The Joys of Schooling from Home: Why Homeschooling or Virtual Schooling Works Wonders for Our Family

This is Year 3 of us schooling from home. As a mom of 3 boys under 9, I can confidently say that schooling from home has been a transformative experience for our family. The flexibility and personalized nature of home education offers benefits that traditional schooling might not. By integrating learning into various areas of our home, we’ve discovered how dynamic and engaging education can be. Here’s a glimpse into how homeschooling has enriched our lives and transformed our daily routine:

1. Varied Learning Environments

Kitchen: Our kitchen has become a center for hands-on learning. From cooking classes where kids learn about measurements and chemical reactions to science experiments that involve mixing ingredients, the kitchen is where theory meets practice. It’s a space where nutrition lessons come to life, and kids understand concepts through real-life applications.

Living Room and Loft: These cozy spots have turned into our reading nooks and storytelling havens. With comfy cushions and a soft blanket, it’s the perfect place for diving into books or having lively discussions. Whether we’re debating which transformers is the best or which soccer player is the G.O.A.T, these spaces offer a relaxed and inviting atmosphere for intellectual exploration and bonding.

Backyard: Our backyard has become a classroom for environmental studies and physical education. Observing nature, and practicing sports are all part of our curriculum. It’s a space where biology lessons are hands-on and physical activity is integrated into daily learning. And a great way to get some Vitamin D!

2. Flexible Scheduling

Morning Routine: Starting the day with lessons when the kids are fresh and energized has been a game-changer. For example, kids can start their online lessons right away or focus on their non-school related studies in their bedrooms.

Afternoon Breaks: After a focused morning, the kids can take breaks in different areas of the house, like the Kitchen or Living Room. This change of scenery helps them recharge and return to their studies with renewed enthusiasm.

No Missed Days: One of the biggest perks is the flexibility to adjust our schedule as needed. If someone’s under the weather, they can still complete some work from bed and make up missed lessons over the weekend. We can schedule appointments during non-live lessons. Plus, we can travel during off-peak times, saving on costs and avoiding crowded places.

3. Enhanced Comfort and Engagement

Bedrooms: Our kids' bedrooms have been transformed into personalized learning spaces. We have one bedroom with Beds only that serves as a relaxed, quiet space for studying. Another bedroom is converted into a play room with a small table and chairs, toys, and games which serves as a creative space for learning. And third bedroom into an academic room with bookshelves, personal desks and lots of free floor space and back pillows to lounge on while working on their worksheets or attending live lessons. With different themed rooms, the kids can move around during the day to where they want and not be stuck in a chair/table setting all day. This helps keep the study sessions engaging and less formal. The personal touch makes learning feel more tailored and enjoyable.

Family Spaces: Communal areas are used for interactive learning activities. Group projects and presentations become more dynamic when conducted in these spaces, fostering collaboration and making learning a family affair.

4. Incorporating Real-World Learning

Backyard:  Ideal for environmental studies, biology, or physical education. Kids can observe nature, grow plants, or practice sports. You can use a sandbox to practice writing or chalk to learn math! Backyard is a great place for kids to be a scientist: make observations, ask questions!

Kitchen: Perfect for hands-on science experiments or cooking classes. 

Kids can learn about measurements, chemical reactions, and nutrition while helping prepare meals.

5. Reduced Stress and Distractions

Quiet Corners: We’ve created quiet zones around the house where kids can concentrate on their studies without interruptions. These areas help them stay focused and manage their workload effectively.

6. Integrating Family Life

Family Meals: We use mealtimes to integrate subjects like science and social studies into our conversations. It’s a natural and enjoyable way to discuss various topics while strengthening family bonds. One game we play is Verbal Wordle. Person 1: I am thinking of a 3 letter word (C-A-P). Person 2: P-A-D Person 1: P is yellow, A is green, D is black. This is a fun way for kids to practice their spelling!

Another game we play is "Noun" Alphabet. Where we go around naming an animal, for example, with each letter of the alphabet until we run out and move on to the next alphabet. Same can be done with Countries/Cities/States (Geography). We also test each other on mental math which is great for elementary kids to practice addition, subtraction & multiplication. Usually keeping it at 2 digits for addition and subtraction :)

Chores: Incorporating life skills into our curriculum, such as budgeting, time management, and home maintenance, provides practical learning experiences that go beyond traditional academics. We give them the responsibility of putting away their laundry and sometimes washing their own clothes (if time permits). Daily, they have to wash their dishes by hand during breakfast and lunch.

7. Balance of Education and Faith

Not fully schooling on our Holidays: With schooling from home, we usually plan out our lessons around our religious holidays (which are not always acknowledged by traditional schools). We do this by doing some lessons over the weekends so we can focus on our religious or cultural holidays. With my kids attending virtual school that still follows traditional holidays (Thanksgiving/Christmas /Spring Break), I teach the kids on my own and work on their workbooks. So on days that we need off or not work as much (to celebrate our religious/cultural holidays), the kids only have to do their online lessons for that day (they have till 10:59pm to complete) or attend live lessons (usually 1.5 hrs).

Working on our language/religious studies daily: We incorporate their language/religious studies throughout the day. For example, my kids don't have live class till 8:30am, so they can focus on personal or religious studies 7am to 8:30 am. They usually finish their live classes and online lessons by 2 pm (1 hr lunch included!) and can then go back to their language or religious studies after.

8. Home Cooked and Fresh Meals

The kids have can have healthier, fresh, home cooked meals at home. They have access to the pantry and the fridge stock. This has really helped my kids' diet of not depending as much on processed foods and being able to fill their appetite throughout the day. As a mom, it saves me a ton of time rushing to make lunch for them in the morning!

I have more time to prepare their lunch while they are doing school and serve it warm!

9. Reduced Commuting Time = Increased Free Play Time

We have significantly saved at least 1 hour from commuting to and from traditional school. In the past, I would have to wait in a long line of parents to pick up my kids which would usually take 30-60 min each way! The 1-2 hours saved commuting transfers to my kids having more playtime in their schedule! Our day is less stressed and more calm. My kids take breaks playing soccer in our home between lessons and it helps get some of that build up energy out! In addition, I can schedule extracurriculars for them without them being too tired.

Conclusion

Homeschooling has allowed us to blend education seamlessly into our daily lives, making learning a part of everything we do. By utilizing different spaces and integrating learning into our routines, we’ve created an environment that adapts to each child’s needs and interests. I am admitting, this has been not an easy task. While it requires commitment, hard work, and planning, the rewards—personalized education, enhanced family connections, and practical learning—make it a truly enriching experience for our family.

What about Social Interaction?

As long as you have your kids in team based extracurricular activities or set up play dates, they will get their social interaction. For my kids, extracurricular activities, faith-based school on weekends, and play dates help ensure they are getting the social interaction to develop into fully functioning members of society!

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Check out my blog on The Hidden Costs of Virtual School!