Want to know some of the best beginner homeschool tips a lot of us homeschool parents could have used when we first started out?

In today's post you are going to learn 11 tips I WISH I would have known before I began my homeschool journey. Entering the homeschooling world for the first time can feel SO overwhelming but it does not have to be. Here are some helpful beginners homeschool tips that will help new homeschooling parents gain a little perspective and hopefully put your mind at ease! 

Helpful Beginner Homeschool Tips

1. Know Your "Why?" 

Before anything else, the most important thing to do when just starting out on your homeschooling journey is to sit down & get crystal clear about your “Why?” Ask yourself:

• Why am I homeschooling?
• What are my values?
• What do I want my family to take away from this experience?
• What are my goals?

The answers to these questions will get you through the rough patches and difficult days. Once you have your “Why?” you will always be able to revisit your list & remind yourself of why you started down this road in the first place and maybe even add to it as time goes. 

2. Give Yourself and Your Littles Lots of Grace

One of the most difficult things I had to do as a new homeschool mom was have patience with myself. If you are just starting out it is VERY easy to put way too much pressure on yourself to excel at something that is new to both you and your babies.

Coming into this I thought that I would have it all figured out in record time and things would just go smoothly...this was hardly the case.

You have to allow yourself the space to stumble and make mistakes along the way. It takes time to find your footing as you and your family enter into a new world of learning and new experiences. So, forgive yourself daily.

3. Your Homeschool Does Not Have to Mirror Traditional School

For whatever reason, I couldn't seem to get the idea out of my head that our homeschool had to look EXACTLY like their former traditional school. From our schedule to their curriculum down to the overall look of our classroom.

You have the absolute freedom to make your space and your families experience look however you would like for it to look. Because you are the teacher, the principal & the school board of your home.

It’s important to note that the traditional classroom setting & structure does not have to be the standard. For many of us, the public-school approach to learning does not work and isn’t exactly beneficial. There are better approaches to learning, and no one knows what is best for your child more than you do.

Rarely in a traditional classroom with tens of students, are teachers able to fulfill each and every child’s individual needs, and although I’m sure that many of them would change this if they would, they are limited to how much they are able to do for each of their students. You, however, are not so you have the privilege of setting the standard.

You get to make whatever changes you feel are necessary to cater to the needs of your littles.

Do away with any preconceived notions you had about how homeschooling should look and get creative! It will be far more enjoyable for both yourself and your littles that way!

4. Decide on Your Homeschooling Style

There are several styles of homeschooling that I recommend researching to figure out which one best suit your family’s needs:

• Traditional
• Classical
• Eclectic
• Charlotte Mason
• Unschooling
• Deschooling
• Gameschooling
• Unit Studies

I know some families have participated in more than one of these methods. My littles and I have done both Deschooling as well as homeschooling. I recommend looking into each of them to get a complete understanding before deciding. I know that in the homeschooling community that is criticism regarding each of them, which is to be expected.

I have seen and heard of each of these methods being successful for families. There will always be different strokes for different folks. So I’m not a fan of looking down on someone else’s method solely because it isn’t necessarily a good fit for your family. Everything isn’t for everyone, and that is okay. Use your own discretion, and whatever you choose, choose it because it’s what you and your children want and not what the internet wants!

5. Choose the Right Curriculum for YOUR Family

If you decide to go with a more traditional homeschooling method, then you will be faced with the decision to decide which curriculum(s) you will be using for the upcoming school year.

And I don’t know about you, but the one thing that brought me the most anxiety about homeschooling was choosing a curriculum. There are literally hundreds if not thousands of them and everywhere you turn someone is telling you what curriculum is the "absolute best" and why you should or shouldn't choose a particular one. Yeah, no. It's nearly impossible for anyone to tell you what curriculum or homeschooling method is best for your home.

Here are some questions I recommend asking yourself before choosing a curriculum:

• Do you want a faith-based curriculum or a secular curriculum?
• How many children will you be homeschooling?

• What is your homeschooling budget?
• Do you want a free curriculum?
• Will you be homeschooling temporarily, or do you plan to homeschool long term?
• What type of curriculum do you think you and your children would enjoy?
• What are your children’s learning styles?
• What subjects are your strong suits & what subjects are your weak points?
• What subjects would you like to be more hands on with?
• Do you prefer online or physical curriculums?
• Do you prefer rigorous learning or a more laid-back curriculum?
• How much time do you have to allocate teaching?
• Does the curriculum have a return policy?
• Would I prefer a curriculum with an answer key?
• Do you prefer testing or no testing?

Sit down with paper and a pen and go over these questions. You don’t necessarily HAVE to answer them all but doing so will really help you to narrow down all the options that are available. Getting it written down will also help you get a plan in place and will work as a resource that you’ll be able to reference in the future.

If you need further information on curriculum types check you can take a look at these resources homeschool.com and homeschool-planning.com. Many curriculums provide sample pages and trial runs to give you the chance to test it out and see if you like it before making a commitment.

