5 Fun & Easy Mental Exercises to Give Your Brain A Boost

Keeping your brain in tip-top shape can be challenging, especially for busy moms, but it is essential that we make sure that our whole body, including our brain, gets a good workout on a regular basis. Working out your brain doesn't have to be boring; this might become your favorite regular workout!

I will share with you 5 fun ideas on how to give your brain the regular exercise it needs to stay sharp. Don't worry it doesn't take a lot of time or expensive equipment to get a mental workout in every day. You only need a few minutes each day to flex your gray matter.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

Mental Self-Care For Busy Moms

Self-care, especially for busy moms is so important. Taking a little time each day to focus on taking care of yourself physically, mentally, and spiritually will not only make you feel better but it will help you be a better mom. 

Exercising your brain can benefit you in so many ways like improved concentration and focus as well as other important cognitive functions. Here are a few more benefits from flexing your mental muscles:

• boost your confidence & self-esteem
• improve your memory & attention
• make you smarter & sharper
• improve decision-making ability
• enhance positive mood & attitude
• boost your creative energy
• improve your communication skills

Everyone will benefit from a few minutes each day of active mental activities and exercises. Your quality of life as a busy mom depends on it! Here are 5 simple, budget-friendly games you can start doing today and get your brain in tip-top shape.

5 Fun & Easy Brain Games To Exercise Your Mommy Brain

WORD SEARCH

I find word search puzzles so relaxing! It is a great way to fill time when you are waiting for an appointment, sitting in the car pool line, or just taking a few moments to unwind after a long day. 

Whether you like the electronic versions or the printed softcover book style you can still give your brain a great mental workout! Word searches come in a variety of themes like Bible verses, vacation themes, science, and seasonal themes. There is almost no limit to the themes these kinds of puzzles offer. 

App Recommendation: Word Search Explorer by PlaySimple Games (Google Play Store)

Classic word search puzzles with beautiful scenery to help you relax your mind. This app offers free to play word search puzzles that will help you grow your vocabulary as you solve the puzzles.

Printed Recommendation (softcover) : Large Print Bible Word Search Puzzle Book 

This puzzle book that you can purchase on Amazon has over 1,000+ hidden words! Each puzzle page contains a verse from the Bible with words selected within the verse that are hidden in the puzzle. Not only are you spending time exercising your brain but you also benefit from reading Scripture verses! This puzzle book makes a great gift for a senior friend or family member because of the large print size. Tuck this book into your bag, purse or tote to take along with you on vacation or to appointments. 

SUDOKO 

Sudoko is a great workout for your brain! This working-memory training activity, like chess, requires you to think three or four steps ahead to your next move. Fun and challenging games like sudoko will really work your gray matter.

App Recommendation: Sudoko-Classic Brain Puzzle by Shared Fun (Google Play Store) 

Beware, this is an addictive game that can help you train your brain!

Printed Recommendation (softcover): 1,000 + All Easy Sudoko Puzzle Book

MAZES

A maze puzzle not only challenges your brain but it helps with eye hand coordination too. These types of puzzles come in a variety of shapes and levels of difficulty too. A favorite puzzle for kids, mazes are also popular with adults. Completing a maze creates a sense of accomplishment while keeping your brain active and working in top condition. 

App Recommendation: Mazes & More (Google Play)

Printed Recommendation: The Amazing Book of Mazes (Amazon)

This book is full of handcrafted mazes for you to enjoy! Seventy-five fun mazes for you to solve.

CROSSWORD PUZZLES

A popular past time that has been around for decades, crossword puzzles are still a popular activity for people of any age. The benefits of working on a crossword puzzle offers more than just a challenging game. According to Harvard researchers crossword puzzle clues often force you to link concepts you hadn't pictures together. These features mean that crossword puzzles cause large areas of your cortex to be active, and stimulate new connections in your brain. So if you are looking for an easy way to relieve stress with a good mental workout I recommend that you try a crossword puzzle!

App Recommendation: Crossword Puzzles by Xpress Mobyte (Google Play Store) rated 4.5

Printed Recommendation: Amazing 2024: Easy Exciting Crossword Puzzles for Adults (Amazon)

This fun puzzle book has over 2400 words to decipher! 

