I am humbled by the breadth and depth of my role as a mother to my 3 boys. I am even more humbled (and often overwhelmed!) by the opportunity to be able to be with them each and everyday – watching them grow and come into their own.
The motherhood journey isn’t easy at all, and yet I truly believe that it is a sacred calling. It is an incredibly enriching and character shaping role in which we need all the encouragement and love to just keep going- one- day-at -a -time. It is deeply refining.
I am guilty of getting lost in the busyness of everyday life and responsibilities (because it all needs to be done!) and I often forget to fill my cup up as I am pouring into others everyday. It is easy for me to reach burnout and I have come to realise that daily short reminders and affirmations are a great way for me to incorporate multiple infusions into my mind and heart as I train, live with, enjoy, discipline and disciple my children.
I am always researching, reading, downloading, printing and creating something for the boys and you must do too! I thought that while we are busy making wonderful resources for our children, we should also be encouraged along the way, because as tough as our motherhood journey is, it is also incredibly beautiful and we can thrive in it by the grace of God.
I created these downloadable and free printable scripture based affirmations for mums. May they encourage, edify and remind you of your significant significant role as mum.
My boys by nature are already bent towards wonder. If they aren’t jumping off furniture imagining that they are flying superhero agents sent to rescue the world, they are completely immersed in the land of all things soil, mud and water as they dig to find treasure, or create foundations to build forts, castles and temples!
There is a part of us that has a longing. A deep well within us that needs filing with the fullness of God, but If I am honest, the thought of awaking wonder in the hearts of my boys feels like an intimidating prospect because there is a huge part of me that feels stuck when I consider being this other version of myself who is free spirited and sees and feels all the beauty around me.
It feels hard because I have been trained into a system that values results, efficiency, competitive edge, hurriedness over a slower more savored pace of life. I suppose the title of this blog post should be “how to awaken wonder in my own heart”.
My boys by nature are already bent towards wonder. If they aren’t jumping off furniture imagining that they are flying superhero agents sent to rescue the world, they are completely immersed in the land of all things soil, mud and water as they dig to find treasure, or create foundations to build forts, castles and temples. I honestly look at them most times in amazement. We absolutely have hunters, wrestlers, producers and conquerors in our midst! They are so cool and remind me that we have an innate pull within us to bring forth creativity in our own unique way.
I have to be honest also, that most of the time, I am also thinking “what on earth…” because I just feel so far removed from the way a boys brain is wired to work! Yet God has given me this portion. The three most wonderful boys to nurture, disciple and raise into wonderful men who reflect the image of God.
When I think of awakening wonder in the hearts of these souls, I think about leaving a legacy of hearts that beat after the unseen things of this world, while appreciating the very things that anchor us in real relationship, community and life. I think of hearts that beat strongly and thirst for knowledge in real tangible ways, hearts that feel full and satisfied with the precious simplicities of life that we are so unfamiliar with. Awaking wonder to me is about loving and nurturing each boy individually so that they grow roots in who they are without ever feeling the need to compete with others. To feel wholeheartedly secure in Christ and in your place in this world is probably the most anchoring experience that we can desire.
My view of education is changing and I never ever thought that I would experience this! I see now that it isn’t linear. The path to “success” and fulfillment isn’t just one way that we all have to walk and I need them to know this. There is so much wonder, so much to ponder on, so much to explore and to wrestle with in this rich life and I really want them to have this. Academic success is important, but I believe that a life undergirded by faith and inner character is more of a blessing- brings forth more of a fruitful and full life.
I want them to be free enough in their minds to build a deeply fun life giving enough time for their hearts to taste and see all that life has to offer. Seeking after it. Finding wonder and inspiration that organically and authentically propels them forward to their next learning adventure- because it truly never stops.
Home Education can be so rewarding when we approach it with an open and willing heart to learn and also unlearn a lot of the ways that we think education should be! It is a true adventure with our babies and in this part 2 of ‘The beginners guide to Home Education’ I’ll be sharing a dew thoughts and ideas around how to get started for complete beginners, and particularly from a Christian perspective.
