First of all – welcome! Whether you’ve been toying with the idea since your toddler first refused to nap, or you’re knee-deep in school stress and suddenly Googled “can I just homeschool instead,” I see you. And you’re not alone.
Let’s talk about it. No sugar-coating, no unicorns and rainbows. Just real talk from one curious, slightly overwhelmed parent to another.
Why People Start Homeschooling (Spoiler: It’s Not Just to Avoid School Pick-Up Lines)
People dip their toes into homeschooling for all sorts of reasons:
- Their kid isn’t thriving in school.
- They want to give more freedom or focus to learning.
- They want to protect their child’s mental health.
- They’re tired of packing lunches. (Okay, maybe that’s just me.)
But the common thread? They want more. More connection. More creativity. More say in how their child learns and grows.
If you’re curious about what keeps families homeschooling after they start, you might like to read my post on Why I Love Homeschooling – it’s full of the unexpected joys I never saw coming.
What Homeschooling Actually Looks Like
Forget the Pinterest-perfect desks and color-coded timetables. Most of us are winging it with library books, nature walks, and spelling tests interrupted by snack breaks.
Sometimes it’s glorious – watching your child get something for the first time.
Sometimes it’s chaos – like when everyone’s crying and the toddler’s drawn on the wall with a crayon.
And that’s normal. It’s life. Just with more glitter and less homework folders.
The Big Questions You’re Probably Asking
“Am I qualified?”
If you can Google, love your child, and are willing to learn alongside them – you’re qualified. (And honestly, most of us are learning multiplication again anyway.)
“What if I mess it up?”
You probably will. It’s inevitable. No one is perfect. But that’s not a dealbreaker – it’s an opportunity. It’s a chance to show your child that mistakes happen, and we keep trying anyway. That lesson? It’s just as important as anything in the curriculum.
“What about socialization?”
Ah yes, the classic. Don’t worry, they’ll socialize. Between co-ops, sports, church, the park, and every old lady at the shops asking what grade they’re in, you’ll be fine.
“Do I need a curriculum?”
Not necessarily. Some families love having one – it gives structure and peace of mind. Others create their own or piece things together from different resources. There’s no one-size-fits-all here. Do what works for your brain and your kid.
“Do I have to teach everything they’d learn at school?”
Nope. Homeschooling isn’t “school at home” – in fact, I’ve got a whole post about why I hate that phrase. You do need to cover the learning areas from the curriculum, but it’s way more flexible than it sounds. Most things overlap naturally. Baking a cake? That’s maths, reading, science, and home economics all rolled into one delicious lesson.
“How do I show learning?”
Each state has different requirements, but it’s often simpler than it sounds. In WA, for example, we take photos of activities and paste any written work into a book. Workbooks can help, but photos are just as valid – especially when they capture real-life learning in action. Some families even create private social media accounts or shared folders to document their journey and easily share it with moderators.
Okay, But What Do I Need to DO?
- Look up your local laws.
In Australia and NZ, you need to register with your education department and submit a plan. (Don’t panic – I’ll walk you through that in a later post.) - Start observing your child.
How do they like to learn? What do they get excited about? Use that. - Find your people.
Join local Facebook groups, ask around, lurk in online forums. Homeschooling has grown massively in the past few years – there are way more of us out here than you probably think. - Take it slow.
You don’t have to do everything at once. Start with mornings. Or just reading aloud. Then build.
Where to From Here?
Still with me? Awesome. You don’t have to figure this all out overnight – and you don’t have to do it alone.
Next up, check out:
Getting Started with Homeschooling (NZ Edition)
Getting Started with Homeschooling (Aus Edition)
Why I Love Homeschooling – a peek at what makes this wild ride totally worth it
Why I Don’t Love the Word “Homeschool” – unpacking the difference between school-at-home and actual freedom-based learning
And if you want a free printable checklist to help you get started, I’ve got that too. Let’s make this feel less scary and way more doable.
With love and wonder,
Britt xx
The Essence of Becoming 
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