Quick Ideas & Resources for Real Homeschoolers

This is your grab-bag of battle-tested ideas from real homeschool families. No theoretical fluff—just stuff that actually works when you need it.

The Reality Check: Why We Really Homeschool

The honest truth: Many parents homeschool because they know they can give their children a better education than the local schools can. Period.

Religious freedom: You want to include God’s truth in your children’s education, not have it systematically erased by secular institutions.

Health concerns: Schools are breeding grounds for illness. Your child’s immune system doesn’t need that assault course.

Family time matters: Is it necessary for both parents to work? What comes first—family or money? If one parent can earn enough to support the family, the other can focus on raising champions instead of chasing dollars.

Simple wisdom: Spending time with your children helps them grow up as good human beings. Revolutionary concept, right?

Essential Life Skills: Handwriting

Don’t underestimate this. Handwriting is a core skill that will stay with your children for life. Get it right from the start—bad habits are brutal to fix later.

For left-handed children: They face extra challenges. Give them proper instruction, not just “figure it out.”

Pen grip matters: Check out techniques for proper pen holding. It’s foundational.

Build Something Together: Go-Carts

Want real-world learning? Build a go-cart with your kids. Engineering, measurement, problem-solving, and pure fun rolled into one project.

Safety first: Don’t choose the steepest hill in your neighborhood for the first test run.

Simple designs work: Box carts, yard carts, even the old-school “ball racers” that were close to the ground and made lots of noise.

Community building: Organize a go-cart race in your town. Find a safe hill and create memories.

Skills learned: Coordination, achievement, outdoor exercise, practical engineering.

Youth Group Games That Actually Work

Tried and tested with real kids, not focus groups:

Name Game #1: Action Names

Form a circle (10-20 kids works best)
Each person introduces themselves with an action: “Rowing Roland,” “Jumping Jack,” “Crazy Carol”
Everyone repeats and mimics the actions
Pass the token by calling out names and actions
Surprisingly effective for remembering names and breaking ice

Name Game #2: The Wave

Circle formation, 15-30 kids
Learn the person on your left and right
Call out the name of the person on your right while looking at the person on your left
Creates a wave effect that can change direction
Chaos and laughter guaranteed

Pass the Semaphore

Two rows of chairs, back to back
Teams hold hands, watch the flag master flip a coin
Heads = squeeze hands down the line to grab the object at the end
False signals result in team rotation
First team to completely rotate wins
Teaches communication, teamwork, and consequences

Wisdom That Matters

“Education is not a preparation for life; education is life itself.” - John Dewey

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” - Leonardo da Vinci

“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupery

“I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.” - Albert Schweitzer

Homeschooling Methods (The Honest Version)

Charlotte Mason: Living books and nature study
Classical Education: Grammar, logic, rhetoric progression
Unit Studies: Theme-based learning across subjects
Unschooling: Child-led learning (not chaos, despite what critics say)
Eclectic: Mix and match what works for your family
Waldorf/Montessori: Specific pedagogical approaches
Thomas Jefferson Education: Mentorship and classics

Reality check: Most successful homeschool families end up eclectic—using what works and ditching what doesn’t.

Building Your Community

Don’t go it alone. Find other families who share your values. Your children need wise companions, not just any companions.

Contribute to the conversation: Join forums, write articles, share what you’ve learned. This isn’t a theoretical exercise—it’s real families helping real families.

Support others: Review curriculum, recommend resources, share your failures as well as your successes.

The Numbers That Matter

Over 1 million children homeschooled in the United States
Approximately 150,000 children homeschooled in the UK
About 50,000 families homeschool in England

You’re not alone. You’re part of a growing movement of families who’ve chosen freedom over conformity.

Time and Priorities

Time flies. Don’t waste it. The years you have with your children at home are precious and limited.

Family time isn’t just with your own family—it’s sharing your family with others, opening your home, building relationships that matter.

Consider your legacy: What are you building? Test scores that will be forgotten, or character that will last forever?

Remember the Why

When the critics come (and they will), when family questions your choices (and they might), when you’re tired and wondering if it’s worth it (and you’ll have those days)—remember why you started.

You love your children. You desire the very best for them. You’re willing to be different for the right reasons.

That’s enough. That’s everything.

The world needs the children you’re raising. Don’t let the system have them. Raise them yourself.**