From online to co-ops to unschooling, homeschooling allows for an exponential amount of content flexibility. Before the 2000’s, finding curriculum for homeschooling was a challenge and often many families had to rely on co-ops to purchase the content. Now, with the boom of homeschooling and post-COVID learning, the curriculum options are overwhelming.

The beauty of homeschooling is the freedom to choose any content you want and at any pace you want. There’s also the option to switch mid year or anytime when it’s not working or if your child is progressing and finds a favorite topic. There is no one size fits all with a child’s learning – and homeschool choice allows you to flex and pivot whenever you need.

What Does Content Freedom Look Like?

(1) What your Child Learns – Influences and More

(2) Teaching Appropriate Content

Many schools have been implementing content into classrooms that is not age appropriate. From homosexual teachings to evolution and more, many classrooms have been showing explicit content to children as young as 5 years old. The concern here is not that they are learning about the world but that they are learning about content you don’t know about or may not approve. The school isn’t informing you of the content.

For example, in the last few years Georgia’s major school district fired a teacher for reading a gender identity book to a group of fifth graders. [1] This is just one of many books that has content that has not been parent-approved. Some of these books contained explicit sexual scenes and profanity. These books are available for any child in the school system – elementary age and up. While it may be approved by some parents, many parents are not aware of the content and these books are being read aloud to their child without their knowledge.

In Texas, the governor moved to assess and monitor the pornographic materials available to Texas elementary to middle school students. They moved to make the materials more transparent to families so they could choose. [2] The goal of content control in schools is to reflect the goals and values of the communities. But often times, this is not happening and parents and families are left in the dark about the reading materials and content being taught to their child during the school day.

The topic of inappropriate content within the schools and libraries of public schools is highly debated. With homeschooling – you don’t have to be constantly worrying about this. You know what your child is reading, learning and engaging in every. single. day.

Our family uses Common Sense Media and got a subscription as being a homeschool parent. It’s a useful website that is honest and reviews materials of all kinds to help you monitor the content. From movies to books, you can see the content yourself and continue the responsibility and choice to review what your child is reading and seeing everyday.

(3) Curriculum Choices (there are too many to list all!)

The amount of options for curriculum choice can be overwhelming. But for homeschoolers, that’s a good problem to have. Not only can you choose what content you want, but you can choose any format, style, system and organization. From purely online homeschooling to Charlotte Mason and more. You can choose Biblically based or secular. It can be block schedule or just morning sessions. There’s a curriculum and style for everyone.

Homeschooling allows content flexibility because you can choose ANYTHING for your child to learn and give them a well-rounded and practical education that taps into their learning styles, desires and interests. Content flexibility is great for homeschool as your child grows older and has more specific interests.

• Online Schools (Biblical and Public): Acellus – Power Homeschool – K12
• Co-ops: Search By State – Classical Conversations – Search Facebook Groups
• Charlotte Mason
• Hybrid: Many states now offer classes privately with tutors to help “fill in the gaps” of content
• Unschooling: Children learn based on interests and at their own pace
• Classical: The 3 R’s – Classical Conversations – Veritas Press – Classical Academic Press

*Find more homeschooling curriculum and styles in these pages.

(4) External Influences & Content

Often times a major concern for families that switch to homeschooling is that their child or children were bullied. This can come in the form of physical confrontation but can also be the external influences in the school. Many times bullying can come in the form of content pushing. Children are chastised for not agreeing with a certain history or content that is taught in the class. One opinion is the only opinion. I noticed this often when I taught in public school. The content was generated for one type of answer.

However, children like all humans, are free thinkers. They are a young impressionable age where they want approval and acceptance. If their opinion doesn’t match the teacher’s or their peers, they may change it just to fit in. This is where content control is essential.

(5) Friends and Connections

With homeschooling, you can gain meaningful connections with students and children who care about the same values and goals as your family does. They can engage your child in meaningful relationships, connections and discussions that encourage.

• Church groups
  • Friends that are in the same community and have the same morals and goals.
• Camps & trips
  • Friends that connect and respect each other for a common goal.
• Co-ops
  • Friends that have same purpose to learn and grow in the community and are healthy.
• Tutors & small groups
  • Friends that are respectful and share homeschool goals with you to encourage deeper relationships.
• Volunteering
  • Creating a community of friends and commitments that encourage selflessness and sincerity.
• Sports groups
  • Many times there are homeschool-only leagues and sports teams which means they fit your schedule and your goals.

Content flexibility can mean so many different things when it comes to homeschool. The point is that it is flexible and checked by you. You can review and change the materials and lessons your child learns daily. You will always have access and control over what you want your child to learn. Whether it’s books or friends or discussions, you can have the flexibility to see and control how they interact with the world so they can learn and grow with respect, love and positive engagement.