Why Our Home Education Doesn’t Look Like School 🏡✨

If you peeked into our home on a Tuesday morning, you might be surprised by what you don’t see.

There’s no timetable pinned to the wall. No rows of books laid out for set “lessons.” No bells, no uniforms, no strict start times.

And yet… there’s learning happening everywhere.

That’s because our home education journey doesn’t look anything like traditional school — and that’s exactly how we like it.

🌿 Learning Without Timetables

Both of my girls — (R), 11, and (F), 8 — thrive in a relaxed, flexible learning environment.
We don’t follow a strict timetable, and we don’t keep to conventional “school hours.” Instead, we learn in the flow of our days, letting curiosity lead the way.

That doesn’t mean there’s no structure at all. It just means our structure looks different. Some days we dive deep into a project for hours without even realising how much we’ve covered. Other days we spend more time outside, exploring and asking questions about the world around us.

🐮 Today’s Lesson? A Trip to the Farm

Take today, for example. We spent the afternoon at a local farm — and while it might look like a day out, it was absolutely bursting with learning opportunities.

For (R), the conversations were all about responsibility and sustainability. We talked about how farmers care for animals, the importance of crop rotation, and even dipped into the science behind food chains and ecosystems.

For (F), it was about observation and communication — naming animals, noticing patterns in their behaviour, asking why they act the way they do. We even ended up doing some impromptu maths while measuring out animal feed.

None of it was planned. None of it was “on the timetable.” But all of it was learning.

This cheeky alpaca’s goofy grin made me laugh out loud like nothing else could! ❤️

✏️ Why This Approach Works for Us

Our home ed philosophy is simple: learning doesn’t need to be boxed into a classroom or squeezed into set hours. It happens all the time — in conversations, in play, in problem-solving, and in everyday life.

By giving my girls the space to explore their interests and follow their curiosity, I see them grow in confidence, independence, and a genuine love of learning.

We still cover the essentials — literacy, numeracy, science — but they’re woven into our daily lives rather than delivered as rigid lessons. And more often than not, the girls lead the way.

🌱 A Gentle Reminder

If your home education doesn’t look like a classroom, that’s okay.
If your children learn best by baking, building, exploring, talking, playing — that’s learning too.

There’s no single “right” way to home educate. What matters most is that your children feel safe, supported, and curious about the world around them.

And if that means learning happens at the farm instead of the desk, then I’d say you’re doing just fine. 💛

✨ Have you found that your home education looks nothing like school too? I’d love to hear about your approach — share your experiences in the comments below!

✏️ Free Download: Learning in Everyday Life – Observation Journal

Make everyday learning moments meaningful with this simple printable journal. It’s designed for relaxed home-ed and unschooling families to help children reflect on what they’ve seen, noticed, wondered, and learned — no worksheets or rigid lessons required.

Follow the link to download your journal from Google Drive. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wnihqvSUUj_n5mrSzGBl0MCoIGOpaxDN/view?usp=sharing

Use it on days out, at home, or anywhere curiosity leads you — and build a beautiful record of your child’s learning journey.