How to get started with Home Education
Our journey into Home Ed began developing during the Covid lockdown in 2020 where we saw the possibilities of what could be for us as a family. As with all major life changes and decisions, we prayed about it a lot and spoke with other home schooling families and I read so many books! It was truly new territory for me and I wanted to do a deep dive into so I could get a real scope of all it is. Getting started with home education involves some form of planning, understanding legal (if there are any) requirements, and creating an environment conducive to learning overtime where you and your children can thrive. Here are some practical tips that helped me to launch well:
Tips for success in Home Education
Know your WHY: My first suggestion would be to write down a list of your WHY. Why are you and your family choosing to venture down this alternative path? What is your vision and goal for your journey? What do you envision your home and your children to be like in 10-15 years time? Writing down your WHY helps to anchor your heart on a day to day basis, on the days when things don’t seem to be going to plan and also on the great days! Everything you do, say and build with your family is tethered to your WHY.
Set Clear Goals: Now that you have established your why, have a think about setting goals to help you achieve that. Defining educational goals gives a starting point but remember it can totally be subject to change as you witness the learning style of your child as well as any specific needs or interests they may have.
Research Home Education Laws: It is always worth doing a search to find out what requirements and support is available in your local borough. Some provide a lot of useful information on their websites, and may even be surprised to find an active and diverse home schooling community.
Create a Schedule: Having a schedule for anything can be a really useful guide to help you build consistency in your everyday rhythms. Remember, you aren’t bound by this. It is a guide that helps you to somewhat structure your day. With very little ones, life is very unpredictable and you need to give yourself a lot of grace and patience. Our schedule started off with library trips, outdoor play, cooking, phonics, praise and worship time and reading. Writing it down helped me to have a point that I could always refer to during the constant moments of nappy changing, cleaning and laundry. As time has gone on, I have added very slowly to the schedule as I careful not to create overwhelm for myself and the boys.
Remember to focus on enjoying your children: It is so so easy to launch into the academics because there is an insecurity in that area. As they are not in traditional schooling, we feel as though we have to prove that they are ‘learning’ just as they would if they were in a classroom. You have nothing to prove. Being with your children on this journey is a real unique opportunity to develop a beautiful relationship with them- start from there and the learning will be easier. Enjoy them, be happy with them, laugh, play, rest and just be.
Start thinking of and gathering resources: There could be a temptation to rush out to the shops and purchase all the CGP books you can find! I would say keep this area slow and intentional because there is only so much that your child will want to get through in the beginning! You don’t want to feel overwhelmed and disappointed. If anything one phonics book and one numbers book which you can use to make up fun lessons. As time goes on, you’ll naturally add more resources (games, books etc).
Designate a Learning Space: This isn’t a rule because all of our homes look different and learning can and does happen all over the home! Having a small area (whether it be a book shelf, the dining table in the mornings, the corner area near the sofa, or the sofa itself) where you keep your resources can help to create focus for everyone.
Enjoy the outdoorseveryday: It does wonders for the mind, body and soul and is free! Depending on the day we can be outdoors in the morning or afternoon. The boys thrive when outdoors and I get much needed fresh air. Adding on to this can be trips to the museum, country parks and local events.
Learn alongside your children: One of the unexpected but beautiful blessings for me, has been the growing desire to learn along side my boys. Initially I was impatient, and on the other fence of the learning experience- simply throwing out facts and information and expecting it to be caught but overtime this has changed. I realised that as they learn, I too can learn. It is an opportunity that God has given to me to reawaken and develop a different side of myself.
Build your tribe/community: This is important for encouragement along the journey. Connecting with other home ed mamas is a great way to network, find out information, get support, make great friends and share experiences! I started my search on Facebook and through a little networking on Instagram. Exploring extra curricular activities during the week can also open you up to social opportunities.
