Create Play Travel Pacific Northwest family lifestyle and creative ideas
  • DIY
  • Kids
  • Eats
  • Homeschool
  • Lifestyle
  • Family Travel
  • PNW
  • About
  • Resources

We may have received one or more of the products mentioned below free for review purposes. Our posts contain affiliate links which allow us to earn a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are exclusive to Create. Play. Travel.

6 Reasons Why I Love Homeschooling My Kids

by Katie Wallace | Updated: July 22, 2021

Hi! I’m Katie. I’ve been homeschooling my kids for 4 years. This year (2021) I’ll have kids in 4th grade, 2nd grade and kindergarten. I’m excited because this is the first year that all of my kids will truly participate in our school schedule. Our family has achieved a lot over the last few years of homeschooling. My two oldest girls learned how to read proficiently and I learned how to create a homeschool routine that works for our family. Here are some of my top reasons why I love homeschooling my kids!

Wallace family Idaho homeschooling adventures

Flexibility

One of the main reasons our family enjoys homeschooling is that we love the flexibility. My kids can easily get their core subjects completed in the morning, and be available for a fun activity in the afternoon. As a rule, my kids work on their math, language arts, spelling and handwriting from 9:30 am to noon. After lunch we have quiet reading time, followed by a science or history lesson. My kids have also done gymnastics, soccer, and piano lessons as extracurricular activities. Additionally, we love to travel. One year, we left behind the Idaho winter to go on a 3-month RV trip to Arizona during the school year. Homeschooling allows us to bring our workbooks almost anywhere, and maintain our school schedule on the go.

Homeschooling while camping at Catalina State Park in Arizona

Personalized Learning

Another great thing about homeschooling is that I can customize each of my kids’ school experiences. My daughter who loves art can make something crafty to reinforce her science lesson. My son can create a volcano out of playdough and cause a baking soda and vinegar eruption. We can build Lego cars and talk about force, momentum, and friction. We often explore a topic further by watching YouTube videos or Magic School Bus episodes. I combine workbooks for math and language arts with hands-on activities for science and social studies. This approach makes school both purposeful and fun!

See our family’s favorite creative kids activities!

TinkerActive Science and Math workbooks combine educational principles with engaging projects

Great Workbooks – Love Homeschooling

When I began homeschooling, I quickly discovered I had many resources to choose from. After a little research, I finally settled on using Abeka workbooks for my kids’ main school subjects. This was an easy choice, because I also used the Abeka curriculum as a child. These school books cover the basic subjects for each grade level using the spiral learning method, which introduces new concepts alongside lots of review. My kids have used Abeka workbooks for math, language arts, spelling and handwriting for the past several years. I appreciate that I can feel confident that each workbook covers the concepts my kids need to know for their grade levels. See my tips for teaching a child at home.

Intentional Friendships

Teaching my kids how to pursue intentional friendships has been another great benefit to homeschooling. Before they can make a friend, kids need to learn how to be a friend. Homeschooling effectively teaches my kids how to be friends with each other. We regularly talk about how to be an encourager, how to problem solve, and how to be kind. The accountability I can give my kids means a lot to our whole family and it’s a privilege to see my kids grow in their characters.

Katie Wallace kids art class at home

I’ve also hosted several after school activities with other homeschool families to help my kids make friends. I’ve taught a few kids art classes and planned some hands-on craft days. Additionally, I often take my kids to homeschool skate day at our local roller skating rink. Getting together with other homeschool families with similar-aged kids is a great way for my kids to make friends.

Kids art classes extra curricular activity

Purposeful Parenting

Next, but possibly most important to me, I homeschool my kids to purposefully invest in their lives. I’ve personally had a lot of experiences. I have a Business degree, I’ve worked as a web designer in the Seattle tech industry, and I helped my husband launch and run a product-based kids business for seven years. I’ve traveled to multiple countries, taught myself videography and photography, and have experienced my share of successes, obstacles and challenges. I can attribute many of these achievements to the fact that I was homeschooled. Early on, I learned how to be a self-starter, have a good work ethic, and persevere to achieve excellence. These principles have helped me successfully navigate many circumstances in my life.

