A Heart for Homeschooling

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At the end I will link to some of the things we used and enjoyed during the little years, but this blog post isn’t going to be that kind of post. Instead, I want to encourage you with what enabled us to thrive during those busy, tiring, and wonderful years as a homeschooling family. These things may seem counter-cultural (in fact, they are!), but I promise you that your children will have the childhood they need and the motherhood you desire.

Grow Slow

Even before the Lord led me to Durenda Wilson and her encouragement to have an unhurried homeschool, my instincts as a young mother were to give my children slow days like I had growing up in the 1980’s/1990’s. Hurry kills rhythms and routines, peace within the home, and the boredom that allows children to stop being entertained and be creative instead. It also fosters anxiety in children that should not be there at such young ages. (Kim John Payne’s book Simplicity Parenting explains this in depth, as well as his experience with London well-to-do children who had the same anxiety levels as refugee children – because of busyness!)

Most of our weeks were spent at home. We had a weekly routine of days at home and days where we would go out for the morning or afternoon. If we had a busy day, the next day would be at home. This enabled us to have those days where we experienced life, from morning til bedtime, at home – following the natural rhythms of the day and spending time together. As a mother, this meant that I could spend the time I needed on the home, hobbies that grew my mind (more on that below), and just play with the children when they asked me to. Though I was, of course, tired, I wasn’t exhausted. This was a blessing.

Grow An Atmosphere

Inspired by Charlotte Mason and her philosophy that education is an “atmosphere, a discipline, and a life” I worked hard to create our home into a place that inspired the children to live and learn. This meant that sometimes our home looked like a mini-preschool – that is, we had shelves in the living area that had books, open ended toys, and nature things we had collected on our nature walks. We’ve never had large or fancy homes, but they were intentional homes that suited our family.

Outside in the garden we made sure we had a sandpit, climbing fort, grass to run around on, a trampoline, a hose, and other bits and bobs to enjoy. My husband made a water table, and sometimes I would take messy play activities outside so the kids could go wild. Right from babies, I would let them crawl around outside on their own as I knew it was safe, and I would regularly check on them from the window.

Grow a Library

If you want to grow intelligent and thinking children, read to them from the first few months. Literature is so important, not just academically, but morally too – stories expand children’s hearts and minds to how other people live, what someone might feel in a situation, and the courage needed to face the world that has evil in it. Picture books, chapter books, books about real life – collect them all and go to the library as much as possible.

Grow in Nature

Nature is one of a child’s first encounters with the Lord of the universe and it is essential for little ones to be outside as much as possible. Charlotte Mason said four-six hours a day – but that was never my own experience. Nature walks and encouraging the children to play outside – especially when they were in “moods” – always reset them and enabled them to get what is good for them: sun, fresh air, spacious area, birdsong, and physical activity. As frustrating as it can feel as you pile the kids and buggies into the car, I promise you, the effort is well worth it. You will benefit from being in nature just as much as the children.

Grow in Yourself

Charlotte Mason encouraged mothers to continue their education as they mothered their children. At the time, she didn’t mean professionally, but in an informal way – reading good books, developing new skills and talents, and spending time on your own. The modern world calls this ‘self-care’, but Charlotte Mason called it ‘Mother Culture’. Mother Culture has been vital for me. And, in terms of homschooling, diving into books about education and childhood has impassioned me and spurred me on in this journey. Going for walks on my own with the dog, reading my Bible and prayer, writing and blogging, discipling other women/mothers – all these things have edified me and grown me far more than my university degree ever did. And, in consequence, has blessed my family.

So these are the things that I loved during the Little Years of homeschooling and which deeply blessed our homeschool. And do you know what? Eight years in, we still practice and live out all of these things and they are all still enriching our life together. I believe firmly in these things more now than I did before because I see the fruit in them – in the children and in myself. Sometimes, as the children have grown older and the pressure to conform to this world as increased, I have had to fight to keep these principles in place. But their childhood is worth it and I see that they know it’s worth it for themselves now.

To finish, here are a few of the resources we used that we loved and added to the principles of living I worked to instill during those years (birth to eight-ish):

Five in a Row – a literature based curriculum, gentle and beautiful

Rod and Staff – the preschool books were so sweet and the children loved them (this link is for New Zealand friends)

Lapbooks and printables – from places like 1+1+1=1 and Homeschool Share

Videos like Berenstein Bears, Barbar the Elephant, and Beatrix Potter – all of which you can find of YouTube

Gather Round Homeschool – the primary curriculum that we have used and loved over the years

I hope this encourages you as a young mother! You are absolutely called and equipped through the Lord to do this!