity to travel. Your flexibility allows you to choose off-season trips. Your trips can be educational or just a chance for family bonding. What could be more fun?
- Do you take advantage of your flexibility? Homeschooling has some required elements, but also so much flexibility. My tip is for you is to make it all that you need it to be for your family learning experience. Think it through then put your plan into action!
- Do you help others understand the benefits of homeschooling? What do we do when people think homeschooling can’t possibly be the best? Try to be patient with such people. They will see in the end that your choice to homeschool has been for the good of your kids.
Teach your kids your values. Teach them to love learning. Teach them good study habits. Watch them soar!
Dava Banner has been married for forty-three years and has three fine sons. She and her family live on a small farm in Crouse.