If homeschooling is your preferred style of Home Education, you might already have a homeschool room or be thinking about creating one. You might even be wondering what other options there are besides having a homeschool room. If that’s you, read on to find some great alternatives!
If homeschooling is your preferred style of Home Education, you might already have a homeschool room or be thinking about creating one. You might even be wondering what other options there are besides having a homeschool room. If that’s you, read on to find some great alternatives!
What is a Homeschool Room?
Homeschool rooms are popular among homeschooling families and they’ve become quite the trend, with people sharing organisation tips and design ideas all over platforms like Pinterest.
A homeschool room offers space away from other distractions, like the TV in the living room or toys and games in the bedroom, and allows children to immerse themselves in learning.
Parents create these rooms with the necessities and resources that their children need and make them look charming and often picturesque. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be in a room with a designated reading nook or a rustic desk and pictures all over the walls? If this is what you are imagining for your child, here are some beautiful homeschool room ideas to get you inspired!
But what about the alternatives to a homeschool room? Whilst homeschool rooms are great for having that designated learning space and a place to store everything education-related, there are some exciting alternatives that you might want to consider.
11 Alternatives to a Homeschool Room
Homeschool Garden
Imagine your child sitting in a beautiful corner of your garden; a space created just for them to read, learn and relax in. They could work at an outdoor table, have fun activities and stations laid out for them depending on what they’re learning, or simply read in a chair or a hammock! They could even help you to grow your own vegetables and have their own vegetable patch. The possibilities are endless! And children benefit so much from being outdoors.
Homeschool Shed
If you like the idea of a homeschool garden as an alternative to a homeschool room, then you’ll probably love the idea of a homeschool shed too. What makes them so great is that they are separate from the house, which provides a sense of being somewhere completely different but with the comforts of home still in reach. A homeschool shed is also ideal for when the weather is not-so-great and your child wants to do some indoor activities and learning.
Homeschool Basement or Attic
If a homeschool garden or shed is not feasible, you could consider converting your basement or attic into a dedicated space for homeschooling. Again, your child is away from any distractions in the house and a basement or attic gives them another personal space which isn’t their bedroom.
A Nature Centre
Instead of having a homeschool room, a nature centre provides a more interesting space for learning, especially for nature-lovers! They’re quiet and often filled with great resources and outdoor spaces to explore.
The Library
Your local library could even be the alternative to a homeschool room that you’re looking for. Surrounded by books on any topic, your child won’t have to look far to find what they need, and they’ll always have somewhere quiet to work. Libraries often offer different clubs and activities as well, which is great for parents who are struggling to give their children something to do.
Themed Rooms
Perhaps your child likes being indoors and doing more formal work. Perhaps you have space to work with in your house. If that’s the case, you could think about having themed rooms or spaces within your home rather than just one homeschool room. These rooms or spaces could be dedicated to specific subjects, like a science corner with lab equipment or a cosy reading nook and a desk for writing.
A Workshop
Whether it be your own workshop or one that you attend, workshops are great spaces for children to learn and meet other people. You could create one which covers a different theme each time, giving your child something new to learn. Or a workshop could provide a place for your child to explore and develop their own interests.
A Museum
You can always guarantee that a museum is going to be a great learning experience. So why not make the most of them? Some museums even offer educational programmes or dedicated spaces that can be used for learning. They’re definitely a much more exciting and interesting alternative to a homeschool room.
A Cafe
Who says that learning can’t take place in a cafe? Learning can happen anywhere and it’s what you make of it, after all. If your child likes to get out and about or has a hard time being indoors, why not take their learning to a cafe where they can also enjoy a nice beverage and a treat?
A Farm
Farms are great for active, hands-on learners and many offer various learning opportunities and programmes. I’m sure that most of us can agree that being at a farm is way more fun than sitting at a table doing work!
The Outdoors
Perhaps one of the best alternatives to a homeschool room is the outdoors! With endless options and chances for discovery, there’s no better classroom. So, instead of sticking to a homeschool room, why not go to the woods, a field or a beach? Your child can make the most of what’s around them, meaning you only need to take out what you really need.
Whatever you decide to choose, whether it be a homeschool room or one of the alternatives mentioned in this post, make the most of your homeschooling space and make sure that your child enjoys learning in it!
We’d love to know which alternative to a homeschool room you’d choose!
m@liberated
I am a writer and home educator, lover of fantasy books and all things creative! I'm either learning and making discoveries with my daughter, reading, writing or eating chocolate!