BRAIN TEASER PUZZLES

Do you consider yourself a detail oriented person? If so, brain teaser puzzles that challenge you to spot the differences between two pictures or puzzles that you have to find hidden objects will be loads of fun for you. These puzzles can include anything from challenging math puzzles to visual challenges. Brain teaser puzzles are not only fun but they can help prevent short term memory loss. 

App Recommendation: Brain Test: Tricky Puzzles (Google Play Store)

New levels added every month! Rated 4.7

Printed Recommendation: The Fun and Relaxing Adult Activity Book (Amazon)

A collection of different fun activities that will keep you mentally sharp and entertained for hours!

WORD GRID PUZZLE (a.k.a Boggle Solitaire)

These types of puzzles are based on the Boggle board game. The goal of the game is to find as many words as you can with a given grid of letters but you can only make words for letters that touch each other and each letter can only be used once per word. Once you begin to master this type of puzzle set a time limit and see how fast you can complete it! 

App Recommendation: Boggle with Friends Word Game (Google Play Store)

Printed Recommendation: Boggle Your Mind (Amazon)

BONUS GAME - Boggle Solitaire Alternative!

Word Grid Puzzles (aka Boggle Solitaire) are based on the Boggle board game. In Word Grid, you’re given a grid of letters and must find as many words as you can.

The rules are simple: words must be made from letters that touch and each letter can only be used once per word. To make it more challenging, set a time limit!

Want to learn more? Check out How to Play Word Grid for a list of the rules, solving methods, and an example walkthrough. 

Your brain will thank you for all of these fun activities! Get your kids involved and make it a family fun night with a variety of brain teasers.

The Top 5 Best Types Of Journals For Kids

Journaling can be a very effective way to help your child learn how to sort out all of their big feelings. It can also be a safe place for kids to process their thoughts, ideas, fears, and dreams. 

Does your child struggle to express their emotions? It can be tough for a young child to know what words to use to describe how they feel. Children of all ages can get so overwhelmed by their emotions they fall apart, act out, cry, throw tantrums, or just close down because they don't know how to explain their feelings. 

As a parent, you want to be there for your child and help them communicate how they feel but knowing how to help them can be challenging. 

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

How To Help Your Child Grow During Challenging Times

Whether your child shows their emotions on the outside or keeps them hidden internally all children experience big emotions regularly that they might not know how to talk about or process on their own. 

Their outward behavior tells you as the parent something is bugging them but they may be hesitant to open up and share their problems with you. And we know that nagging them to tell you what is wrong will get you nowhere! 

For example:

• Your child failed a test or got a bad grade at school
• Someone at school might have said something mean to your child and it has been bugging them all-day
• Your child didn't get invited to a classmate's party and feels left out
• Their daily schedule changed without warning and the sudden change has overwhelmed them
• They didn't have enough time to 

Journaling can be a very helpful tool for your child to help them deal with the tough stuff of life. The best part is that journaling is completely customizable and can be used for so many other reasons too. 

Top 5 Best Types of Journals For Kids

I'm excited to share with you a variety of journals your child might like to try. Introducing journaling to your child might become a lifechanging activity they can do for the rest of their lives too. 

#1 Emotions Journal

Sometimes a little prompting can help unlock those difficult-to-explain emotions your child is feeling. An emotions journal provides plenty of simple prompts to get your child thinking through how they feel so they can really focus on their communication. A private journal also allows your child to have a safe place to explore their feelings without feeling judged or ashamed. 

How To Use A Kid's Emotions Journal 

I recommend you give your child an emotions journal as a gift rather than requiring them to complete it like homework. Let their curiosity about an emotions journal lead the way. Encouraging them to set aside time every day to write in their emotions journal to establish a routine. An emotions journal with simple prompts, some space to doodle, a mood monitor, and blank areas to just write anything they want is what I would recommend. 

I am excited to share with you this How Do I Feel - Emotions Journal for Kids, which I recently published on Amazon. 

This kid-friendly journal uses fun emojis to help your child identify how they are feeling. Additionally, your child will be asked to think about good things that happened each day, and what worries they have and to draw their own emoji to express their feelings. 

Sometimes a child who is struggling to communicate just can find the right words to tell you how they feel. This journal provides a big list of "feelings & emotions" words that can help them pair words and feelings together. 

