What you REALLY need to Home Educate..

“The Best education does not happen at a desk, but rather engaged in everyday living- hands on, exploring, in active relationship with life.” Vince Gowmon

Although I am in many ways a novice to Home Education..

I felt the need to share this post. We began the journey to home educate long before my daughter reached school age- it was before she was even born, Home Education was always the plan. Before I continue, this is my personal opinion on Education- there is no judgment on those who send their children to school. This is our journey.

My daughter was due to start school 2020- the year COVID hit. Seeing how children were being sent into school with masks and strict rules all whilst starting a whole new era of their tiny lives made my heart so sad. Their parents were not even allowed to comfort and settle their children into a new and strange environment- the classroom, seeing this reinforced that we had done the right thing for our family, in not registering her for school.

For us, life continued as normal (as normal as it was for the COVID season). We ‘did life’ together.

We cooked meals together, read stories, gleaned lessons from the world around us. As we baked- we looked at measurements and timings, we counted as we cracked eggs into bowls. We went on nature walks where we looked at the beauty of creation; we found sticks in the shape of numbers, we compared the sizes of leaves, we stopped to sketch the bugs and the trees we found along our walk. We cleaned- we learnt how to load the washing machine, how to wash up, sweep up messes- we gained autonomy. We gathered books from the library, we followed her interests. We played. One day we would play bakeries, the next doctors, florists, the next Father Christmas’ workshop. Each interest led to us looking at more resources which we pulled from the internet, books, trips out and conversations.

We didn’t need to book a school trip out- our life was an adventure. We explored rockpools with nets and buckets, we scoured beaches for shells and woods for bluebells and sat with a flask of hot chocolate in the evening in search for bats. We learnt skills whilst we went to the shop, the library and using public transport. How to start a conversation with the cashier, how to approach people in the library to ask for help, how to ask questions and find answers in the museums. We learnt to engage with people of all ages- not just the peers we would find in our classroom.

We looked at maps, we discussed timings when getting on a train. We learnt how a windmill works, discussed how musical instruments were made- created music. We Created. Oh so many creations, paintings, pictures, models, patterns, dens, face painted, created stories and poetry, baked goods, playdough sculptures, tie dye, embroidery, crochet.

We just ‘did life’.

Lately, I have had several friends and acquaintances ask me for resources and how to start the process of educating their young child. Yes, there are wonderful resources I would recommend- mainly books and podcasts; however my main answer every time is presence and play.

My personal opinion is that children do not need to start the process of formal education until they are 7/8 years old. We know that this is common in many countries around the world. Yes, I know many will say that they follow curriculums in nurseries and preschool, and yes they probably do, but I guarantee it is learning through play. The idea that we sit our 4/5 year olds at desks and in classrooms baffles me. They need space to create, explore, run! Guess what? Children learn through play.

Those little role play games- they are learning communication skills, understanding of the world, using their imagination skills. Making playdough creations; they are building muscles and developing their fine motor skills to make way for writing. Play is how children learn and they need space to be able to develop and build the skills that they need to excel in life.

So one thing is for sure, I am not replicating the school environment at home. That is why many of us use the term ‘home educating’ and not ‘home schooling’, because I do not intend to turn my home into a classroom. The world is our classroom and home is…home. The most natural place for a child to learn and to thrive.

What do you really need to home educate? The answer- it’s you. You are the most precious commodity to your child. To be present for your child, to listen to them, to provide opportunities for them to create, inspire, thrive. All of this can be done by just being available and ‘doing life’ with your child/children.

I hear you say, “Okay, Okay, I understand Hannah, but surely there are some resources you suggest to use?”

Yes. I have some suggestions, but they might not be what you expect.

Craft supplies

Mainly you will need: paper, pencils, pens, paint, scissors, glue, card and lots of water colour paper. You will need lots of resources to allow your child to create; you can pick art supplies at reasonable prices these days. Yes you can design a ‘creative workshop’ in your home if you have space. We have had this at times, but now we just use the dining room table with a tablecloth to fling on when a creative mood strikes.

One thing I will say is, try to make this space so that your child can access the materials on demand. Keep the tablecloth in a certain place so they know that if they create they must cover the table. Keep the paper down low so that your child can reach this. Not only does this create autonomy in your child but it helps practically.

My daughter knows that if she gets the paint out, she must clear the paint away and wash the brushes in the sink for next time. If you create an environment of trust with your child they will begin to respect the space and the materials. We have at times, used an art trolley to keep resources tidy and children can access this well. For now we have a dresser and shelves we keep our resources on.

One more thing- make sure when they create- they can fully create. If they want to paint with poster paints and you know that they are going to get messy then help them to set it up in the garden. That way it doesn’t matter if paint splashes end up on the grass, instead of your sofa. It saves tears and frustration on both parts and allows your child to create without stress.

Library Card
We are a family that loves books. We have bookcases full of stories, cookery books craft books, history books, nature books…this list goes on and on. However, if you don’t have space, or have projects that you are working on, then the most vital thing you will own is a library card.

Most counties offer a home education library card, where you can borrow a larger amount of books and ebooks and for longer periods of time, so this might be worth looking into.

Loose Parts
Loose parts? Hannah, I don’t need more ‘bits’ floating around my house.

Hear me out. Loose parts are wonderful materials to have in your home for all aspects of learning. We have a collection of plastic tubs full of: shells, buttons, corks, bottle lids, gems, pinecones, conkers which have been used multiple times over the years. These have been used in playdough, small world play, role play, maths.. the list goes on, they can be manoeuvred in multiple ways to enhance creativity. You don’t need the expensive maths materials for counting, rather keep hold of conkers you have collected to use for your math sums. They have been wonderful resources over the years that have been used week after week, year after year.

Nature Bag

We created a nature bag for our outings. In this bag we have everything we need to explore the great outdoors. Nature books, sketchpads, watercolours, brushes, pencils, magnifying glass, butterfly net, minibeast jar, a mini kite, plasters- oh and usually a flask of something yummy like a hot chocolate. This has been wonderful over the years. When we want to explore- we grab the rucksack, top up the flask and head out on our adventures.

Mug, Blankets and a Basket of Books

Like I mentioned earlier I’m not about creating school at home- I’m about cosy! Having a basket of books next to the sofa has been a game changer. Fill the basket up with books from the library, have some blankets on hand and a favourite mug to snuggle up with. Some of my favourite memories have been snuggled up on the sofa with a cup of tea and sifting through our library books.

Fairy lights

Not essential- but I’m all about the fairy lights. Atmosphere is everything to me, so cosy is a must. I’m amazed at when I turn on the lights-how calm comes, light some candles, put some worship music on and relax. You have the chance to change the atmosphere of your home. You create it.

There will be more for me to share on other resources in the future; but I truly believe the most important thing as a home educating parent is to be present. Children just want us. It’s in the daily routines and rhythms that beautiful memories are made, little lives are moulded and we find joy.

I will leave you with this: “So much of motherhood is about presence, not performance. Normal, routine days spent together communicate security and love.”- Katie Faris.