Pull up a chair, pour your tea or coffee, and let’s talk real homeschool life. This post gathers the most common questions from sisters on YouTube and Instagram about homeschooling and home management.
If you’re in the thick of it with little ones or just planning ahead, there’s something here for you. Remember this truth: this is a season of life. It will shift and soften with time, and you’ll find your footing. Share your thoughts in the comments and tell me if you’d like more Q&A posts like this.
DISCLAIMER: This blog post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase after clicking these links, I could earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I use in my homeschool & home and I love. Thank you for your support.
Q1: Homeschooling With an Active Toddler: Making It Work
Homeschooling with a toddler or baby is not easy, but it’s doable. It also changes fast as they grow. Last year my youngest was between one and one and a half. Now she’s two. I adjusted a lot through trial and error, alhamdulillah. What worked one month didn’t always work the next, and that’s normal.
Keep telling yourself: this phase will pass. Your routines will change next year anyway because your toddler will be older and more ready to join in.
Practical Strategies That Worked
- Set out small containers during lessons. Fill bins with simple items like balls, string, sponges, silicone cups, measuring spoons, or other dollar store finds. Put out one bin at a time so it feels fresh.
- Expect short attention spans. Let your toddler sit on your lap and play with something at the table while you teach an older child.
- Use a playpen for a focused block. Add a few toys and a small snack. You’ll often get 20 minutes of teaching time.
- Buckle into the high chair. A snack plus a toy or two keeps little hands busy while you work with another child.
Be flexible. Some days they need you more, and that’s alright. Balance connection with containment, and adjust based on your child’s needs. This season truly does end.
Q2: Carving Out Time for Self-Care as a Homeschool Mom
Self care doesn’t happen by accident. It needs planning and protection. Start by defining what fills you up. For me, it is reading my current book, watching videos about growing on YouTube, and quiet visits to a coffee shop without kids. Then I build those into my week.
Schedule self care before you map out your home or homeschool tasks. If it is not on the calendar, it likely will not happen
Building It Into Your Day
- Quiet time in the afternoon. We do daily quiet time, usually 1 to 2 hours between 1 and 3pm. The baby naps, older kids read or rest, and I read, learn, or create content. It’s peaceful, and it resets everyone.
- Early mornings. Waking 15 to 20 minutes before the kids makes a big difference. I take my vitamins, drink water, and read a bit of Quran. That small window sets the tone for the day.
- Weekly outing. Once a week, I go to a coffee shop alone for 1 to 2 hours. My husband watches the kids. If that’s not possible, ask a family member. Protect one outing a week for yourself.
Create a daily quiet time in your homeschool. It gives you space to fill your cup and gives kids structure and rest.
Q3: Preparing for Homeschool Before Kids Arrive
I receive so many emails from sisters who are pregnant or have a newborn and already want to homeschool. I love that initiative, mashallah. Use this time to invest in yourself as the primary educator. Start learning now so you feel confident later.
Focus on foundational skills:
- Quran reading, tajweed, and memorization
- Core Islamic knowledge
Why You’ll Be the Main Teacher
Even if you bring in a Quran teacher, they won’t teach five days a week. You’ll be teaching on days the teacher isn’t there. You’ll review Quran, Qaida Noorania practice, and teach deen consistently. Get comfortable with that knowledge now, and build steady habits that you can model later.
Q4: Building Your Homeschool Community: For Muslim Moms
There is real interest in a homeschool community for Muslim moms. It has been on my heart for a while. I planned to launch earlier in the year, then family needs pushed it back. Now, by the will of Allah, it is in the works again.
Q5: Finding Homeschool Mom Friends You Click With
Every homeschooler needs community. Even one or two moms you trust can make a big difference. You’ll swap ideas, talk through curriculum choices, and laugh about the tough days. Other homeschool moms understand in a way that others do not.
How to Connect
- Attend homeschool events, field trips, and picnics in your area.
- Say yes to park days and group classes.
- Sign up and show up with your kids. Be friendly. Share your goals.
