Starting this homeschooling adventure with my kindergartener has been both exciting and challenging in ways I never expected. As a parent, I knew it would require patience, flexibility, and creativity, but the experience has taught me so much more. From discovering the best ways to engage my child in learning to navigating the inevitable bumps along the way, this first year has been a journey of growth for both of us. In this post, I’ll share the highs and lows of homeschooling kindergarten, what’s worked for us, and the lessons I’ve learned as we lay the foundation for the years ahead.
Why Homeschool:
I chose to homeschool because I wanted to create a learning environment tailored to my child’s unique needs and interests. Homeschooling gives us the flexibility to explore subjects at our own pace, foster a deeper 
connection, and prioritize values that are important to our family. It allows me to be more involved in my child’s education while providing opportunities for hands-on learning that might not be possible in a traditional classroom setting. If you would like to know more about why we have chosen to homeschool please read my post “Education Beyond The Classroom: My Motivations for Homeschooling”.
Expectations vs. Reality
When I first decided to homeschool, I had a vision of perfectly structured days filled with engaged learning and smooth routines. I imagined teaching with ease and my child excitedly absorbing everything we covered. The reality, however, has been a bit more unpredictable. While we’ve had plenty of wonderful moments, there have been times when lessons didn’t go as planned, my daughter’s attention span seemed shorter some days or even weeks, distractions crept in, and my patience was tested. I quickly realized that homeschooling requires more flexibility and creativity than I anticipated. Some days are full of breakthroughs, while others feel like we’re taking two steps back. But in the end, I’ve learned that this journey is about progress, not perfection.
Curriculum Choices
Choosing the right curriculum for kindergarten was one of the most important and, admittedly, overwhelming decisions I made. I spent months reading, researching, and asking other homeschool moms. When it came to choosing a curriculum for kindergarten, I was drawn to the principles of Charlotte Mason, which emphasize a gentle, child-centered approach to learning. I wanted a curriculum that nurtures a love of learning, encourages hands-on experiences, and integrates nature, art, and literature into our daily lessons. Charlotte Mason’s focus on living books rather than textbooks, as well as her belief in the importance of outdoor exploration, deeply influenced my choices. If you are interested in learning more about Charlotte Mason, I recommend grabbing a copy of her 6th Volume “A Philosophy of Education”. 
After talking with several experienced homeschool moms as well as my sister-in-law, I decided on a mix of resources that reflect these values, incorporating rich, engaging stories and activities that spark curiosity, rather than focusing solely on rote memorization or rigid schedules. This approach has allowed us to explore subjects more holistically, and I’ve seen firsthand how it fosters a deeper, more meaningful connection to learning.
What I Chose for Kindergarten
After much research, I decided to follow 
A Gentle Feast, a Biblically based curriculum that beautifully aligns with Charlotte Mason’s philosophy. 
It focuses on nurturing a love for learning through living books, nature study, and art, all while encouraging a relaxed yet structured approach. I loved that A Gentle Feast offers a well-rounded education, combining classic literature, hands-on activities, and outdoor exploration, which allows my child to learn in a way that feels natural and enjoyable. This curriculum has been a wonderful fit for us, providing both a solid foundation and the flexibility to adapt as we go. For math I choose “Math U See” which is also a hands-on approach to teaching math. 
Why It Works for Me:
This curriculum works well for us because my daughter is a very creative and hands-on learner. She’s incredibly active and struggles to sit still for long periods, so A Gentle Feast allows us to incorporate lots of movement, nature study, and interactive activities into our daily lessons. The focus on living books, art, and outdoor exploration keeps her engaged and excited about learning, while still providing a well-rounded education that nurtures her curiosity.
Adaptations
One area that required me to adapt the curriculum was in language arts. The kindergarten level of A Gentle Feast assumed that my daughter could already read some, but she was still learning phonics and blends when we first started. As a result, the language arts portion of the program felt a bit advanced for her at that time. To bridge the gap, I added
100 Gentle Lessons in Sight and Sounds from A Gentle Feast and I found a third free curriculum called That It May Go Well, which focuses specifically on phonics and early reading skills. I was able to combine elements from both curricula, using parts of A Gentle Feast for reading comprehension and literature, while incorporating 100 Gentle Lessons and That It May Go Well for phonics practice. This approach allowed me to customize her learning and meet her at the right level, gradually building her confidence and skills in language arts.
A Day in the Life
The curriculum I choose is a four day week program. This gives a lot of flexibility in each of our weeks. If one day doesn’t work out, I have another day to make it up. Our daily routine has evolved as we’ve settled into homeschooling, and I’ve learned to stay flexible while still maintaining a sense of structure. Mornings typically start with breakfast and a few hours of free play, which gives my daughter a chance to wake up and get energized. It gives me a chance to get some cleaning chores done around the house as well. 