Be open minded to change: One of the big tips that will make your journey with your children truly tailored and special. As a mama we usually want to set and keep things as they are but our children are whole human beings who are always changing. Our focus is for them to thrive and love learning so we have to be willing to assess and adapt when it is needed to achieve that goal.
Involve your children in the learning process: Your children can own their own learning if you are able to encourage them to enjoy the process of learning in their own way
I hope this post encourages you on your journey in Home Education!
I’ll be the first to admit that I did not even know what home education is and had never heard the term until recently. So if you are a complete newbie, as I was just two years ago then welcome! You are in the perfect place of discovery as we journey together into the amazing and endless world of our children’s learning. In this blog post, I’ll be sharing about the world of home education in the UK and exploring the benefits and challenges to this alternative educational path.
What is Home Education?
In recent years, what we had known to be the only path to educate and learn completely changed. Lockdown in the UK (due to the Covid pandemic) forced everyone to stay at home, and for those with children to review and plan for their learning in a new and foreign way. We all experienced the landscape of education being transformed on a mass scale and this lead to an increasing number of families in the UK choosing home education as a viable alternative to traditional schooling because of the benefits it provides to their children and home.
Home education, is also known as homeschooling, and it offers a tailored and flexible approach to learning that caters to the individual needs and preferences of students. The essential goal is for your child to thrive and develop in their own unique way – academically or vocationally.
What are some of the benefits of Home Education?
For many families, taking more control over what their children learn is an exciting journey that they pour a lot of intent into. It’s focus can be on the individual and tailored needs of both the child and parent. Here are a few reasons why home education is valued by us:
Tailored learning: One of the benefits that we have found is the ability to tailor curriculum to the unique learning style, pace, and interests of our boys. It has taken a lot of work to unlearn particular ways because the goal for us is for our children to build up their own natural ability to seek out learning for themselves, engage with and fall in love with learning.
Flexibility and freedom: Home education provides us with the flexibility to design a schedule that suits our lifestyle. I always tell my husband that I enjoy living the “off peak” life! Life seems so much more spacious for us and we can take our time to organise travel, extend our exploration of subjects and interests because truly there is no race. We also have time to include the integration of real-world experiences into the boys learning process.
Whole development: There is so much more to us than where we rank on test scores. While they are important in a certain context, they aren’t reflective of the whole person. Home education often has given us an opportunity to nurture not only academic skills but also character, values, and life skills which is so key. We enjoy involving the boys in practical experiences, such as cooking, outdoor work, cleaning, building, fixing etc, because we know that it adds to who they are by encouraging them to manage their time and space, to take responsibility for their own learning and to mature slowly in the areas of day to day life.
Building a strong family relationship: Home education encourages close relationships between us and our children because we are with them all the time! We all share in the experience of learning, problem-solving, and exploring the world together and this builds a deep family bond that extends beyond traditional roles.
Protection from peer pressure at an early age: We are all bent towards peer influence. It is built into the fabric of who we are and how we relate to one another and the world around us. Some influence is good and some is not beneficial. We feel strongly about helping our boys to lean towards independent thinking, being free from peer pressure at such an early age so they can be more open to thinking critically and forming their own thoughts and opinions.
Encouraging our values and beliefs: Home education enables us to incorporate our spiritual values, beliefs, and cultural perspectives into the boys’ educational experience which is very important to us. This customisation and normalisation helps us to ensure that their education aligns with our core principles and cultural background.
Academic excellence: Academic excellence is what I started our journey with, but I quickly realised that in order to achieve that, we had to work on character formation first. The blessing of home education is that if we trust the process and remain consistent, we have no doubt that academic success will follow- more so the desire to work hard and learn to enter their areas of interest.
This route isn’t for every family, but I am slowly believing more and more that for the child, it can be a beautiful route that not only sets the stage for a lifelong love of learning, but allows them to take their time and savour the journey of becoming. I love that!
