7 Homeschooling Bad Habits To Break (and what to do instead!)

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As a homeschool family, I will be the first to tell you that educating your children at home is a rewarding experience. It has allowed our family to create a custom education that is tailored to each of our children’s unique needs, experiences, and desires.

Yet, I should also tell you that there are some homeschooling bad habits that you need to be on the lookout for because they will sabotage your efforts and steal your joy in no time flat.

Today, we are going to take a look at 7 of the most common homeschooling bad habits in the world of homeschooling and how you can overcome these once and for all!

What Are Some Common Homeschooling Pitfalls?

Whether you are a veteran homeschooler or someone who is preparing to start homeschooling, these 7 bad habits in homeschooling are at the top of the list of homeschooling pitfalls.

Sometimes they happen overnight… an over-zealous mom who just loves a good detailed plan and keeping up with the homeschooling Jones’.

Sometimes these homeschooling bad habits creep in over time as you let your guard down, interact with other families, and follow one too many homeschool experts.

And sometimes, we let bad habits in homeschooling mingle in with the great ideas and goals we have. They were supposed to be a good thing, and they were. For a while. Until they weren’t.

Either way, my friend, we’ve all been there as homeschooling bad habits suck the joy and freedom out of our homeschools.

So no shame here. Just a list of the 7 most common bad habits in homeschooling and the best ways you can overcome them!

7 Homeschooling Bad Habits To Break

#1 – Trying To Do School At Home

I’m not shy about the fact that this one, the homeschool bad habit I’m placing squarely in the #1 spot, nearly destroyed our homeschool.

What am I referring to? Trying to be just like the public school.

You know what I mean… with your lists and charts and schedules you energetically declare recess and lunch and 1st period neatly defined at 8:15 – 9:00. All the while your child still has questions, wants to keep playing, or wonders if they need to raise their hand to use the restroom.

Mama, I know you mean well. I really do. And yes, children and homes need structure and routine and even homeschool systems, but… homeschooling also means embracing a bit of chaos and letting go of that overly coordinated planner just a bit so you and your child are free to learn with a bit more freedom!

>>> Need a relaxed homeschool planner? I’ve got you covered, my friend, right here!

#2 – Boxing Your Child In With A Grade Level

I know… all of your favorite curricula use grade levels.

And your parents and neighbors and even that lady who looks down at homeschoolers are all anxiously waiting to find out how little Suzie is doing in the 2nd grade… but let me let you in on a little secret – grade levels were designed for the public school system!

In our home, I do refer to my children by their public school “grade level” because it keeps things simple. In reality, we are all over the place as we work hard to meet our children where they are, follow their curiosity, and even try to include a few important things like those pesky math facts and important history dates. 😉

This means that we’ve had children learning to read “late” (by public school standards) and others writing detailed and in-depth stories well above “grade level”.

As an early homeschooler, this scared me. I was so worried when one of my children still wasn’t reading fluently in kindergarten. Kindergarten?! And I fretted when one of the kids was still wrestling with multiplication at the end of 3rd grade.

Let me tell you, my friend, I wasted a lot of time and energy on worry! Countless hours were spent researching tips to help a struggling reader, how to teach math facts, and educational methods around the world.

Today, as a veteran homeschooler, I’m not wasting time stressing about whether my child is “behind” or not because the years have taught me that we all progress independently and that’s OK. Some children need more time, others need less, and some fall right in that Goldilocks middle.

So, yes, feel free to call your 10-year-old a 5th grader, but truly, if they need 3rd-grade math but are ready for middle school history and science, go for it!

>>> Worried your child will fall “behind” as a homeschooler? Let’s chat about that!

#3 – Ignore Your Child’s Unique Learning Style

While there are 3 main learning styles, your child is going to prefer one method over the others.

And there’s a fair chance if you are homeschooling more than one child, that they may not have the same preference.

Rather than forcing the proverbial square peg into that round hole, instead, find ways to teach your child in the way they learn best.

This may mean that you have to find a new online homeschool math program even though you love your current book-based one.

It may mean trying a fun Language Arts course instead of the formal one your friend recommended.

It may even mean adapting the curriculum to fit the needs of your homeschool.

Go for it! I promise it’s worth it. Sure, curriculum shopping can be challenging, and it may even mean learning how to navigate a mid-year curriculum swap, but ignoring your child’s preferred learning method can be detrimental to your homeschool.

>>> Get started learning about learning styles here.

#4 – Putting Academics Above Relationship

I know you mean well, mama, but when your child is struggling it’s not the time to double down on studying and testing.

So much of homeschooling is learning to build a relationship with your child, guide them, and pause when character lessons need to be taught.

It’s sliding the spelling list to the side when your child is in tears over silent letters or forgetting one of the many exceptions to the rules.

It’s skipping math when the weather is nice and you all need to get outside.