One of the biggest hurdles I’ve faced in homeschooling has been balancing my daughter’s lessons with the needs of my 3-year-old and 4-year-old. My daughter still requires my full attention for much of her learning, which can be difficult with younger children around, especially my very rambunctious 3 year old son who I don’t dare take my eyes off of. After some trial and error, I’ve found that the best time to focus on school with my kindergartener is during my 3-year-old’s nap time. This gives me about two hours of uninterrupted time to work with her. As for my 4-year-old, who no longer naps, she usually has quiet time in her room or works on phonics coloring and tracing sheets I print out to keep her occupied. 
It’s not always perfect, but having this block of time for dedicated learning has been a game changer for our homeschool routine. The time it takes to get through everything really depends on my daughter’s attention span that day. But usually we can get through everything we need to in about 2-3 hours.
In our homeschool, learning happens in both structured and unstructured ways. While we follow formal lessons for subjects like math, reading, and science, I also believe in the value of informal learning. My daughter thrives when we incorporate play-based activities, like building with blocks or drawing, that reinforce what she’s learning in a hands-on way. Outdoor activities are also a huge part of our learning—whether it’s observing nature, going on nature walks, or simply playing outside, these moments provide valuable lessons in curiosity, problem-solving, and the world around us. By blending formal and informal approaches, we create a well-rounded learning experience that keeps my daughter engaged and excited about discovering new things.
Challenges I’ve Faced
One of the biggest struggles I’ve faced in homeschooling is staying motivated myself, especially as the days grow warmer and the garden calls to me. The temptation to be outside and enjoy the sunshine can make it hard to stay focused on our lessons. On top of that, homeschooling requires a lot of patience, and I’ve found myself challenged when my daughter gets distracted or loses interest. It’s tough to keep things on track when she’s eager to move on to something else, and it’s easy to become frustrated when things aren’t going as planned. But I’ve learned that taking deep breaths, adjusting the pace, and remembering that some days will be more challenging than others helps me keep my patience and perspective.
What keeps me motivated on the tougher days is seeing the huge improvements in my daughter’s learning and the pure excitement she shows when something finally clicks.
This year alone, she has gone from still learning the alphabet to reading simple stories, and the look of joy and pride on her face when she realizes she can read is something I can’t fully explain. Moments like that remind me why I chose this path and keep me pushing forward, even when things get tough. It’s these little milestones that fuel my determination to continue, knowing how far she’s come and how much more she’s capable of.
The Fun Stuff
We also make sure to incorporate plenty of fun activities and field trips to expand our learning beyond the home. Some of our favorite outings have included trips to the zoo 
and the Natural History Museum, where we explore animals and history in hands-on ways that bring our studies to life. We also enjoy baking together 
in the kitchen, which provides opportunities for practical math, reading, and even science. And one of the most special experiences has been archery lessons with Dad,
where my daughter learns new skills while having fun. These activities not only enrich our education but also help create lasting memories and a love for learning that extends well beyond the classroom.
Connecting with the Homeschool Community
We’ve also connected with a wonderful co-op program that meets once a week for four hours, and it has been a fabulous addition to my daughter’s learning. The co-op rotates through six different classes: history, music, science, art, STEM, and character education. It’s been great for providing her with exposure to subjects I may not have the time or expertise to teach on my own, and it gives her a chance to interact with other kids and learn in a social setting. The diversity of subjects keeps things fresh and exciting for her, and I’ve seen her confidence grow with every class she attends.
Advice for New Homeschoolers
My biggest tips for first-time homeschoolers would be: be easy on yourself. I’ve learned that I’m often learning just as much, if not more, than my daughter during this journey. It’s okay to not have it all figured out. Another tip is less is more. In the beginning, I felt like I had to do everything—every lesson, every activity—but that left both of us overwhelmed, frustrated, and exhausted by the end of the day. Once I decided to simplify and not add in all the extra activities, we both enjoyed the time together so much more, and my daughter’s learning experience became more enjoyable. Lastly, be okay with not getting through everything or even missing a day when needed. That’s the beauty of homeschooling—the freedom to make your schedule work for you and your family. It’s about progress, not perfection.
As we continue our homeschooling journey, I’m excited to reflect on everything I’ve learned throughout this first year.
In a future post, I’ll dive deeper into the lessons, challenges, and growth I’ve experienced as a homeschooling parent. I look forward to sharing these insights with you and offering more tips and reflections as we move forward into another year of learning and discovery.
Homeschooling my kindergartener has been a rewarding and transformative experience, full of unexpected lessons for both of us. While there have been challenges along the way, the growth I’ve seen in my daughter and the bond we’ve strengthened through learning together makes it all worth it. From adapting our curriculum to finding a routine that works for our family, each step of this journey has been an opportunity to create a personalized learning environment. I’m excited to continue this adventure and to see how our homeschooling journey evolves. If you’re considering homeschooling or just beginning your own journey, remember: it’s not about perfection, but about finding what works for you and your child. I look forward to sharing more in my upcoming posts as we continue to learn and grow together.
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