This past fall, my family bought a house. I had some things I wanted just because we homeschool. So, I present to you:
The Homeschooler Checklist of Needs When House Hunting.
1. The house has to have a great kitchen. We eat more meals in our homes than most, so we gotta be able to cook and eat. Plenty of counter space for the crockpot, Instapot, and toaster oven. Room for a second dishwasher would be lovely.
2. A space we can use for school. It might be that great kitchen, but an extra room where lessons can happen is even better. Plenty of space for bookshelves is a must.
3. Affordability. Most homeschooling families live on one income, so home shopping has to be frugal. Having that payment every month for pretty much forever means we need to know we can make the payment and still afford food, books, and pajamas. There isn’t much else, right?
4. A yard. The yard is where classes like P.E, natural science, and recess all take place. A great climbing tree and room to set up a garden would be perfect.
5. At least 2 bathrooms. You know it’s true.
6. Proximity to more outdoor spaces. It could be a park, a nature area, or a big field. But extra space outside is a must for those long days when we all feel cooped up.
7. The public library would ideally be within walking distance. The closer the better.
8. Kid spaces in the house. Some kids need their own room, others can share a room, but need a play space. Not leaving all day, each day for school and work, means that our home needs room for all of us to have what we need. Whether that is alone time or group time.
9. Mom space. The truly perfect home has space for sitting with another mom to have tea while the children go to another room to play!
10. Storage. Every single one of us could use about 4 more closets to hide our homeschool supplies in!
Do you agree? Did I leave something out? What did you want most in a home for your homeschooling family?
P. S. The beautiful pictures in this blog post are stock photos and not pictures of my new home. My kitchen is lovely but that one is the kind of fantasy I think all stay-at-home moms dream of.
About the Author
Laura Sowdon, OTR/L is an occupational therapist, writer, speaker, educator and creator of the Five Senses Literature Lessons homeschool curriculum. She has worked as an occupational therapist with children in public and private schools, as well as private practice. Laura has taught and managed homeschool co-ops as well as homeschooling her own three children. Laura is dedicated to the idea of educating children at a pace that aligns with brain and physical development milestones and respects neurodiversity in all its forms.