Do not be afraid to change curriculum. Oftentimes the process of choosing the perfect curriculum for your family will be trial and error, this is when return policies come in handy.

6. Set a Reasonable Schedule

When it comes to your schedule, no one knows your other responsibilities and obligations more than you do. It’s important to set reasonable expectations with your daily schedule. Not only to prevent burnout for you, but also to prevent your littles from becoming overwhelmed and stressed.

Initially I went into believing that their schedules had to be as long and as packed as it was when they were in school, and I quickly realized that that was just not going to work for us.

It’s going to vary from person to person, but I highly recommend starting off slow and getting your feet wet in the homeschool pool first. If you feel like you can jump in headfirst, that’s fine too, it just depends on what you are most comfortable with.

I am not the type of person to follow a schedule by the letter, I prefer to use it as a guide to keep us on the right track and organized, but I allow things to flow and if they don’t exactly go as scheduled I don’t lose any sleep.

While some mom’s may prefer to stick to the schedule without any variations in their day. Either way, whichever way you choose to set up your schedule, just be sure to choose a routine that is most realistic for your family.

Taking Breaks

Allow time for breaks in between lessons, this will be good for both you and your littles. Whether it be recess, snack time, naptime etc. You will all appreciate the time to unwind & regroup.

7. Take This Time to Build a Better Relationship with Your Littles 

One of the most eye-opening parts of this journey is realizing just how much time I was missing out on my children’s childhood while they were away at school. Like most children they spent half of their day at school, at this time I was working outside of the home so they would go straight to daycare, and we wouldn’t get home until after 7pm, where we’d have a late dinner and then do it all over again the next morning. I did not want that for us.

Through homeschooling you will find that being their teacher you are able to spend far more quality time with them. This becomes a perfect time to learn each of their learning styles, watch them blossom in their creative processes, and build an even closer relationship with them that you really couldn’t while they were in school.

It begins to feel as though you’re getting time back that you would have lost had you not began this journey.

8. Take It One Day at a Time

This one is self-explanatory, pace yourself. Take it one day at a time. Get what you can get done that day, & do not be afraid to make changes to your schedule. Focus on the day at hand. I got myself in the habit on not thinking about the weeks & months ahead to avoid overwhelming myself. I set long term goals but would not get bent out of shape if a few days didn’t go as planned.

Move things back if need be. There is NO RUSH. The most important thing is that they are absorbing what they need to in whatever time frame you have set for them.

This experience should be fun for all of you. Leave room for fun in your day!

9. Find Your Homeschool Support Circle 

As one of the well-respected women in the homeschool community told me, “Find your tribe.” Whether it’s a Facebook group, YouTube, local homeschool groups, Clubhouse etc. Many of us homeschool mamas believe that its SO important to have a support circle when homeschooling.

Some women have support from family and friends which makes an amazing support system. But for someone like me who doesn’t have much support in person, I took to finding my tribe online and I am so glad that I did!

Being able to connect with other women and parents who know what this life is like and what comes with it brought me so much relief and confidence! I was able to communicate with other novice homeschoolers, unschoolers, gameschoolers, as well as seasoned homeschoolers and parents who were raised as homeschoolers who now homeschool their own children. This probably helped me more than anything else starting out.

Don’t be afraid to get out there and connect with other homeschooling mamas. You’ll be surprised what you might learn!

10. Do Not Compare Yourself to Other Homeschoolers on Social Media

I CANNOT stress this one enough because I believe every last homeschooler has done it at one point or another. It is so easy to get on YouTube, IG & Pinterest and see the beautiful classrooms, impressive book collections, expensive school supplies, meticulous organization methods and find yourself discouraged. DON’T!

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” What other people have works well for them, but that should not make you feel a way about what you have and what you can do.

Homeschool Within Your Means

Everyone cannot afford the latest and greatest homeschool materials and the most expensive curriculums. This takes away nothing from the experience you are able to provide your children. There are so many ways to homeschool on a budget.

Initially, I found myself trying to keep up with what I seen others doing when I just simply could not afford it. And for a moment I allowed that to make me question my capabilities as a homeschooler.

This frame of mind helps no one, especially your littles. Provide what you are able, and don’t worry about the rest. The options are endless for parents looking to homeschool on a budget, or for free. And in times such as these, this includes a lot of us.

You are more than capable!

11. Enjoy Every Step of Your Journey

Lastly, whatever your reason is for choosing to embark on this journey, enjoy it! This will no doubt be one of the most fulfilling experiences for you and your children. And be proud of yourself for making such a big decision! Watch the way you and your family grow together as you make your way through this new chapter of your lives!

This post was about 11 beginner homeschool tips that will help you mentally prepare yourself for the journey ahead.  I hope that this post helped to ease any concerns you may have had about homeschooling. Please feel free to reach out to me here if you have any questions or suggestions!