The Ultimate List of Homeschool Essentials

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If you’ve decided that Homeschooling is the best style of Home Education for your child then you’ve probably been thinking about what Homeschool essentials you might need. 

We’ve compiled the ultimate list of all the potential Homeschool essentials that you might want to buy; but remember, just because it’s on this list doesn’t mean you have to buy it. And you don’t have to buy these items all at once either. 

I find that it’s easier to buy what you really need first of all, and then you can always buy other items along the way.

35 Homeschool Essentials and Why You Might Need Them

1. Homeschool co-op

A Homeschool co-op brings together other homeschooling families and they’re great for a number of reasons: collaboration, social interaction, group learning and shared resources. They’re also where we’ve met some great friends and we always recommend joining one. 

2. Homeschool/Home Education Planner

Any planner is essential for organisation, and a Homeschool planner is perfect for keeping track of work and progress, and even planning lessons. 

3. Workbooks & Textbooks

If your child is the type who loves to sit and write things down when learning, then a workbook or textbook will be their best friend. Not only are they great for note-taking, they’re also ideal to keep as proof of work or to reference back to (especially when writing a report to the LA.)

4. Books

Books in general are important for any type of education, whether they be fiction or nonfiction. And they can be used in all aspects of learning and for any subject. Really, you can never have too many books.

5. Stationary

We’re talking pens, pencils, crayons, sharpeners, highlighters . . . anything that helps with notes or putting something creative on paper. 

6. Stationary organiser

Now if you’ve got all that stationary, you’re going to need somewhere to keep it. A stationary organiser is ideal for keeping everything in one place, and it solves the problem of things going missing. 

7. White board & White board pens

White boards are great for both parents and children. Whether teaching on one or jotting down answers and brainstorming, they’re a great alternative to pen and paper. We like to take pictures of the work on our whiteboards before we wipe it off. 

8. Work display board

Work display boards bring so much colour and creativity to a room. It’s also amazing to see how much our children have achieved and, not to mention, they have a whole display of work which they are proud to look at. 

9. Learning space

A learning space can be anywhere in the house or even outside. It’s great to have a designated area where the children can work or sit and read. You could even encourage them to help design it and make it their own.

10. Bookshelf

All those books deserve to be proudly displayed. You can also organise them by category or subject to make things ten times easier. Just like a mini library!

11. Storage space

You can’t go wrong with having good storage space for all the stuff that will accumulate over time. It also helps to keep things neat and tidy and organised. 

12. Curricula

Some Home Ed families stick with one curriculum, others try out different ones. They’re really useful if you don’t know where to start or want something that your children can progress through.

The good thing about curricula is there are all different types and they cater to all age groups. So, if your child is looking for something a bit more specific, you’ll likely find it.

13. Flashcards

Flashcards are great for all ages and I would recommend them during all stages of your child’s education if that’s what works for them too. 

14. Sticky notes

As with flashcards, sticky notes are really handy. You can get really creative with them too.

15. Worksheets

Worksheets are amazing for keeping busy brains occupied and focused. You can find worksheets on just about anything and you can even create your own! 

16. Globe and Map of the world

What better way to learn about the world than with a globe and/or map of the world! Children love them. 

17. Analog clock

It’s easy to forget about an analog clock with so much being digital nowadays, but they’re so important for learning to tell the time — and they’re fun too!

18. Timer

Timers are really useful, especially for younger children. They’re great for encouraging them to do work and they can help create a bit of routine.

19. Flags of the world

We highly recommend getting some flags of the world and they can be used in any format: physical flags, printed out, from a book, or shown on a screen. 

20. Alphabet letters

As with flags of the world, do the same for alphabet letters. And be as creative as you like! 

21. Library card

A library card is one of our top essentials for Home Education. It saves parents money on buying new books and offers children so many resources. 

22. Laptop

A laptop is great for online learning and watching educational videos. As children get older, they’ll likely want to transition from pen and paper to typing. And with the internet at our fingertips, there’s so much to learn, create and discover. 

23. Printer

A printer is highly recommended if you’re going to be printing out a lot. It’s more convenient than going to the library all the time and if you get one with a scanner you can scan work onto a laptop. 

24. Headphones

Headphones are great for helping children to focus, whether it be listening to something educational or putting on some music. They’re also perfect for audiobooks and podcasts. And if you have more than one child, they can all listen to something different whilst still being together. 

25. Kindle

Kindles are great for having a mini library at your fingertips without having to go out and physically get books. They also solve the problem of space — having tons of books but nowhere to put them!

26. Laminator

Highly recommended if you want to protect any work or get creative.

27. Folders

Let’s be honest, organisation is key. Folders are great for keeping subject-specific work together.

28. Filers

You’re going to need somewhere to store all those folders, which is where a filer comes in handy.

29. Clipboard

If you’re the type of family that loves learning outdoors, then a clipboard will be really useful to you. Take work anywhere without the need for a table.

30. Board games

Board games are an absolute favourite. Not only are they fun, they are educational too. A must-have is Scrabble!

31. Arts and crafts

At any age, who doesn’t love getting creative? Arts and crafts are perfect for those rainy days, and you can make just about anything! 

32. Materials

We’d highly recommend starting a collection of different materials because you never know when you might want to use them. These include: wood, stone, fabric, plastic, ceramic.

33. Paints & paintbrushes

Painting is such a great hobby, which can be encouraged at any age. It’s never too late to bring out the stash of paints and paintbrushes. 

34. Lunchbox and bag

Even though you are educating at home, a lunchbox and bag will always come in handy on days out. 

35. Sports equipment & activities

We’re not saying to go out and buy expensive sports equipment, but a range of sports items, such as footballs, basketballs, hockey sticks, hurdles etc. are great for children and will really encourage them to be active. 

We’d suggest finding out what sports they are interested in before committing to buying anything on the pricier side. 

If buying sports equipment is not an option, there’s always the option of going to the leisure centre or joining sports clubs. 

That’s just about everything we can think of for your homeschool essentials, but be sure to pick what’s essential to your family!