STEP #8:
Go Outside the Box
Don’t Just
"Do School"...
Go Outside the Box!
It's so easy to fall into the trap of "doing school" just the way we were schooled:
- sitting at a desk
- reading textbooks
- filling in workbook blanks, etc.
We want to encourage you to "go outside the box" and be creative as you plan your homeschool adventure.
Sometimes our fear of not teaching our children perfectly causes us to just do school the way we learned as children.
But homeschooling is a perfect opportunity to train your children in the way they should go, unlike anything we learned in public or private school.

What are some ways to "go outside the box" while you're homeschooling?
Consider these possibilities:
play
games
Play with games and toys that challenge the mind. Examples:
- Duplos® and Legos®,
- Puzzles
- Educational board games
Learn
by doing
Work together on projects. Examples:
- Plan a garden
- Try a sewing project
- Make family meals
- Build a play fort
- Rebuild an engine
teaching
co-ops
Team up with other parents who are homeschooling.
- Each can teach a favorite subject to student groups
- Consider hiring instructors
Group
learning
Plan group outings and activities.
- Take hikes & field trips
- Sign up for camps
- Join homeschool activities
- Check our Events page
library
access
role
models
Identify interesting people in your family, church, or neighborhood and visit with them to learn about who they are or what they do.
apprentice-
ships
Inspire your children to consider apprenticeships with small business owners or to try entrepreneurship when they are old enough.
ENGAGE
community
- Visit care centers
- Volunteer at church or for a non-profit
- Assist political campaigns.
© Homeschool Iowa & Julie Naberhaus adapted from "The ABC's of Homeschooling in Iowa" by Julie Naberhaus
CHECK THIS POST ON OUR BLOG:
"Gameschooling"