Challenges of Home Education
These are just a few of the challenges that I have had discussions with others about and I do think that it can also be subjective based on the nature of the parent and child:
Limited social interaction: This is a very popular concern when people find out that we home educate! Critics often highlight concerns about limited socialisation opportunities and this can be true for certain families. However we have found that this isn’t a challenge for us because there is just so much to do! Between extracurricular activities, community events and co-ops, our weekly calendar is full of opportunities for the boys to interact with friends and those older than them! Socialisation is what you make of it!
Parental Commitment: Home education requires a significant commitment from parents, who become the primary educators. This area for me is the toughest. Balancing work, household responsibilities, and teaching is demanding, and planning is so necessary to keep things moving well
Navigating the regulatory landscape: While home education is legal in the UK, families must adhere to certain regulations depending on the borough that they live in. Navigating these regulations can be daunting so it’s best to check online. In the UK, home education is legal and actually recognised as a valid educational choice even with the diverse approaches in this community.
It feels like Home education in the UK is a dynamic and growing phenomenon, because it offers families a flexible and personalised alternative to traditional schooling. We just need to grow in confidence that even if it has very hard parts, we can do it! We can create a rich and fulfilling learning experience for our children, nurturing their curious minds and fostering a lifelong love of learning.
Welcome to a glimpse of a typical day homeschooling our three boys who are ages 5, 3 and 1. Each day looks a little different, but I have a structure which I pull from during different parts of our day. It helps me to be as consistent as possible while balancing my other responsibilities as a home maker. Join me as I share our routine and some resources that have worked well for us. This is a journey that I want to be marked by fun, creativity, and paersonalised learning/activities. I’ll share what I do in my own personal routine which helps me to stay focused, and on top of things as much as possible.
The start of our day:
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: An ease into the day
Getting dressed, breakfast time, and quick wash up time.
Set intentions for the day
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Praise and worship/Bible reading
We start with praise and worship (dance or fitness on Youtube)
Bible reading time
The boys have a lot of energy in the morning and I usually do not so what helps me to cope well with this is praise and worship. We watch a few videos on Youtube which they love to sing and dance along to. It’s a great way to learn new songs, and it helps to bring focus to our minds for the day. Our Bible reading time at this age is not very long and it is all story based. Our mid-morning session is dedicated to Bible study, exploring the stories of faith and lessons they hold for our lives. We have discussions around the story. This is for about 10 minutes.
Conversation and activity around a character that I am teaching them.
Take short breaks as needed.
Character studies is an area that I am really passionate about and I really try to be consistent in working on activities and setting time aside to have conversations about this with the boys. I like to start the day with character studies because I want it to frame the day as we play and interact with each other. This works really well for us as they remember what we discuss and often pull each other up if they aren’t displaying the particular trait that we discussed in the morning!
Snack time and break
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM:
The boys help put their snack plate together- which they love to be involved with!
While they eat, they can play or draw etc. I take the youngest for his nap.
Start a few core subjects
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM:
1 page of penmanship each, 1 page of phonics each
Older boy works on 1 page of sudoku
1 page of maths/numbers (occasionally)
At this age through trial an error I have discovered that my boys cannot contain too much formal sit down work. What has helped a great deal is to have them work together with myself for a maximum of 5-10 minutes. We work on one page of penmanship, and one page of phonics/reading for the day. By breaking this down into bitesized lessons I have found that they are so receptive and enthusiastic to work. I get just enough out of the experience with them before their minds move onto something else! At this stage it is just enough and the plan is to build on this little by little without them noticing. My oldest enjoys Sudoku so to develop that a little we have him work on 1 puzzle a day which he is fine with.
Take a break for relaxation, creativity, or personal interests.
I’ll prep for our outdoor adventure or afternoon extra curricular activity
We take frequent breaks throughout the morning as I have found that this helps the boys to focus more and not feel too overwhelmed. It also helps me to use a few minutes here and there to reset the house throughout the morning. After lunch they have free time, the youngest is awake from his nap and I prepare for our afternoon trip outside of the house.
