Advice From a Homeschool Parent

Starting your homeschool journey can feel equal parts exciting and terrifying. One minute you’re dreaming of cozy mornings and flexible schedules… and the next you’re thinking, Am I actually qualified to do this?!

That’s exactly why we wanted to share this story.

Recently, our team here at Playground Press completed our very first homeschool makeover for the Williams family in Michigan! They are a busy, joy-filled family with four kids and a whole lot of heart. We sat down with Anna, the mom, to talk about what homeschool really looks like behind the scenes… the mindset, the routines, and the space that makes it all work!

If you’re new to homeschooling (or even just need a little encouragement), her advice is the kind you’ll want to bookmark!

Questions & Answers From a Real Homeschool Mom

“You Can Do This” — Advice for New Homeschool Parents

Q: What advice would you give to someone just starting their homeschooling journey?

A: “I think, 1. You can do it. It’s scary and a big step because you feel like, ‘Am I equipped enough to do this?’ Just put your heart into it, love it, and just have fun. If you aren’t enjoying it, you aren’t doing it right. Have fun and enjoy your kids — this is such a cool experience. I get to speak into my kids and pour into them in a way I wouldn’t have been able to before. I get to give them one-on-one attention that I otherwise wouldn’t. It’s such a cool experience — just enjoy it!”

This advice hits home for so many homeschool parents. It’s not about doing everything perfectly,  it’s about showing up, loving your kids well, and embracing the season you’re in. Being able to experience real life together adds such a cool layer to homeschooling, from everyday moments to once-in-a-lifetime memories. And we love how Anna talks about “pouring into her kids” — as a homeschool parent, you get to be intentional about the voice, words, and meaning your children hear all day, every day!

Finding Rhythm Without Losing Freedom

Q: What are your favorite ways to organize your homeschool day?

A: “We do have a semi-regular schedule that we printed out, and I go through the checklist every day to make sure we are kind of on track, but also just exploring the world at the same time and making time to go out and see things. We have so much freedom to do museums during the day. He (her son) takes swim lessons and piano lessons during the day. Just having time that’s, 1. Rich in education, but 2. Rich in going out and seeing all of the other things… like music and actually being there and playing the piano.”

This balance of structure and flexibility is one of the biggest gifts of homeschooling. Learning doesn’t have to be confined to a desk — it can happen everywhere. We love how Anna talks about intentionally incorporating her children’s interests, like swimming and music, into their day, turning the things they love into meaningful, real-life learning moments.

 

Creating a Homeschool Space That Grows With Your Family

Q: What are some important things you think your homeschool space should have?

A: “I think when it’s homeschool, you want it to be so versatile, and that’s exactly what this space is. The space has everything, and it can be a family game room if we need it to. It’s not strictly like, ‘This is just a homeschool space — you can’t use it for anything else.’ My kids are going to play and have fun and love their lives. I feel like they’re going to make so many memories!”

This is the heart of it. A homeschool space should support learning and life… and that’s exactly what Anna is referring to when she talks about their newly revamped homeschool space! It’s a place where her kids can learn, play, create, and just be kids. A space where they feel comfortable, creative, and genuinely excited to be. The kind of environment that makes room for both meaningful learning and everyday memories! 

 

Want to See the Homeschool Space?

The homeschool space we created for the Williams family was designed to be flexible, functional, and family-friendly — just like Anna described.

You can explore all the different components of their makeover, get inspiration for your own homeschool setup, and find links to everything we used right here.

Whether you’re setting up your very first homeschool corner or refreshing a space that’s grown with your kids, this makeover is packed with ideas you can actually use.

To Wrap It All Up:

If you’re standing at the beginning of your homeschool journey or are somewhere in the middle, let this be your reminder:

You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You just need to show up, love your kids, and enjoy the ride!

Homeschooling is a big step, but it’s also an incredible opportunity. And as Anna so perfectly said… “This is such a cool experience.”  We couldn’t agree more!

Share your homeschool questions or advice with us in the comments, or send them to us via our socials or email!