For the past few years, we’ve integrated homeschooling into our family life, and I’d like to share our experience with you. First and foremost, let’s be clear: homeschooling, or education at home, isn’t for everyone, and that’s perfectly okay! Every family is unique, and what works for us might not suit others.
For us, the key ingredient to successful homeschooling is a motivated and available mom. My wife is fully involved in our children’s home education, and it makes all the difference.
We have two wonderful children: our 8-year-old daughter and our 3-year-old son. The central idea of our approach is to follow our children’s enthusiasm. When they show interest in a particular subject, we create an entire little universe around it: books, games, educational activities… It’s incredible to see how much better they learn when they’re passionate.
We’re often asked, “But what about your children’s socialization?” Good question! Homeschooling doesn’t mean staying cooped up at home all day. Our children have many extracurricular activities outside where they interact with other kids.
We’ve opted for a graduated and hybrid system between an alternative school and homeschooling. This structure is a kind of school without classes or grades, bringing together barely twenty students of different ages. Our 8-year-old daughter goes there two days a week. During these days, she focuses on French, general culture, and most importantly, plays with her friends. She also participates in gymnastics classes at a club, which she loves. The rest of the week, she studies at home: sometimes via online courses, sometimes alone, sometimes with her mom by her side.
Our 3-year-old son attends the same “school.” He spends his time there playing and socializing, which is ideal for his age. We believe this setup allows him to fully enjoy his childhood while benefiting from early learning.
This hybrid approach offers us the best of both worlds. Our children benefit from the social interaction and structure provided by the alternative school and extracurricular activities, while enjoying personalized education at home that follows their interests and rhythms.
If you’re considering homeschooling, remember that it’s about finding the balance that best suits your family’s needs. And if it’s not the right choice for you? That’s completely acceptable! Every educational journey is unique, and there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.
