What is Homeschooling? Your Complete Introduction to Home Education

If you’re exploring educational options for your family, you’ve probably heard about homeschooling. But what exactly does it mean to homeschool? Is it school at home? Is it legal? Does it actually work?

This guide will give you a complete introduction to what homeschooling is, how it works, and why it’s become an increasingly popular choice for families across the country and around the world.

Defining Homeschooling

At its core, homeschooling is parent-directed education. Instead of sending children to a public or private school for 6-8 hours daily, parents take responsibility for their children’s education, whether that means teaching them themselves, facilitating learning through experiences and resources, or some combination of both.

Homeschooling is not one thing. It’s an umbrella term covering a wide range of educational approaches, from school-at-home with textbooks and schedules to unschooling with no formal curriculum at all. What all homeschoolers share is the conviction that parents are best positioned to make educational decisions for their children.

A Brief History of Homeschooling

The Early Days

For most of human history, children learned at home. Parents, extended family, and community members taught children the skills they needed to know-farming, crafts, household management, and eventually reading and mathematics for those who had access to books and education.

The Rise of Compulsory Schooling

Compulsory school attendance became common in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By 1918, every state had laws requiring children to attend school. For most of the 20th century, homeschooling was rare and often legally questionable.

The Modern Homeschooling Movement

The modern homeschooling movement began in the 1970s, driven by:

  • Educational reformers like John Holt, who championed nurturing children’s natural curiosity
  • Religious families wanting to integrate faith into their children’s education
  • Parents of children with special needs seeking personalized learning approaches

Homeschooling Today

Today, the National Home Education Research Institute estimates that 3-4 million students are homeschooled in the United States alone - and the number grows every year. Homeschooling is also growing rapidly in other countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and beyond.

What Does Homeschooling Look Like?

One of the most confusing things about homeschooling is that it looks different for every family. Let’s explore some common approaches.

School-at-Home

These families replicate school at home:

  • Structured schedule: Specific times for subjects
  • Textbooks and workbooks: Similar to what schools use
  • Grades and tests: Measuring progress formally
  • Dedicated school space: A classroom or school area

This approach feels familiar to parents who attended traditional school and provides clear structure and measurable progress.

Eclectic Homeschooling

Most homeschoolers fall into this category-they pick and choose from different approaches:

  • Math curriculum from one publisher
  • Language arts from another
  • Science through hands-on projects
  • History through living books and documentaries
  • Music lessons, sports, and activities outside the home

Eclectic homeschoolers customize their approach to each child’s needs and interests.

Unschooling

Unschooling families believe that children learn naturally through life experiences rather than formal academics:

  • No forced lessons or curriculum
  • Learning follows the child’s interests
  • Parents facilitate rather than teach
  • The world is the classroom

This child-led approach trusts that children are born learners and will learn what they need when they need it.

Unit Studies

These families learn through thematic units that integrate multiple subjects:

  • Study Ancient Rome through history, literature, art, science, and math simultaneously
  • Spend a month on “oceans”-marine biology, geography of oceans, literature about the sea, mathematical concepts of tides and waves
  • Follow an interest deep and wide

This integrated approach helps children see connections between subjects rather than experiencing them as separate, unrelated subjects.

Classical Education

Based on the medieval “trivium,” classical education follows three stages:

  • Grammar stage (elementary): Foundation of knowledge-facts, memorization, language skills
  • Logic stage (middle school): Understanding relationships, cause and effect, argument
  • Rhetoric stage (high school): Expression, persuasion, communication

This time-tested approach emphasizes critical thinking, great books, and strong writing skills.

Online and Virtual Schools

Many families use online programs that provide:

  • Complete curriculum
  • Teacher support (sometimes)
  • Structure and accountability
  • Flexibility of location

These range from complete virtual academies to individual online courses supplementing home instruction.

Why Do Families Choose Homeschooling?

Families choose homeschooling for many reasons, often a combination of several:

Academic Reasons

  • Individualized pace: Learn at the pace that works for each child
  • Learning style match: Teach in the way each child learns best
  • Advanced learners: Provide appropriate challenge and depth
  • Personalized attention: Focus on mastery before moving forward
  • Customized curriculum: Choose materials and methods that fit your family

Social and Emotional Reasons

  • Confidence building: Develop internal validation and self-assurance
  • Positive social environments: Choose communities and activities that align with your values
  • Special needs: Provide personalized support for unique learning needs
  • Emotional well-being: Create a nurturing environment tailored to your child
  • Strong relationships: Build deep connections with family and community

Family and Lifestyle Reasons

  • Family time: More time together, less apart
  • Shared values: Integrating faith or values into education
  • Flexibility: Travel, sports, arts, medical needs, irregular schedules
  • Geographic freedom: Can live anywhere and homeschool
  • Relationship building: Strengthening family bonds

Educational Philosophy

  • Personalized approach: Tailor education to each child’s unique path
  • Freedom to choose: Select curriculum, schedule, and educational methods
  • Flexibility: Adapt quickly to what’s working and what isn’t
  • Holistic growth: Focus on the whole child-academic, emotional, and character development

Most families have many, many reasons for homeschooling. And often, reasons evolve - the original motivation may be different from why they continue homeschooling years later.

Homeschooling is legal in many countries around the world, including all of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. However, requirements and regulations vary significantly by location.