This journal is geared towards children ages 6 - 13 but depending on your child's maturity level this age range is flexible. 
Journaling is not just for adults! Kids can benefit from journaling too. Journaling provides an outlet and a safe place to express feelings, work through problems, and record memorable moments. I highly encourage you to get your child started with their first emotions journal today so they can reap the benefits from journaling. 

#2 Gratitude Journal

Teaching your child gratitude is important. One way you can start teaching them about gratitude is to start a gratitude journal. A gratitude journal provides your child with a specific space to express thankfulness for what they have in life. 

Kids seem to learn and enjoy things better when they are given creative prompts and writing ideas. A gratitude journal with prompts and space to express themselves is not only fun but really an intentional practice in thinking about others rather than focusing only on themselves. 

Studies show that those who practice thinking about and writing what they are thankful for are more optimistic, have higher life satisfaction, and feel happier.

For younger children, using the journal to draw what/who they are grateful for works just as well as writing it out. 

#3 Nature Journal

A nature journal encourages children of all ages to explore their outside environment which will foster a deeper appreciation of the world around them. Children are naturally curious which makes this type of journaling so much fun!

Nature journals will: 

• Sharpen your child's observation skills

• Encourage children to ask questions, seek answers, and dive deeper to explore the world around them.

• Provide a place to work on writing and art skills as they express themselves and what they observe in their journal.

• Appreciate the world around them as they connect with nature through their journal and being present at the moment.

#4 Prayer Journal

Teaching your child how to pray is so important. We all know how easy it is for them to get distracted which is why a prayer journal can be a helpful tool to keep them focused and grow in their prayer life. 

Cultivating consistency, especially in your child's prayer life is essential. A prayer journal is a great tool to help you teach them what consistency is and how to be consistent in their prayer life. 

Kids can also use their personal prayer journal to record prayer requests, praises, and answered prayers. It is just amazing to see in black and white the way God has worked in their lives that is why writing down prayer requests is so important. 

A kid's prayer journal is also a great place for your child to write down Scripture verses that they are either memorizing or studying. We all know that writing something down, like a Bible verse, can help us memorize it much faster too. 

#5 Travel Journal

Does your family love to travel? Whether you are trekking across the planet or just exploring a neighboring town, travel journals are a great way for your child to jot down their experiences and memories. 

A travel journal adds an extra layer of fun to each trip your family takes because it allows your child to write down or draw the trip from their perspective. Most travel journals also let your child rate their overall experience so they can track where they liked to go and what places they didn't like as much.

Here is a great camping journal I know your kids will love! 

Journals Aren't Just For Kids!

Of course, these types of journals are not limited to just kids! Adults of any age can benefit from journaling too. Here are a few types of journals you might be interested in starting:

• Fitness Journal

• Medical journal

• Bullet Journal

• Prayer Journal

• Budget / Finance journal

• Holiday journal

• Vacation & Travel Journal

• Camping journal

One of my favorite places to find journals is on Amazon! They have a wonderful selection and I'm sure you will have no problem finding exactly what you and your child need. 

(if you are not yet an Amazon Prime member, now is a great time to join! Click here to get started!)

 

via: Amazon

10 Family-Friendly Movies To Watch on Amazon Video This Summer

Summertime is a great time to let the kids stay up a little later making for the perfect family movie nights! Winding down the day after lots of time outside can be challenging except when everyone is looking forward to a little time together watching a movie.

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks!

Movie Snacks & Drinks

Besides the fun of watching a movie, movie snacks, and drinks are also a must-have for family movie night! Popcorn is our #1 favorite family snack, but on a special family movie night, I like to grab a few boxes of candy just like you can get at the movie theater to share. 

These are our family's go-do choices for boxed candy:

• Mike & Ike
• Milk Duds
• Peanut M&M's
• Dots

Speaking of popcorn, check out my favorite popcorn recipes here:  

• World's Best Caramel Corn 
• Kettle Corn
• Gourmet Chocolate Popcorn

You will definitely want to make a batch or two before movie night - everyone will LOVE it!

Picking The Right Family Movie

Picking the right movie to watch that everyone will enjoy can be tricky! Our family has a 9-year age gap between our youngest and oldest which can make it hard to find a movie to watch all together. 

Today I'm going to share with you a list of 10 Family-Friendly movies you can stream directly from Amazon Prime Video. Most movies are free to stream however sometimes you have to pay a small rental fee to watch. Our family really enjoys the benefits of having Amazon Prime which includes Amazon Video. If you aren't a member yet you can sign up for a free 30-day trial to give it a try.

