The Busy Family’s Guide to Homeschooling with a Dog

I’m sure you’ve heard about homeschooling as an alternative to traditional schooling, but did you know it can be done with your family pet? Of course, there are some caveats that are important to know before you start Boys and a Dog homemaking homeschooling tips for busy folks with your dog. Let’s take a look at how easy it can be!

Why I Started

When I started my own homeschool for my 3 boys, I knew there was something missing. There were no resources out there dedicated to homeschooling parents like me. The books and advice were almost exclusively tailored toward traditional families. I discovered that most of us who are homeschooling our kids are doing it because we want them to have an awesome, unique childhood experience. We love our kids fiercely and don’t want anything holding them back from real experiences! Because of that, we’re not going to be held back either! We live very busy lives but still manage to make room for fun adventures, field trips, play dates and lots of cuddle time together at home too. Life is meant to be lived fully and enjoyed immensely!

Where They Are Now

The last time I homeschooled, my kids were quite young. Now that they’re older and my youngest has completed high school, there are fewer reasons for us to homeschool than there were when I was their age. But it turns out that some of those benefits—like easy days filled with playtime, family interaction, and arts and crafts projects—are just as important at any age. The trick is finding ways to homeschool while still making sure your kids get enough time outside of lessons. Just think about all those rainy days we have here in Seattle. Or snow days… now those would be hard (though not impossible) without a canine companion around!

I’m not saying you need to purchase another dog in order to make your homeschool experience more rewarding. If that doesn’t sound like something you want or can handle, don’t worry! There are plenty of ways other pets and animals can fit into your homeschool life, especially when it comes time for laboratory work where kids learn about how animals and plants interact. You could start an aquarium full of healthy fish—you don’t even have to buy them if you get an adopt-an-animal program going at your local pet store or from your vet! You could also build yourself a greenhouse or plant some extra food and see what happens.

My Journey

I grew up in a home where both my parents worked full-time jobs. While I am grateful for everything that gave me, I found myself questioning how two people who were so committed to their careers could also be so distant from their children. The truth is, my parents were working at an office and not at home. Because of that reality, we became accustomed to eating out, being chauffeured places and paying other people for chores that our parents never seemed to have time for. Our family felt like it was missing something – like we weren’t present with each other when we should have been…the kind of presence that helps you connect on a deeper level and nurture one another beyond simply feeding and clothing each other.

Before Starting

You don’t need to homeschool your children for it to be a valuable experience for them. However, if you think you could benefit from less structure, or if you want your child(ren) to have a better sense of responsibility and self-sufficiency, it may be worth considering. In many areas, homeschooled students have equal opportunities when it comes time for college applications and admissions. And while there are plenty of homeschoolers who don’t consider themselves schooled at all (they learn everything on their own), there are just as many high school seniors who go on to attend good colleges and universities without any issue. So what do you really need?

During and After School

We use an online education provider called Memoria Press . This has been such a blessing for us. Not only is it incredibly convenient, but we are able to have lesson plans at our fingertips as well as really fun educational games and activities (like spelling quizzes and science experiments). The curriculum has leveled books that coincide with what grade level your child should be in; although, of course, you can choose different levels if you prefer. The best part is that it’s totally affordable! If you’re interested in checking out Memoria Press , I’ve got some great deals for you: The first 20 people to sign up using my link will get 50% off their first term!

What We Use Today

The homeschooling era was much different 20 years ago. It wasn’t uncommon for there to be no technology in many classrooms, let alone at home. Today, homeschoolers have more resources available than ever before and it has become just as common for families to pick up their laptops as it is for them to grab their backpacks. Although many of us don’t need help getting things off of our phone screen, tablets and computers have become an integral part of most busy Red Thread Scholarship Program families’ lives. We have tried all sorts of apps, programs and devices over the years, so we thought we would share some of our favorites with you!