The new homeschool year is right around the corner--if you haven't already begun.
Now, if you haven't started yet, maybe you've seen other people posting they've already restarted. Maybe you've seen them post the pictures of their kids and which grade they're in this year--and how their teacher is Mom or Mrs. FamilyName. Maybe you've seen pictures of their super organized homeschool spaces or their first-week schedule--and you don't even know which day you're starting or what exactly you're going to do.
Here’s the truth: just because the world around you is diving into full-speed school doesn’t mean you have to. Homeschooling gives you the freedom to set a pace that works for your family.
In fact, I’d argue that trying to do everything in that first week is one of the fastest ways to burn out—both you and your kids. And if not burnout, at least make homeschooling an unpleasant experience where you're questioning your decision to keep them home.
Why a Gentle Start Works
Think about it this way: when you start a new job, you’re not expected to learn every single system, process and policy on day one. There’s orientation. Training. A chance to get your bearings.
Homeschooling is no different. Our kids need time to remember the rhythms of learning. We need time to find our groove again after summer. Easing in gives everyone space to adjust—without tears, tantrums or stress headaches.
What Easing In Can Look Like
It doesn’t have to be complicated! Try:
- Before You Start: Before officially starting, do some back-to-homeschool shopping and pick some read-alouds for the week. While they might not need all the school supplies and indoor shoes the schooled kids do, it can be a time for a special notebook, new markers, maybe one new outfit... This is also a time to think about where the kids will be doing their learning activities. Is there anything you want to change? Remove? Add? You can do this with the kids, too, so it's a collective fun time of creating the school environment you all want.
- First Day: You don't even have to plan on doing any work today. Have a meeting. Maybe do a read-aloud. Definitely do a fun Not-Back-to-School activity of some kind!
- Second Day: Do just a small amount of work, continue the read-aloud, then head to the library in the afternoon to stock up on books.
- Rest of Week 1: Slowly increase the amount of work done each day. Make sure to have downtime/fun time each day--and your read-aloud.
- Week 2 and Beyond:Keep increasing until you hit your target amount of learning time.
- All Along: Keep afternoons open for outside play, nature walks, baking or whatever feels life-giving for your family.
Little by little, you’ll build a routine that sticks instead of crashing and burning by mid-September.
Permission to Slow Down
Your homeschool doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Not your neighbour’s. Not the Instagram or Pinterest mom’s. Not even what you imagined in your head over the summer.
You don’t have to do all the things right now. And honestly, most kids learn better when they’re not overwhelmed anyway, so take a step back, breathe
✨ Want some more details on this gentle start? I put together a free resource, the Back-to-Homeschool Guide: How to Start the Homeschool Year Without Any Grumbling (the Kids' or Yours) that walks you through it step by step with some bonus pages for activity and learning space ideas— grab it here!
Homeschooling doesn’t have to be so hard. Give yourself permission to start small. You might be surprised at how much more peace and joy you find along the way. 💛
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