Relaxed Homeschooling

Relaxed homeschooling focuses on preparing a child to fulfill his unique purpose in life, not preparing a student for college or a job. Family and relationships take priority over schoolwork, and children are taught according to their personalities and learning styles.

A Lifestyle of Learning

Textbooks and workbooks are used in relaxed homeschools as needed, but children are mostly taught informally in the course of daily life, according to their ages and abilities.

They may learn to read by being read to, and learn to write by writing letters and stories. They may learn science by reading nature magazines or taking homeschooling field trips.

Relaxed homeschoolers encourage a love for learning by providing their children with interesting materials and allowing their children to see them pursue their own interests and goals. They also teach their children to ask why questions, think through the answers, and follow the resulting trails wherever they may lead.

The Role of Parents

Because this method focuses on a lifestyle of learning, it is often confused with unschooling. However, relaxed homeschools are parent directed. Parents set goals and teach according to their children’s needs, focusing on character, values and habits in addition to academics.

For more information, read:

*Educating the Wholehearted Child by Clay and Sally Clarkson
*The Enthusiastic Homeschoooler by Mary Hood, Phd.

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