12 Common Mistakes That New Home Educators Make

Starting Home Education for the first time isn’t easy and we all make mistakes — in fact, it would be unusual if we didn’t! But if you’re someone who likes to be prepared for what they might face, these are the 12 most common mistakes that new home educators make. 

And don’t worry if you still make some of these mistakes — it’s completely normal, and it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. After all, making mistakes is what learning is all about!

1. Rushing into Home Education

One of the most common mistakes that new home educators make is rushing into Home Education. This is usually done for a number of reasons:

• Not wanting their child to fall behind
• Trying to establish a schedule quickly
• Feeling pressure to home educate properly 

Whilst you might be eager to rush into Home Education just to get the ball rolling and establish a bit of routine, it can actually do more harm to your children. Think of it like this: imagine changing jobs and being thrust into a new job without any training or preparation — you’re going to find it difficult and probably end up hating it. This is how your children will feel if they’re rushed into something and unable to properly process the changes that are happening. Remember, your children are new to Home Education and they need time to adjust.

2. Not doing enough research

A lot of new home educators go into Home Education thinking that it can’t be that difficult. It’s just more educational freedom and responsibility, right? Well, there’s actually a lot more to it and a lot of figuring out to do. 

Whilst some people may do a bit of research beforehand, often they are not as prepared as they could be. This can leave new home educators feeling overwhelmed and doubtful, which is not a great place to be when you’re new to something that you could just as easily give up on. 

3. Not allowing enough time to deschool or not doing it at all

If you deregister your child from school to home educate, it’s highly recommended to deschool them because it allows them time to adjust and figure out what choices will be right for them. The mistake that new home educators make, however, is either not allowing their child enough time to deschool or not doing it at all. This might be because they don’t fully understand what deschooling is, which is why research is so important. 

4. Trying to replicate school at home

Another common mistake that new home educators make is trying to replicate school at home. A lot of people are under the impression that if they educate their children at home they have to follow a curriculum, the same structure or many of the same formalities as school. But this is not the case whatsoever. 

If a child is unhappy in school and with its structure, instead of having to do school at home, they’re probably going to want to try something completely different. For some children, they might not have a problem with having a more formalised education at home, if that’s what works for them. But for others, it might not be right at all. 

5. Comparing to other home educating families

We know this one is hard to avoid — comparing ourselves to others is something that we’ve probably all done before. The mistake is when it influences our decisions or changes the way we home educate. What we’ve got to remember is that what might work for another family won’t necessarily work for your own. 

6. Having unrealistic expectations

It’s easy to go into Home Education with a set of expectations of what it might look like or how you want it to be, but often these expectations are unrealistic and set too high. We might expect too much of our children or want the day to follow a certain schedule when, in reality, we’re not always in control of these things. Some days will be completely different than how you expected them to be, which of course can be frustrating but it’s all down to our expectations. The bigger the expectation, the bigger the disappointment if it doesn’t go to plan.

7. Worrying too much

We know what you’re thinking, how can I not worry when the responsibility of my child having a good education is in my hands? Well, worrying isn’t necessarily a problem. We all worry and rightly so. But as with anything negative, too much of it can cause problems. Worrying too much will likely make you overthink and question home educating altogether. 

8. Doing too much at once

New home educators tend to make the mistake of doing too much at once, whether it be juggling different groups, having a jam-packed schedule or trying to balance work and Home Education. This often goes hand-in-hand with rushing into Home Education in the first place. Of course, every parent wants the best for their child but putting too much on your plate, even for their sake, can lead to a lot of burnout. 

9. Trying to prioritise learning over fun

We all want our children to have fun, there’s no denying that. But often home educators feel the need to prove that their child is learning as much as — if not more — than children who attend school. This is likely because there is a bit of stigma around Home Education on how it’s done and what children get out of it. Subconsciously, some home educators may try too hard to prioritise learning, leaving children feeling that all the fun is taken out of it. 

10. Not seeking help when needed

I think we’re all guilty of not seeking help when we actually need it, but as a new home educator there will probably come a time when you really need some. Some people may be embarrassed to ask for help or think that they can do it alone, when the reality is that everyone has been in the same boat at one stage or another and there’s so much support out there. Not seeking help when needed is very common, but problems can soon arise, leaving new home educators feeling overwhelmed and at a loss of what to do. 

11. Not listening to your child’s input

Another mistake that new home educators make is not actually listening to their child’s input, which is the most important thing of all when home educating. Children have an amazing ability to learn quickly and figure out what is right for them, which is why their choices should be trusted. An unheard child can lead to an unhappy child, especially if their needs are not being met.

12. Not connecting with other home educators

We get it if you’re introverted and mingling with people is not your thing (a lot of us are), but not connecting with other home educators is something you’ll want to reconsider. Home educating can be a very lonely and isolating time, which is why having a support network, no matter how small, is important. Home educators rely on each other for advice, support and just friendship in general. After all, we all share similar philosophies. More importantly, we can be there for each other during harder times. 

How to Avoid the Common Mistakes That New Home Educators Make

It’s inevitable that mistakes will be made along the way — that’s just part of the journey — but there are ways to avoid the common mistakes that new home educators make. For a start, reading this has made you aware of them, which should hopefully help you to recognise and avoid them in the first place. But let’s give some tips on what else you can do so that your home educating journey will run much smoother. 

• Go at your child’s pace and try not to rush into anything.
• If you’re unsure about anything, do your research. You can never do too much!
• If you’ve deregistered your child from school, allow them time to deschool properly.
• Forget everything you know about school and start afresh! Meaning: don’t replicate school at home!
• Be as open-minded as you can and don’t set your expectations too high.
• Enjoy what you’re doing and don’t worry about anyone else.
• Try not to overthink, if possible.
• Only do what you can.
• Always have fun.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.
• Ask your child for their input and let them make the decisions.
• Join Home Education groups and enjoy days out with other home educators.

Well, there we have it: 12 common mistakes that new home educators make.  

If you’ve made a mistake as a new or current home educator that isn’t on this list, we’d love to hear about it! Drop us an email — we love a good chat!