10 Family-Friendly Movies on Amazon Prime Video

G-rated movies your family will enjoy

1- MAYA THE BEE

A cute story about a little bee, Maya who chooses to go her own way and make friends with other bugs even though she has been warned not to trust other bugs. A fun, action-packed animated movie with a useful lesson for everyone to remember.

2 -  FREE WILLY

A heartwarming adventure between a troubled boy and an orca whale. Definitely, a movie everyone will enjoy watching on family movie night!

3 - THE SECRET GARDEN

This movie, based on the classic story about a little orphan girl who goes to live with her uncle in a forbidding English manor home, will soon become a family favorite. 

4 - BOLD EAGLES

Keeping the Eagles safe is a full-time job in Eagle Park especially when so many have gone missing suddenly. Eagle Park police are tasked with solving the mystery of the missing animals!

5 - BABE

This movie is about an eccentric little pig, raised by dogs to be a champion sheep herder. Full of adventure and action.

PG Rated Family Movies

6 - THE ADVENTURE OF MICKEY MATSON AND THE COPPERHEAD TREASURE

Unraveling a series of clues left behind by his grandfather, Mickey Matson, and his friends embark on a search of a mythical ancient device. The future of the country hanging in the balance, they must outrun an evil conspiracy that dates back to the Civil War.

7 - THE IRON GIANT

A young boy rescues a huge robot that has rocketed to Earth from space and tries to protect this friendly giant from a nosey government agent. 

8 - PADDINGTON

This movie had my family in stitches laughing throughout the entire film! Based on the beloved children's books, Paddington a young bear finds himself in a series of comic misadventures while trying to avoid a museum taxidermist. (Bonus - there is a second Paddington movie that is just as funny as the first!!)

9 - THE MIRACLE SEASON

Inspired by true-life drama, one girl leads her team and town to victory

10 - CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG

If you read these books to your children you know how a little red puppy grows into an enormous red dog. Follow along with Emily Elizabeth and Clifford, her big red dog through their many fun and exciting adventures. 

Tonight is the perfect night for a family movie night! Gather up your favorite throw blankets, pillows, and snacks, and get ready for a fun night chilling out together. 

What are some of your family's favorite movies? I am always looking for new flicks to add to our watchlist - please share your favorites in the comments!

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Top 10 Homeschool Supplies You Need For A Successful School Year

Whether you have been homeschooling for several years or this is your first year homeschooling there are some essential tools that will help you and your kids have a successful homeschool year. 

A popular questions I get asked is "What things/tools do I need in order to homeschool my children?" Since we are heading into our 11th year of homeschooling I decided to put together a list of my top 10 supplies and tools that help us to have a successful homeschooling year. 

I hope this list is an encouragement to you if you are just starting out on the homeschooling journey and for those who are veterans I'd love to hear what else you would add to this list! 

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page. Thanks.

On a side note, you might be wondering why I don't have curriculum on this top 10 list of tools for a successful homeschool year. Because homeschool curriculum is such a HUGE standalone topic, I decided to exclude it from this list. Instead, I chose to focus on the other great supplies and tools you need to have a successful homeschool year. So with that said let's check out my top 10! 

My Top 10 Supplies You Need For A Successful Homeschool Year

Bookshelves

Scuba gear is to scuba diver as books are to homeschooler - ESSENTIAL! My love of books has been passed down to my kids and because of our book obesssion we had to invest in some big sturdy bookcases. Aside from bathrooms and our laundry room there is a bookcase full of books in every room of our house! My husband and I invested in some good quality bookcases for our homeschool books knowing that having our school books organized and located in a central location for school was essential for our homeschool year to be successful. 

We use a mix of curriculum but a majority of our books are from our Sonlight cores. I give each book in every core a color coded label and shelve them together on one of three bookcases in our home office. I don't think it is completely necessary to have a "school room" set aside in your home but it is helpful to have a space dedicated to homeschool books. This just helps with organization!

My kids all have their own bookshelves in their bedrooms too. The books they keep in their rooms are not school books but books they like to read for leisure like the Little House on the Prairie series, the Missing Series or Dog Man books and Fly Guy books. 