13:30 PM – 16:30 PM: Afternoonfun
Gymnastics or swimming or park fun
This is a time for the boys to use their bodies in physical activity which they absolutely love! it’s so nice to see them learning new skills but also being in a space where they can just be so physical- because it’s truly what they need.
17:00 Dinner time
More things that we love to do
These things are woven into our day based upon the flow of and tone of the day.
We love all things hands on so we are often working on puzzles, doing science experiments, playing with playdoh, drawing and building lego cities, magnatile castles and marble runs, and building forts and hotels!
We are part of a homeschooling community which we attend once a week. This is focused on teaching geography for this current season. It’s great for the social interaction and learning.
We watch educational YouTube videos. I haven’t ventured into the area of using apps just yet because they love TV already! I want to pace it out as our digital age has opened up a world of resources at our fingertips. I am very keen on fostering and encouraging a love of learning traditionally (e.g. loving books, words, numbers, pen and paper, play etc) as they all involve an active engagement of the mind. I want that to form the building blocks on which they love learning rather than the razz and dazzle of a digital device. There will be a place for it at some point and we are just trying to navigate when the right time for that will be.
We have a lot of books as I try to build up a beautiful library for the boys so we dip in and out of different topics such as history, science and general information throughout the day. Read aloud time is enjoyed by us all.
To aide in my mission of encouraging a love of books, we go to the library once a week. This is cemented in our routine.
The above schedule is what a typical day looks like for us at this age and stage of our home education journey. I am learning that in order to enjoy the day and my children, I need to be flexible and anticipate that needs, interests, moods and life can shift our routine at any moment! I am not bound to the time slots. They simply serve as a framework for me as I aim to set a rhythm for our days.
If you’re considering homeschooling, remember that each journey is unique, and the key is to embrace the freedom it offers while crafting an educational experience that resonates with your family’s values and aspirations. If you are at the beginning stage, there are beginner guides that can help launch you into this new world.
Mama’s thoughts:
This is hard and holy work. As I navigate the ebb and flow of homeschooling, I’m continually reminded of the immense privilege it is to shape my childrens’ educational journey. Through flexibility, creativity, and a deep commitment to personalized learning, our homeschool routine becomes a dynamic tapestry of exploration and growth.
Homeschooling, for us, is not just about academics; it’s a journey of faith, love, and discovering the wonders of God’s creation together.
I have an opportunity to build a specific type of legacy and that just blows my mind. I set an atmosphere and have been given the capacity to love, be loved and launch something unique in my sons. Good work can turn into great work and great work turns into legacy which will outlive me. My heart is in this. I am graced for this.
Welcome to a glimpse of a typical day homeschooling our three boys who are ages 5, 3 and 1. Each day looks a little different, but I have a structure which I pull from during different parts of our day. It helps me to be as consistent as possible while balancing my other responsibilities as a home maker. Join me as I share our routine and some resources that have worked well for us. This is a journey that I want to be marked by fun, creativity, and personalised learning/activities. I’ll share what I do in my own personal routine which helps me to stay focused, and on top of things as much as possible.
Please note that this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps keep this blog running.
The start of our day:
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: An ease into the day
Getting dressed, breakfast time, and quick wash up time.
Set intentions for the day
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Praise and worship/Bible reading
We start with praise and worship (dance or fitness on Youtube)
Bible reading time
The boys have a lot of energy in the morning and I usually do not so what helps me to cope well with this is praise and worship. We watch a few videos on Youtube which they love to sing and dance along to. It’s a great way to learn new songs, and it helps to bring focus to our minds for the day. Our Bible reading time at this age is not very long and it is all story based. Our mid-morning session is dedicated to Bible study, exploring the stories of faith and lessons they hold for our lives. We have discussions around the story. This is for about 10 minutes.
Conversation and activity around a character that I am teaching them.
Take short breaks as needed.
Character studies is an area that I am really passionate about and I really try to be consistent in working on activities and setting time aside to have conversations about this with the boys. I like to start the day with character studies because I want it to frame the day as we play and interact with each other. This works really well for us as they remember what we discuss and often pull each other up if they aren’t displaying the particular trait that we discussed in the morning!