It’s pausing to read the room when you can see that the family strain is weighing on your children a bit too heavily.

And it’s hugging your children when the world’s reality becomes too much for them to bear.

Yes, math facts and history dates are important. Reading good books and learning how to write are both crucial to their futures, but I can assure you that a pause now to simply spend time with your kids and find out what’s truly going on, is worth its weight in gold.

Your children, and your future self, will thank you.

>>> Want a fantastic way to spend time with your kids and build your relationship? Try these!

#5 – Forgetting To Count Life Lessons Towards School

Unless you were homeschooled yourself, chances are you probably think of learning in terms of neatly organized subjects divided by class and time.

In homeschooling though, your entire day is part of the lesson.

Making breakfast can be counted as home ec, math, science, or life skills.

Shoveling snow or mowing the grass is an easy way to log some P.E. time.

And reading a book can cover Language Arts and History, humanities, and even science or math! Actually, you can easily homeschool with books rather than depending on textbooks (a concept that many homeschoolers love to utilize!).

Working on automotive repairs with Dad? Helping the neighbor? Volunteering at church? Babysitting siblings? These can all be counted towards your homeschooling requirements.

Will this replace memorizing math facts or understanding how to properly use punctuation? No, it won’t. These, along with many other traditional lessons, are vital when considering education.

However, life skills, hands-on learning, trades, and the like are as well. Be sure to count them when it comes time to report.

#6 – Getting Bogged Down By Reporting Requirements & Testing

Depending on where you live, you may have minimal reporting requirements.

Likewise, depending on where you live, you have hoops upon hoops all wrapped up in bureaucratic red tape. (A tad dramatic? Perhaps… perhaps not. 😎)

Now, I am not a lawyer or legal scholar (nor do I pretend to be one) but I do know that there are experts in your area who can show you just how to get your 1,000 hours or 180 days or make sure you take the right standardized test for reporting.

But I am a homeschooler, with two graduates behind me, and I know that oftentimes the requirements seem bigger than they are.

As long as you are honest in tracking your hours and giving the tests, there are many ways you can legally and morally meet the requirements for your location while fully embracing the unique learning style we call homeschooling.

>>> Need help connecting with homeschoolers in your area? Check out this list of Facebook groups for homeschoolers!

#7 – Comparing Your Homeschool To Anyone

And I do mean, anyone else.

Comparison is the thief of my joy, my friend, and this homeschooling bad habit will have you tossing and turning all night long as you stress, fret, and worry.

Remember, you began homeschooling for a purpose… and I doubt that it was to be just like the homeschool family at church or your favorite homeschool blogger.

Remember that ‘why’ my friend. Harness it, recall it, and even post it where you can see it.

And then, use your why to keep you going through the good and the challenging seasons of homeschooling (because I can assure you, there will be both, my friend! Sometimes homeschooling is hard and your why will help keep you going.)

>>> Need help staying focused on why you homeschool? Grab this free Homeschool Mission Statement Planner!

(BONUS) #8 – Failing to Deschool

This one is one I failed to myself, and as a result our homeschool suffered greatly.

Looking back, I can see how jumping from public school right to homeschool was the wrong choice all the way around. We did not get the opportunity to adjust, and, as a product of the public school system myself, just began to do school at home rather than homeschooling.

And the difference nearly broke us.

So if you are transitioning from public or private schooling, I urge you to skip this homeschooling bad habit, and instead, take some time to deschool.

>>> Click here to check out my fill list of tips for deschooling to help you on your homeschool journey!

How Can I Overcome These Homeschooling Bad Habits?

So, not that you have your homeschooling bad habits, the big questions is how to do you overcome them?

Start by:

Using a relaxed homeschool planner that’s as flexibile as your homeschool. One that’s big enough to manage your home & homeschool, record, track, and dream with. A planner that’s made for homeschool mamas by a homeschool mama.
Buy and use homeschool resources that meet your child right where they are (at this very moment) regardless of the “grade level” on the front.
Customize your child’s homeschool journey by leaving room for questions, curiosoity, and changing interests. Give your child space to take longer, move quicker, and even detour or pivot along the educational path.
Make sure you put home before homeschool every time. When in doubt, be their mama first.
Give your child credit for the lessons not only the lesson plan. Record playing outside, time cooking together, and even venturing to the beach or park.
Don’t let requirements and reporting zap the joy. Be accurate in your reporting and seek out fellow homeschool mamas in your area to help.
Put on your blinders, my friend, and remember that your homeschool journey won’t look like anyone else’s.

Bad habits in homeschooling don’t have to steal your joy. While they may try to sabotage our efforts, you are now ready to tackle them all and find the homeschool rhythm that work best for you.

Looking For More Homeschool Help?

Be sure to check out these posts!

7 Homeschooling Bad Habits To Break (and what to do instead!)

What Are Some Common Homeschooling Pitfalls?