I recommend investing in solid, sturdy, quality bookshelves because they will get A LOT of use over the years. Investing in bookcases that are built to last will save you in the long run especially if you have more than one child you plan to homeschool. 

Pencils & Pencil Sharpener

It might seem pretty obvious that your homeschool students will need pencils and a good quality pencil sharpener but because they are so important I had to include them on the top 10 list. 

My kids LOVE to pick their own pencils out each year, which has become one of our back to school traditions. My oldest daughter prefers mechanical pencils and a good supply of extra leads. Everyone in our house knows that the mechanical pencils are hers and they better ask before using them. The other kids enjoy the "old school" #2 pencils. I try to get a few packs of decorated pencils too just to keep things fun. 

We always know when our school year is coming to a close because the pencil bin seems to be full of stubby, eraser-less pencils. My recommendation is to buy several extra packs of pencils at the beginning of the year when you can find great back-to-school deals and then toss out the used up stubby ones at the end of the year. 

With all of the pencils your kids will use this year you will of course want to have a good working, quality pencil sharpener. Electric or manual doesn't matter as long as the sharpener can do its job sharpening pencils to a fine point without breaking the lead in the process. My kids prefer an electric pencil sharpener - my favorite is the Wescott Halo, however I do have a small Mr. Pen handheld manual sharpener too as a back up or to take along if we do school on the go. 

Arts & Crafts Supplies

Sure this is a very broad top 10 item, but in our house arts and craft supplies are very important. Whether you are going to teach an art class to your kids or just allow them to explore on their own, having the supplies available up front will make your life so much easier. 

Here are some of the basic art supplies we keep on hand all year round that you might want to consider stocking up on prior to the start of your homeschool year (links to my favorites included):

1. Acrylic paint, watercolor paint, finger paint & brushes

2. Glue - liquid, sticks and hot glue sticks

3. Construction Paper

4. Colored pencils, markers and crayons

5. Ink pads & stamps

6. Yarn, knitting needles & crochet hooks

7. Sewing needles, scrap fabric & thread

8. Scissors - small, large, scalloped/decorative

9. Perler beads, pony beads and rainbow loom rubber bands

10. Pipe cleaners

My favorite art book that I've used in our homeschool over the years is How to Teach Art To Children. It is written for kids in grades 1-6 however, older middle school students will still enjoy it too. The book presents the seven basic elements of art and encourages kids practice each element. The book has simple projects that any parent can guide their children through with easy to make projects for each lesson. 

Storage Caddy

With all of the pencils, art supplies, scissors and other school supplies it is helpful to have a storage caddy to put these supplies in.

During our school day I usually take the pencil caddy out and put it on the table so that the kids can easily find their favorite pencil. When we do an art project I haul out the art caddy and paint bin. Having your supplies in a caddy that is organized can save you time during the school day and make clean up so much faster. 

Looking for a simple DIY supply caddy? This is a fun project for your kids to do on the first day of homeschool! To make your own caddy, wash out and pull off the labels to 4 tin cans. Wrap a piece of decorative paper or ribbon around a tin can and secure it with glue or tape to give it a little pizzazz! Hot glue or super glue the tin cans together. 

Notebooks & Paper

Having an ample supply of loose leaf paper, printer paper and lined notebooks is essential for any homeschool. All of my kids have several notebooks that they use regularly during their school day. 

I've found that if the paper is available kids enjoy filling up the pages! Let them have the freedom to write creative stories, make doodles, create lists, write essays or personal journal entries in these notebooks. Kids should be writing every day. Writing is a learned skill so practice is essential for them to do regularly.  

Three Ring Binder

Three ring binders help me keep all the loose paper, art projects and endless other things organized and in one place. I give each of the kids a new three ring binder on the first day of school. They love making their own custom binder cover to slip inside the clear plastic cover slot too! My high school age kids keep their weekly schedule in the binder so they can write down what they worked on each day and include any papers they are currently working on in the binder too. 

Without a three ring binder all of their assignments, writing and schedules would be lost or missing by the time we made it to Thanksgiving! 

Library Card

If you ask any veteran homeschool mom what you need in order to homeschool your kids (K-6/7th grade) I can almost guarantee their response will be "a library card and a good math book." It might sound a bit crazy for some if you have never homeschooled before but I can tell you from experience that this statement is true. 