Now as a mom, I recognize the importance of helping my kids develop their own foundations for success. I’m thankful that God has given me the willingness and ability to be a homeschool mom. I typically plan for our family โ€œone year at a timeโ€, but homeschooling has been working well. As I mentioned, homeschooling allows me to personalize my kids’ learning experience and have a lot of fun in the process. The curriculum I use purposefully teaches my kids the core subjects. We also learn about the Bible, memorize verses, do creative projects, go on family field trips, occasionally travel, and participate in many opportunities to serve our community.

Clarkia Idaho flora fossil dig homeschool field trip

Exploring Clarkia Miocene Flora Fossil Dig in Idaho

Educational Experiences – Love Homeschooling

Last but not least, homeschooling can be super fun! Once our core subjects are out of the way each day, we do lots of creative activities. My kids love mixing up slime, helping to make homemade play dough and going on nature hunts. One year, we learned about how fossils are formed and we visited our local flora fossil dig in Clarkia, Idaho.

In 2021, we took our kids on a 3-month RV trip to Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. We went on many family hikes, visited nature centers, and learned about desert plants and animals. We RV camped and boondocked in more than 20 Arizona state parks and locations in the desert. Our Arizona RV trip was a great exercise in doing homeschool on the road and exploring a new area!

International Wildlife Museum in Tucson Arizona RV trip

Visiting the International Wildlife Museum in Arizona

Ultimately, homeschooling is a great opportunity to teach kids in vivid ways through unique experiences. As our kids get older, I look forward to doing science fairs, teaching them about entrepreneurship, and helping them each develop their own talents. Because we homeschool, our kids are close friends and actively support each other while learning life skills. For me, homeschooling requires commitment and organization, qualities which also help me grow as a person. I’m excited to see how homeschooling challenges and inspires our family this year and in the future!

Why I love homeschooling my kids - Katie Wallace

Katie Wallace
Katie Wallace

Hi, I’m Katie! I live with my husband and 4 kids in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. I love Jesus, coffee, creative projects, photography, and traveling. I’ve previously worked as a web designer, journalist, and barista. I hope you enjoy our creative projects and family adventures!

Post navigation

Homemade Finger Paint
Up Up Fire Lookout Montana Family Camping Adventure
guest
Recipe Rating




guest
Recipe Rating




0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Hello

Wallace Family 2024 create play travel

Hi, I'm Katie and we are the Wallace family! We homeschool, go on adventures, and travel internationally with our four kids. I hope you enjoy our creative ideas on Create. Play. Travel.

Do it Yourself

do it yourself watermelon fruit bowl See our creative projects, kids activities, & party ideas »

Homeschool Ideas

katie wallace homeschool ideas Homeschool Tips & Ideas »

Popular Tags

  • Babies
  • Baking
  • Beauty Tips
  • California
  • Camping
  • Colorado
  • Disney
  • DIY
  • Europe
  • Fall
  • Fashion
  • Gift Ideas
  • Holiday
  • Idaho
  • Kids Activities
  • Kids Science
  • Memories
  • Pacific Northwest
  • Paper Crafts
  • Party Ideas
  • Product Reviews
  • Sensory Play
  • Snacks
  • Teens
  • Toys
  • Valentines Day
  • Videos
  • Wood Projects
  • Worldschooling

Latest YouTube Videos

Create Play Travel Youtube Videos@createplaytravel on YouTube »
Europe with kids YouTube videosEurope with Kids Video Episodes »

createplaytravel

Travel with kids tips & inspo ๐ŸŒ๐ŸŒบ Creative family ideas ๐ŸŒŸ Saved by grace โžก๏ธ Follow our adventures!

Airbnb makes traveling with kids so flexible! But Airbnb makes traveling with kids so flexible! But weโ€™ve had to buy some household essentials for our stays. We usually bring our own:

trash bags, cleaning supplies, laundry soap & stain remover, sponges & dish brushes, extra toilet paper, sometimes cute decor! ๐Ÿ˜† 

The reason for this is that Airbnbs are usually not stocked with household supplies. I have my own go-to to favorite products for wiping countertops and doing laundry. 

Additionally, when we travel, we often stay in 5 to 10 Airbnbs, and itโ€™s nice to have our household essentials with us. 