What This Means for You

Before starting your homeschooling journey, it’s essential to:

  • Research your local laws and requirements
  • Understand what documentation, if any, you need to provide
  • Learn about any testing or evaluation requirements in your area
  • Connect with local homeschool organizations who can provide guidance

Where to Find Information

  • Local homeschool organizations and support groups often have the most up-to-date information
  • Government education websites for your state, province, or country
  • Homeschool legal advocacy organizations in your region

Take responsibility for understanding the requirements that apply to your situation. Laws change, and requirements can vary even within countries-states, provinces, and regions may have different rules.

Do Parents Need Teaching Credentials?

In most places, no. Many regions allow parents to homeschool without teaching certification. Research shows that homeschool outcomes aren’t strongly related to parent education level. The key factors for successful homeschooling are commitment, facilitation, and support rather than formal teaching credentials.

Check your local requirements to understand what qualifications, if any, are needed in your area.

Why? Because homeschooling is less about teaching expertise and more about:

  • Facilitation: Finding resources and opportunities
  • Support: Answering questions and providing guidance
  • Relationship: Understanding your child and how they learn
  • Commitment: Caring deeply about your child’s education

Parents learn alongside their children. And for subjects where parents feel inadequate, there are co-ops, online courses, tutors, community college classes, and endless resources.

What About Socialization?

This is the most common question about homeschooling. The short answer: Homeschoolers socialize differently, not less.

School Socialization

In school, children spend 6+ hours daily with same-age peers. This provides:

  • Plenty of peer interaction
  • Consistent daily social contact
  • Structured social environments

Homeschool Socialization

Homeschooled children socialize through:

  • Homeschool groups and co-ops: Regular activities with other homeschoolers
  • Sports teams: Community sports, homeschool leagues
  • Activities: Music lessons, art classes, scouts
  • Volunteer work: Community service
  • Jobs and internships: Real-world responsibility
  • Neighborhood friends: Playing with local children
  • Family gatherings: Interacting with all ages
  • Everyday life: Shops, librarians, service providers, neighbors

What Research Shows

Study after study finds that homeschoolers are well-socialized, scoring higher on measures of social skills, self-esteem, and leadership. They’re comfortable interacting with people of all ages, not just peers.

The Benefits of Homeschooling

Research has documented numerous benefits:

Academic Benefits

  • Higher test scores: 15-30 percentile points above average
  • Efficient learning: Accomplishes more in less time
  • Individualized pace: Each child progresses at their ideal speed
  • Real-world learning: Learning happens everywhere, not just at a desk

Emotional Benefits

  • Emotional well-being: Develop confidence and self-awareness
  • Stronger family bonds: More time together, better relationships
  • Positive environment: Nurture emotional growth in a supportive setting
  • Self-directed learning: Build autonomy and decision-making skills

Practical Benefits

  • Flexible schedule: Live life on your terms
  • Travel opportunities: Learn on the road
  • Pursue interests deeply: Follow passions wherever they lead
  • Life skills: Learn through real responsibilities

The Challenges of Homeschooling

Homeschooling isn’t perfect. It has real challenges:

Parental Commitment

  • Time investment: Planning, teaching, facilitating, documenting
  • Emotional energy: Being together all day, managing conflicts
  • Responsibility: You’re ultimately responsible for outcomes

Lifestyle Adjustments

  • Single income: Many families reduce work hours or have one parent stay home
  • Home organization: Living and learning in the same space
  • Finding community: Intentional effort to build social network

Self-Doubt

  • Am I doing enough?: Constant questioning
  • Am I doing it right?: No clear standard
  • What if I fail?: Fear of messing up

But most homeschool families find that the benefits far outweigh the challenges.

Is Homeschooling Right for You?

Only you can answer this question. Consider:

Your Family Situation

  • Work: Can you manage homeschool with your work demands?
  • Finances: Can you manage potential income reduction?
  • Support: Do you have a supportive partner and community?
  • Space: Can you create a learning-friendly environment?

Your Children

  • Learning styles: Would they benefit from individualization?
  • Temperament: Do they thrive with more freedom or need more structure?
  • Needs: Do they have special needs that schools aren’t meeting?
  • Feelings: What do they want? (Children’s input matters)

Your Values

  • What matters most to you in education and childhood?
  • What trade-offs are you willing to make?
  • What outcomes are most important?

Getting Started

If you’re considering homeschooling:

  1. Research the homeschooling laws in your area-contact local homeschool organizations or check government education websites
  2. Connect with local homeschoolers for support and information about your region
  3. Read books about homeschooling approaches
  4. Start small-you can always adjust
  5. Document your journey with a homeschool tracker app

The Bottom Line

Homeschooling is parent-directed education. In many places around the world, it’s a viable and successful educational choice that millions of families use. It looks different for every family because every family is different.

There’s no one right way to educate children. Public school, private school, homeschooling-each has benefits and challenges. The question isn’t which is objectively best-it’s what’s best for your family, your children, your situation.

If you’re exploring homeschooling, you’re in good company. Families from every background, around the world, with every imaginable approach are successfully homeschooling their children. You can too.

Curious about homeschooling? Homeschooly makes it simple to get started with tracking, documentation, and portfolios-so you can focus on learning together.