Your local library is a treasure trove for your homeschool student! The key is getting the right books in your child's hands and reading them. If you aren't quite sure what a "good" book is I highly recommend using the book lists from Sonlight. Sonlight is a homeschool curriculum company known for their amazing selection of literature (living books) in their cores. We are a Sonlight family and have found the readers and read aloud lists to be so full of good quality classic and modern books. 

During the school year I also allow my kids to check out a few "junk" books which in our house a junk book is like junk food - fun to read but provides very little educational value. 

 

Our local library allows every card holder to check out a maximum of 25 books at a time. We regularly max out this limit (per card!) and seem to always have a bunch of books on hold too. Toting around all those books is a big job so I highly recommend a BIG quality tote bag to use when you make your weekly trips to the library!

Cozy Reading Space

Reading, if you haven't already figured this out yet, is a BIG part of homeschooling! Why not work with your child to create a special reading space that is welcoming, cozy and all theirs. 

My oldest son created a space in the corner of his bedroom using a bed rest reading pillow, a clip on book light and his favorite fleece blanket. Most mornings before he comes down stairs for breakfast, he can be found cuddled in his reading nook reading a book. 

When my second oldest daughter was younger we created a reading space for her by hanging a round bed canopy from the ceiling in her room. We accessorized the inside of the canopy with a small, fluffy rug and some pillows. She spent hours in her little reading canopy reading, doing school work or playing.

   

Planner / Organizer

If this is your first year homeschooling I highly recommend that before you start the school year you have some sort of plan in place. This doesn't have to be complicated but it will help give your homeschool year a little structure which I guarantee will help you feel a little more in control. 

Not sure how to start, let me explain my process which might help you with your planning. Each summer I pick a few days to go through each of my kids main school books by subject noting how many chapters or units each subject contains. A typical school year has 36 weeks so I then divide the number of weeks in a school year by the number of chapters or lessons from each of the books to get an idea as to how many weeks each lesson should take. 

I use Excel or Google Sheets to record my planning for the upcoming homeschool year. The first column of the spreadsheet is a list of numbers from 1 to 36. In the next column I add a list of dates for the school year including holiday weeks. Then the following columns after the date column are a list of each subject my child will study with their lessons allocated over the school year weeks. For example, if a math book has 16 lessons I estimate that each lesson will take 2 weeks for my child to start and finish it. On the spreadsheet I allocate each chapter over two weeks. Of course there is a LOT of flexibility in this and I do expect there to be changes but this is just a tool to help me get started and have a plan so I can make sure we are on track. Here is an example of what my planning spreadsheet looks like:

There are TONS of pre-made homeschool planners and organizers available online so you don't have to make your own if you don't have time to! If you are a highly organized mamma who loves each and every activity, lesson and assignment planned and organized I'm sure you will love some of the options available. I recommend the homeschool planner 

  

Outdoor Space 

Kids of all ages need to spend time outside EVERY DAY. Speaking from experience, our homeschool day is better when my kids have spent some time outside in the fresh air every day. No matter the weather (except for thunderstorms or other dangerous weather conditions), my kids know that they are required to spend time each day outside. A lot of times they play together shooting baskets or playing a game but sometimes they just like to bring a book outside, sit in a camping chair and read. 

A change of scenery in the middle of the school day can help them (and you) clear their head, get their blood pumping from a little out door activity and help your little ones get the wiggles out! On many occasions my kids ask if we can do school at a park or beach - why not, this is one of the great benefits of homeschooling! I encourage you to get creative and find some great outdoor spaces to visit or even do school at during your homeschool year. 

 

What tools or supplies would you consider essential for your family's homeschool? If I missed any - please share in the comment section! 

More Homeschooling Help

Looking for more help with your homeschool? Check out the following posts to help you become a successful homeschooler. 

A Look At Our Daily Homeschool Schedule

10 of the Best Books For Children Ages 8 - 13

Homeschooling Tips For The Beginner

If you are considering homeschooling your child this fall you might be wondering where to start. Not knowing where to even start can create a lot of anxiety and doubts about your ability to properly education your own children from home. Let me reassure you that this is possible and that you and your children can have a successful homeschool experience. 

This post contains affiliate links which means if you click on a link and make a purchase I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. For more information please see my Disclaimer page.

Where Do I Begin If I Want To Homeschool My Child?

