Our Home Education Journey
We decided quite early on that we would home educate our children — in fact, the idea took root not long after our first son was born. It just didn’t feel right to me that children in the UK start school as early as four years old, especially when in countries like Germany they usually begin at six or seven. The more I read and reflected, the more I knew that a slower, more child-led approach to learning was what I wanted for our family.
Why We Chose Home Education
Our decision to home educate wasn’t based on one single reason, but on a feeling that childhood should be unhurried and full of curiosity. We wanted our children to have time to explore, play, and learn naturally — without the pressure of early academics or rigid timetables.
Home education allows us to build our days around real life: cooking together, exploring nature, reading stories, asking questions, and following whatever sparks their interest. At 4 and 2 years old, our children are constantly discovering new things, and it’s a joy to see how much they learn simply by living and playing.
Our Current Approach: Unschooling with Montessori Inspiration
I’ve studied the Montessori method and really connect with its respect for the child’s independence, their natural desire to learn, and the importance of a prepared environment. Over time, I plan to incorporate more Montessori principles into our home — but for now, our approach is mostly unschooling.
That means we don’t follow a set curriculum. Instead, we let learning unfold naturally through the children’s interests. When they show enthusiasm for a certain topic, we dive in together — reading books, playing games, visiting museums, and setting up activities around that theme.
Our Themed Learning Shelves
Every now and then, I set up shelves around a topic of the week. These include books, puzzles, toys, and hands-on activities related to something the children are curious about. It keeps learning fresh and engaging while encouraging them to explore independently.
So far, we’ve explored themes like:
🌌 Space – learning about rockets, moon phases, planets, stars, and astronauts
✈️ Airport and 🇪🇸 Spain – preparing for our trip abroad, and learning about how planes fly
🐠 Sealife – from sharks and jellyfish to coral reefs
❤️ Valentine’s Day – making crafts, baking jammy hearts, and decorating with hearts
🔢 Numbers – exploring counting through play, sorting activities, and everyday maths in real life
🦍 Gorillas – exploring where they live, what they eat, and how they care for their babies
🐇 Rabbits – reading stories about bunnies, learning about their habitats, and how to care for them, observing how they move and eat
🏖️ The Beach – discovering shells, sand, and sea creatures
🐞 Insects – observing bugs in the garden and learning about their fascinating lives
Looking Ahead
Our home education journey is still in its early days, but I’m grateful every day for the freedom it gives us. We are so lucky to be able to learn at our own pace, spend time outdoors, and nurture our children’s natural curiosity.
I’ll be sharing more about our themed shelves, Montessori activities, and unschooling adventures here as we continue to learn and grow together.