Snack time and break
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM:
The boys help put their snack plate together- which they love to be involved with!
While they eat, they can play or draw etc. I take the youngest for his nap.
Start a few core subjects
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM:
1 page of penmanship each, 1 page of phonics each
Older boy works on 1 page of sudoku
1 page of maths/numbers (occasionally)
At this age through trial an error I have discovered that my boys cannot contain too much formal sit down work. What has helped a great deal is to have them work together with myself for a maximum of 5-10 minutes. We work on one page of penmanship, and one page of phonics/reading for the day. By breaking this down into bitesized lessons I have found that they are so receptive and enthusiastic to work. I get just enough out of the experience with them before their minds move onto something else! At this stage it is just enough and the plan is to build on this little by little without them noticing. My oldest enjoys Sudoku so to develop that a little we have him work on 1 puzzle a day which he is fine with.
Take a break for relaxation, creativity, or personal interests.
I’ll prep for our outdoor adventure or afternoon extra curricular activity
We take frequent breaks throughout the morning as I have found that this helps the boys to focus more and not feel too overwhelmed. It also helps me to use a few minutes here and there to reset the house throughout the morning. After lunch they have free time, the youngest is awake from his nap and I prepare for our afternoon trip outside of the house.
13:30 PM – 16:30 PM: Afternoonfun
Gymnastics or swimming or park fun
This is a time for the boys to use their bodies in physical activity which they absolutely love! it’s so nice to see them learning new skills but also being in a space where they can just be so physical- because it’s truly what they need.
17:00 Dinner time
More things that we love to do
These things are woven into our day based upon the flow of and tone of the day.
We love all things hands on so we are often working on puzzles, doing science experiments, playing with playdoh, drawing and building lego cities, magnatile castles and marble runs, and building forts and hotels!
We are part of a homeschooling community which we attend once a week. This is focused on teaching geography for this current season. It’s great for the social interaction and learning.
We watch educational YouTube videos. I haven’t ventured into the area of using apps just yet because they love TV already! I want to pace it out as our digital age has opened up a world of resources at our fingertips. I am very keen on fostering and encouraging a love of learning traditionally (e.g. loving books, words, numbers, pen and paper, play etc) as they all involve an active engagement of the mind. I want that to form the building blocks on which they love learning rather than the razz and dazzle of a digital device. There will be a place for it at some point and we are just trying to navigate when the right time for that will be.
We have a lot of books as I try to build up a beautiful library for the boys so we dip in and out of different topics such as history, science and general information throughout the day. Read aloud time is enjoyed by us all.
To aide in my mission of encouraging a love of books, we go to the library once a week. This is cemented in our routine.
The above schedule is what a typical day looks like for us at this age and stage of our home education journey. I am learning that in order to enjoy the day and my children, I need to be flexible and anticipate that needs, interests, moods and life can shift our routine at any moment! I am not bound to the time slots. They simply serve as a framework for me as I aim to set a rhythm for our days.
If you’re considering homeschooling, remember that each journey is unique, and the key is to embrace the freedom it offers while crafting an educational experience that resonates with your family’s values and aspirations. If you are at the beginning stage, there are beginner guides that can help launch you into this new world.
Mama’s thoughts:
This is hard and holy work. As I navigate the ebb and flow of homeschooling, I’m continually reminded of the immense privilege it is to shape my childrens’ educational journey. Through flexibility, creativity, and a deep commitment to personalized learning, our homeschool routine becomes a dynamic tapestry of exploration and growth.
Homeschooling, for us, is not just about academics; it’s a journey of faith, love, and discovering the wonders of God’s creation together.
I have an opportunity to build a specific type of legacy and that just blows my mind. I set an atmosphere and have been given the capacity to love, be loved and launch something unique in my sons. Good work can turn into great work and great work turns into legacy which will outlive me. My heart is in this. I am graced for this.
gracedforhome.com 