For many parents the thought of homeschooling is completely overwhelming because they don't know where to start. Their minds are bombarded with questions like "

• what curriculum do I buy? 
• what do I tell their old district? 
• how do I teach math when I am bad at math?
• how long should our school day be?

How To Communicate Your Plans To Homeschool?

Today I want to suggest a simple plan to get you started on the right path to your family's homeschool journey. 

The first issue to address is how to communicate your family's plans to homeschool your children. Breaking this news to grandparents, relatives and friends is important since their encouragement and support can be a big part of your homeschool journey. You may experience a little push back from your extended family due to their geniune concern for your children's well being, but reassuring them that your decision was made carefully and with lots of prayer and thought can help ease their fears. 

Communicating your plans to homeschool your children to your local school district will be different for everyone based on the state you live in. I highly recommend visiting the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) website to consult with them regarding the proper and legal way to communicate with the school district. Each State has different laws with regards to homeschooling and you will want to make sure your homeschool is operating within your State's guidelines. 

What Subjects To Teach In Your Homeschool?

The next step in your homeschooling journey is to start figuring out what your children will learn this year. Again, you should check your State's laws to make sure your homeschool is in compliance with your State's guidelines and laws. For example, in that State I reside instruction for children ages 6 - 18 must include math, reading, English, science, and social studies. In a student's high school years instruction must also include a study of the Constitution of the United States and our State and the history and present form of civil government of the United States and our State.

HSLDA.org is a great source and place to start to find the answers to the question about required subjects to teach to your homeschool student. Their site has links to State requirements, laws and other useful links to help you get started. 

When I first started homeschooling I remember wondering what topics should a child learn in each grade. I knew for example, that I had to teach grammar/language arts every year but I wasn't quite sure what sequence I should teach it in. Maybe you have the same question? I found out that every school district decides the sequence of when material is taught therefore there will be some differences as to the timing of when kids learn certain things. For example, some schools might teach kids about world history in 3rd grade but in a different state students might be taught American history in 3rd grade.

The face that there is flexibility in deciding what topics to teach for each subject was a great relief to me. This allowed me to pick and choose what we were going to study based on my kids interests and passions which made homeschooling so much fun. 

Some quick searches online can help you get a broad sense of what kids typically learn in each grade. Remember this is a rough guideline - you don't have to follow it to a T. 

What Curriculum Do I Use For Homeschooling?

Once you know what subjects you have to teach your children it is time to decide what materials you want to use. A big factor to consider when looking for the right curriculum is your budget! Many veteran homeschoolers will tell you that for elementary age children, kindergarten through 4th/5th grade all you need is a library card and a good math book. This might sound a little strange but in reality the library is a wonderful source for reading, science, socials studies, art and much more! 

During my children's elementary school years we spent countless hours in the library. They learned so much from the books we checked out from the library that there is no way I could ever put a price on it. Our local library has been invaluable to our homeschooling journey - and not to mention my wallet!

For young children (pre school - 5th grade) the need for a full curriculum is not even necessary! Young children learn best though play, games, field trips and being read to. Reading aloud to your children is the MOST IMPORTANT thing you can do for them in your homeschool. Keep seat work and worksheets to a minimum so they have a ton of time to explore their world using all of their senses.

The options available for homeschool curriculum are endless and overwhelming! To try and simplify this a little bit for you I thought I would present some ideas to get you started on your search for what to use!

1 - All In One Curriculum Package: 

Several homeschool curriculum companies like Sonlight or Abeka provide you with the option to buy a fully packaged product. What this means is that your main subjects like history, Bible, reading, read alouds, grammar, science and math are all packaged together so when you buy it you get everything you need in one shot. 

Pros - 

• less work for you in picking books and putting together a full curriculum
• subjects are all at the same grade level
• usually the publisher has a daily guide to help you plan your school days and year

Cons -

• can be very expensive
• student may be ahead/behind for the level of subjects included

2 - Online Curriculum: 

Many companies publish hard copy printed curriculum also have an online option using their curriculum taught by a certified teacher. 

Pros - 

• all the curriculum in one place
• parents involvement is reduced
• students gain experience with online classes and have connection to a teacher and other students

Cons - 

• expensive option 
• too much screen time
• lacks flexibility to make changes to classes/curriculum if student or parents don't like it

3 - Piecing Together a Variety of Curriculum:

Homeschoolers who use this style of curriculum piece together subjects from a variety of publishing companies. For example in our homeschool we use Sonlight for reading, history and Bible; Math U See for math; Apologia for Science and Abeka for grammar, spelling and language arts.

