If you’re anything like us, the word “planning” in home education can bring up a whole mix of feelings—sometimes excitement, sometimes overwhelm, and sometimes just a deep sigh. This week on The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast, Ashley and I got real about what planning actually looks like in our homes, how much (or how little!) we do, and why it’s never as straightforward as those glossy Pinterest schedules might suggest.

Here’s a little taster of what we covered—plus some honest, practical tips straight from our conversation.

1. Planning Doesn’t Have to Mean Perfection

Kelly: “If I don’t do any planning and just allow life to bumble along, that kind of decision fatigue for me becomes such a real problem. I lose my creativity, I lose my interest, and actually then I really struggle to engage with them in their learning because they’re bored, I don’t know what to do, they don’t know what to do, and we’re all just stuck.”

But here’s the kicker: Planning doesn’t need to be rigid. Sometimes it’s just a “one A4 sheet with loads of ideas” stuck to the fridge. The point isn’t to tick off every box—it’s to have a bank of inspiration for those “what now?” moments.

2. Let Your Kids’ Curiosity Lead (Even When It’s Messy)

Ashley: “It was fine in the earlier years, but now that my kids are getting a bit older, we’re trying to do things that maybe require more of an ongoing process… but I still want to keep it flexible.”

 

Kelly: “Sometimes, the best moments are when things go off-script. Like when my son got completely side-tracked by writing his name with both hands after learning about Leonardo da Vinci. I can never get him to write. But now he’s got a reason to be interested in writing because he can practise trying to write it backwards and with his other hand.”

Takeaway: The magic often happens when you follow those unexpected tangents. Don’t be afraid to ditch the plan if your child’s enthusiasm takes you somewhere new.

3. You Don’t Need to Have It All Figured Out

Ashley: “I definitely wouldn’t recommend creating your own curriculum for your first year. I would probably just pick something straightforward, stick with one source, whatever that looks like, just to not make it more complicated than it needs to be.”

Kelly: “Don’t feel like you have to have this all figured out. I know that I have been through at least five or six different iterations of what our home ed looks like. At least. That probably changes on an almost daily basis.”

Your approach will change and evolve—sometimes even week by week. That’s not a failure; that’s real life.

4. Planning Is About the Whole Family, Not Just Academics

We also chatted about planning for the “feel” of your days, not just the learning.

Ashley: “Do we want to have a particular tone for the mornings?  Like I’ve been trying to maybe make a few more breakfasts versus just have cereal. Let’s take turns making muffins and kind of have that routine as part of it.”

It’s okay if your “plan” is just to make space for connection, slow mornings, or board games at the end of the day.

5. It’s Okay to Borrow Structure (and Break the Rules)

Kelly: “I actually do a lot of my planning myself, but that’s because I enjoy it. For a lot of families, feeling your way through it is also fine… If that makes you want to cry into your hat, then just find something you align well with, read it through, make sure you are happy with the content, and use it as a springboard.”

 

Ashley: “There is good in [curriculums and book lists]. Sometimes there’s a really good map  or it really explains something well. You can always pull from things and create your own.”

 

Want More Real Talk (and a Few Laughs)?

Tune in to The BIG Home Ed Conversations Podcast for the full episode and more honest chats about home education.

Quick Note: Try Outschool with Our Discount!