You’ll meet lots of families, and over time you’ll find women whose values and personality fit yours. Friendships grow from shared life and steady contact. You just have to put yourself out there.
Q6:Simplifying Lesson Planning for the Year
I use open and go curriculum for most subjects. That means I can open the book and teach with minimal prep. For daily planning, I write down what lessons we will cover in each subject, then cross them off as we go. Simple is sustainable.
Q7: Creating a Homeschool Routine When Kids Miss Traditional School
There is no one right routine. Build a flow that fits your home. If your kids are asking to go back to school, start by listening. Sit with each child and ask what they enjoy, what they want to learn, and what they miss.
Engaging Their Interests
- List their interests. coding, art, sports, baking, carpentry, anything.
- Explain the benefit of homeschool. They can spend more time on interests than they did in school.
- Find classes or programs. Sign up for daytime lessons or clubs that fit your homeschool schedule.
- Balance. Do core subjects, then make room for interest-based learning.
Work with your kids, especially older ones who have been in school. You can’t force buy-in. You need to talk, listen, and get them on your side.
Q8:Tackling the Socialization Myth in Homeschooling
Socialization is the first worry people bring up when they hear you homeschool. Here is the truth. Homeschool kids are not stuck at home. One-on-one lessons are efficient, so schoolwork often takes less time. That leaves long stretches of day for real life and real people.
Natural Socialization Opportunities
- Parks and playgrounds
- Sports teams and swimming
- Library story times and workshops
- Classes, clubs, and community programs
- Grocery trips, errands, and daily life
- Masjid activities and family gatherings
Your job is to put your kids out there in the right environments. Sign them up, drive them there, and watch them grow. They will meet people of different ages, faiths, and backgrounds. Over time, they learn to speak, listen, and handle themselves. Even introverts build confidence with steady exposure and family support.
We hear all the time that no one would guess our kids are homeschooled. They are comfortable talking to adults and kids. That comes from living a full life outside the house. It is not forced, they just learn.
Q9:Establishing Routines for New Homeschoolers
If your kids struggle with routines, get clear and get practical. Vague directions do not work. You need a system. Create a checklist for each routine. Break it into small steps your child can follow on their own.
Training & Implementation
- Make the checklist. For example, Morning: make bed, get dressed, brush teeth, brush hair, dua, breakfast, clear dishes.
- Teach the checklist. Show each step and state your expectations. Adjust for age and ability.
- Practice together. Do it with them for several days in a row. Repeat until it sticks.
Younger kids may need months, even years, of training and reminders. Stay patient and consistent. Systems beat nagging.
Q10: My Journey: Starting a YouTube Channel for Muslim Moms
I started to show Muslim moms that homeschool can be realistic and joyful. Once I built systems that helped me stay on top of lessons and home tasks, everything felt lighter. Homeschool and home management are the two biggest pain points for many of us. I wanted to share what works so more families can say, I love it now.
Q11:Navigating Challenges from Family and Friends
Yes, you may face pushback. Some family members might not support your choice. They may say you are making a mistake. They may worry you are limiting your children. It can be painful.
Remember, life is a test for believers. Stay respectful and steady. Lack of support is common but not the end of your story. Keep going, and let your children’s growth speak over time.
Q12: Top Quran Resources for Teaching Young Kids and Toddlers
If you want to begin Quran and Qaida Noorania at home with little ones, keep it simple and consistent. Short, daily sessions work best. Start around ages 3 to 4 with very small steps, and build slowly. Watch THIS youtube video to learn more.
Recommended Tools We Use
Qaida Noorania Book: https://amzn.to/4mZykdu
Six Cards by Aminah Mohamed: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1372997058/the-six-cards-book-resource?ref=shop_home_active_5&frs=1&crt=1&logging_key=9f64de57bc1541145d086c3aa6a7cc7239df96ab%3A1372997058
Teach your child to Read Arabic in 10 Easy lessons: https://amzn.to/4gkn4Fn