Homeschool curriculum options for the Christian family that are free or low cost.
One of the biggest challenges for homeschooling is determining the most impactful curriculum and then getting it at an affordable price. I know I struggled to find the best options for our family. And cost considerations required ingenuity.
Yet, sometimes I would find just the right option that served our family well. Focus on the Family would like to share some creative options for your homeschool curriculum.
A great place to learn more about homeschooling and topics of importance are at conventions. Below are the 2025 dates and locations for the Great Homeschool Convention. Danny Huerta, Vice President of Parenting at Focus on the Family, will be speaking at the convention in 2025. You can register online at greathomeschoolconventions.com.
It is always a good time to talk about our Heavenly Father. Start with a simple kid Bible. For example, our family read through the Bible and then talked about the lesson learned. You can also supplement the Bible with good stories such as our Adventures with the King series, Otter B series, or participate in our Live It Challenges together as a family.
A particular challenge, we faced in our family, was keeping young minds occupied while teaching older children. Clubhouse Jr. magazine is a wonderful place to start young readers and their website has activities, crafts and snack ideas just right for a young child.
Likewise, another helpful idea is to start working through emotional instruction with young children. Helping kids know how to label and handle their emotions can bring a lot of peace in the household. A free download, “Managing Those Tricky Emotions”, can help. A handy Adventures in Odyssey chart at the end of the download can be posted on the wall to help identify and express emotions. (Similarly, can also be helpful for older students and parents too!
As their world grows, your homeschooling curriculum doesn’t have to stay traditional. Make sure to invest in an “older” Bible to help kids on their journey. This is a good time to lay the foundation regarding the truth of God’s word and what it means to follow Christ. Helping kids ask and answer Biblical questions has many benefits. And it is okay for you to not have all the answers. My response of, “Let’s look that up together” gave us both a chance to learn.
Another fun way to enjoy devotions is having kids listen to the Average Boy podcast. This free podcast will give a lot of laughs while giving insights into the Bible and character development.
Beginning readers will find Clubhouse magazine fun to read. Just like the joy of knowing your kids are eating their veggies, what they are reading from Clubhouse is packed full of godly wisdom.
Your children will enjoy the magazine and not even realize all the godly values they are picking up naturally.
If you have a reluctant reader or even need a wholesome reward, check out our kid friendly, audio drama, Adventures in Odyssey. This can give mom or dad a break without putting kids in front of the TV. The membership offers the best deal and has benefits. (Hint: A gentle reminder or encouragement can be given by picking an episode based off a particular character.
Speaking of audio dramas, listening to classic literature may make it easier to finish. It can be a great way to learn while on the road. I remember several months we were traveling between the church, group activities, the orthodontist, softball, etc. It helped to us use that time wisely.
Although, sometimes you want a physical book in front of your children. For that reason, when it is time to snuggle in and read a good book, use this guide to help find good books. (Hint: Many of these books can be found at the local library.)
This is an opportune time to start some basic chores too. While not a traditional curriculum, think of it like the home economics classes from the past. We are raising future adults who will need to know how to do the laundry, clean the bathroom, mop, etc. “Age-Appropriate Chores” can help instill responsibility and an attitude of how we all contribute for the family’s good.
We found history to be more interesting when there were stories involved. The Drive Thru History video series, helps with just that. With engaging visuals and stories, children will learn more about the history of the world. And free broadcasts about heroes of American history. Finally, the Imagination Station series can offer exciting reads with glimpses of history in a fun way. Ask your kids what they found the most meaningful. How can what we learned in the past change our tomorrow?
Yes, it is that time where bodies start to change, and you need to have “The Talk.” Even more though, sex education is much more than a one-time conversation. There are many aspects feeding into how preteens and teens look at sex. With that in mind, it is a good idea to start early rather than later. Our in-depth, dynamic toolkit, Launch Into the Teen Years, which will walk you and your child through the important formation of their sexuality.
Click to preview the dynamic new video-based program created by youth and parenting experts from Focus on the Family.
Mid-Grade and High School Homeschool Curriculum options
Danielle Pitzer is the Director of Sanctity of Human Life for Focus on the Family.
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Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
If faith and character are part of your family values, homeschooling could be the right choice.