Pros - 

• allows parents to customize subjects to students interests and grade level
• flexibility to change from one curriculum publisher to another easily 
• more cost effective due to ability to buy used or borrow from friends

Cons -

• can be a lot of work for parents to gather / order materials

At this point you might be wondering where to even find homeschool curriculum. Fortunately homeschooling has really grown in popularity over the years and so finding the right curriculum is not too hard. Here are some of the places I use to find new or used homeschool curriculum and books:

1. Christianbook.com

2. Homeschoolclassifieds

3. Abeka.com

4. Sonlight.com

5. Amazon

6. Ebay

7. Rainbow Resources Center

8. Apologia.com

9. Facebook Marketplace Buy/Sell

10. The Homeschool Building

Where In My Home Do I Homeschool?

This might sound like a strange topic but if you are new to homeschooling it is a very real question. Actually I get this question all the time from people who have never homeschooled before. They are just curious what homeschooling looks like. For most, their schooling took place in a public or private school so that is all they have to draw upon. 

I've learned over the years that trying to create a formal public school environment in my homeschool is a recipe for disaster. It just doesn't work. Do you know anyone who loves to sit in a desk

What I can tell you is that every homeschool looks different! Again, this is just another beautiful thing about homeschooling. Honestly, homeschooling looks different for each of my kids too. Since they are all unique individuals, their homeschooling can be unique to fit their needs. Here is what our homeschool looks like for each of my kids: 

11th grader - My oldest is a morning person through and through. Her school days typically start around 7 am. She chooses to spend most of her days either at the kitchen table or at the desk in our office for a majority of her subjects. When she is reading however she likes to snuggle up on her bed where it is quiet and peaceful. Some of her classes are online so of course these classes are done on the computer. 

9th grader - This child loves to sleep so her days usually start around 8:30/9:00. Most days she wakes up, grabs one of her books (probably off the floor!) and reads for a little while. After she gets ready for the day she spends half of her school day studying in her bedroom and half in the living room on the couch. Art class is done at the kitchen table though! 

6th grader - As a middle schooler my son loves to do his school work while on the couch. If he is distracted and having a hard time focusing I find a little more formal environment like the kitchen table helps him stay on task. If he is reading a chapter book his favorite place is either in his bed or a small reading nook in his bedroom. He loves reading and can get lost in it so I do have to give him a time limit so he can make sure to complete other work that needs to get done that day. 

2nd grader - My youngest loves to snuggle with me or any of his older siblings. He loves to practice reading on one of our large recliners where he sits right next to me so I can help point out where he is reading in the book. He prefers to do any writing assignment or math at the kitchen table though. I think this makes him feel like one of the "big kids". 

I read aloud to all of my kids every day. They all love good stories and so do I. We have a few guidelines for the kids when I am reading to them so that distractions are kept to a minimum. The kids are allowed to do a quiet activity like pearler beading, rainbow looming, eating breakfast/lunch, doodling or coloring while I read aloud. They are not allowed on any electronic devices or allowed to play any games though since that can be very disruptive. Most of the time I sit on the couch and they sit next to me listening to the story. It is a very precious time for all!

If you aren't sure where in your home to do your homeschooling time here are some questions you might want to ask yourself:

• What type of environment does your child do well in?
• Where do they like to go when you read to them or they read to themselves? 
• How long is your child's attention span? 

Take a look around your house to look for the answers to these questions. Don't worry about not having an official homeschool classroom. Your whole house, inside and outside is your homeschooling classroom. Take advantage of the variety of spaces and see what your child likes best. 

I hope this information has been helpful to you as you begin this exciting new homeschool journey. What questions to you have about starting to homeschool your child? I'd love to share more of our journey and hopefully provide useful tips! Leave me a comment if you have any questions or concerns. 

Don't Forget to Check This Out Too!

Check out this post to see an example of a Homeschool Daily Schedule including tips to help you with one too. Remember there is always flexibility in our daily schedule so no need to stress over it!

Having a hard time finding good read aloud books for your elementary age children? I've put together a list of the top 10 books you should consider reading to your children. Take the work out of digging and read this post today.