Which household essentials can you not do without while traveling? ๐Ÿ˜Š๐Ÿงป

๐ŸŒŸ Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฉต

โžก๏ธ follow along! @createplaytravel

Traveling with kids, homeschool & adventure family
Airbnb series # 1
โœจ London destinations with kids! Part 2 Westmin โœจ London destinations with kids! Part 2

Westminster Abbey
Leicester Square
Natural History Museum

We discovered rich history, fun local culture, and fascinating science at these family-friendly London destinations!

Which spots would you explore with your kids??

๐ŸŒŸ Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฉต

โžก๏ธ follow along!ย @createplaytravel

Traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling
โœจ London destinations with kids! Part 1 Tower o โœจ London destinations with kids! Part 1

Tower of London tour
Tower Bridge
Borough Market

So much history happened at the Tower of London! And the famous food market? We had a hard time choosing between so much amazing cuisine!

Creme brรปlรฉe doughnuts?? Yes, please! 

๐ŸŒŸ Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฉต

โžก๏ธ follow along! @createplaytravel

Traveling with kids, family adventures, homeschooling
So much to see after nap time! โœจ Verona, Italy So much to see after nap time! 

โœจ Verona, Italy โ€” the city of Shakespeareโ€™s Romeo & Juliet, ancient Roman arenas, and colorful piazzas. From cobblestone streets to cute markets, this charming city is made for wandering with kids (and feeling a little smitten yourself). ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ’•

๐ŸŒŸ Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฉต

โžก๏ธ follow along! @createplaytravel

#travelwithkids #createplaytravel #worldschooling #exploreitaly #familytravelgoals
But traveling is school right?? ๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿ˜ Places s But traveling is school right?? ๐Ÿคญ๐Ÿ˜

Places shown ๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ
โ€ข Library at the British Museum ๐Ÿ“š
โ€ข Lancaster Castle ๐Ÿฐ
โ€ข Tower Bridge, London 
โ€ข CS Lewis memorial at Westminster Abbey
โ€ข Lime Park (Pemberley)
โ€ข Hughenden Manor
โ€ข Diagon Alley, Harry Potter studio tour ๐ŸŽฌ
โ€ข Big Ben, London ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ

Thereโ€™s so much rich history in England!

๐ŸŒŸ Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฉต

โžก๏ธ follow along! @createplaytravel

#travelwithkids #adventurefamily #worldschooling #kidswhotravel
Saturday morning entertainment ๐Ÿคฃ

โžก๏ธ Whatโ€™s your favorite cereal??

๐ŸŒŸ Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures! ๐ŸŒŽ

๐Ÿฉต follow along! @createplaytravel
Kiera turned 13 this summer! I canโ€™t believe we Kiera turned 13 this summer! I canโ€™t believe we have a teenager in the family! ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐ŸŽ€๐Ÿ˜ @teenglowtravel 

To be fair, we celebrated her birthday in Italy, Slovenia, and France. Our journey was such a blast, full of adventures every day! 

How special to turn 13 ๐ŸŽ‚ while traveling in Europe!

๐ŸŒŸ Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿฉต

โžก๏ธ follow along! @createplaytravel @teenglowtravel 

#travelwithkids #adventurefamily #worldschooling #kidswhotravel
๐Ÿ“ Ripon Prison Museum - Step back into the earl ๐Ÿ“ Ripon Prison Museum - Step back into the early 1800s in Yorkshire, England, where crime came with serious consequences. Even children were punished with prison time for stealing food or property. ๐Ÿ˜ญ

We walked through cold cells and learned about the forced labor and bleak meals given to inmates. This glimpse into Victorian prison life was sobering, but such a powerful experience for our kids.

Would your homeschool family enjoy this field trip? ๐Ÿ•ฏ๏ธ๐Ÿด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ

๐ŸŒŸ Inspiring families to live creatively and make memories, through adventures ๐ŸŒ๐Ÿฉต

โžก๏ธ follow along! @createplaytravel

traveling with kids, family adventures
Follow on Instagram
  • Elara Pro by LyraThemes.com
  • Copyright ยฉ Create. Play. Travel. • Privacy Policy