Should Your Child Help Choose Their Homeschool Curriculum?

One of the wonderful things about homeschooling is the opportunity to tailor your child’s education to fit their individual needs, strengths, interests, and goals.

But does that mean your child should actually help choose their homeschool curriculum?

The answer may depend on your child’s age and maturity, but especially as children grow older, their perspective can provide valuable insight into what is—and isn’t—working.

As the parent, you are still responsible for directing your child’s education. Inviting your child into the conversation doesn’t mean handing over that responsibility. Instead, it gives you another source of information as you make thoughtful decisions about your homeschool.

Talk About What Has—and Hasn’t—Worked

Before choosing new curriculum, talk with your child about their previous learning experiences.

What subjects have they enjoyed most? What made those subjects enjoyable?

Which materials frustrated them? Was the work too difficult, too repetitive, or simply presented in a way that didn’t make sense to them?

Ask questions such as:

• What did you like about your math curriculum this year?
• Which subjects felt easiest to understand?
• Was there anything you dreaded doing every day? Why?
• Did you prefer reading the lesson yourself or having someone explain it to you?
• Did you enjoy projects and hands-on activities?
• Did you have enough practice—or too much?
• Was there anything you wish we had done differently?

You aren’t asking your child to select a curriculum. You’re gathering information.

Sometimes our children can tell us things about their learning that we haven’t noticed ourselves.

Establish Your Homeschool Goals Together

Before looking at curriculum, think about what you hope to accomplish during the coming school year.

For younger children, most of those goals will naturally be established by the parent. As students mature, however, they can begin taking a more active role in identifying their own interests and goals.

Perhaps your middle school student wants to become a stronger writer. Your teenager may be interested in engineering, art, business, healthcare, or another potential career. A high school student may already be thinking about college requirements or developing skills for the workforce.

Talk about those goals together.

Your child’s interests do not have to determine every course or curriculum choice, but knowing where your student hopes to go can help you make better decisions about how to get there.

It also helps children begin to understand that education has a purpose beyond simply finishing today's assignment.

Narrow the Homeschool Curriculum Choices First

Giving your child a voice does not mean giving your child unlimited choices.

There are hundreds of homeschool curriculum options available. Asking a student to simply pick one can be just as overwhelming for them as it is for you.

Instead, parents can do the initial research.

Consider whether a curriculum:

• Provides appropriate academic content
• Fits your child’s current ability
• Meets the requirements of your homeschool option
• Works with your teaching style
• Fits your family’s schedule
• Is affordable for your family
• Provides an appropriate amount of parent and independent instruction

Once you’ve narrowed the field to a few good choices, you can involve your child more directly.

If you’re still narrowing down your options, our complete guide to choosing homeschool curriculum walks you through your child’s learning needs, your teaching style, curriculum formats, schedule, budget, and other important considerations.

Give Your Child a Voice Among Good Choices

Once you have identified two or three curriculum options that you believe could work well, let your child take a look.

Many curriculum publishers provide sample lessons or pages online. Sit down together and compare them.

Which format does your child find easier to follow? Does one seem more interesting? Would your student rather read a textbook, watch an instructional video, work through an online lesson, or learn through discussion and hands-on activities?

This can be particularly valuable with older students who are doing more independent work.

Your child’s preference does not necessarily have to determine the final decision. You may know things about cost, academic requirements, workload, or long-term educational goals that your child does not.

But their opinion is still useful information.

When children know their thoughts have been heard and considered, they may also be more willing to take ownership of the curriculum you ultimately choose together.

Remember That Different Children May Need Different Curriculum

What worked beautifully for one child may not work for another—even within the same family.

One student may love a workbook-based math curriculum. Another may need more direct instruction or hands-on practice.

One child may happily read independently for hours. Another may understand and retain more through discussion, audiobooks, or visual instruction.

This is one of the great freedoms of homeschooling. You don't have to educate every child exactly the same way.

Listen to what your child is telling you, observe how they respond to different approaches, and be willing to make adjustments when necessary.

Ask for Experienced Guidance When You Need It

Sometimes both you and your child can look at the choices and still have no idea which curriculum to select.

That’s okay.

Experienced homeschool parents can be helpful resources, but remember that a curriculum another family loves may not necessarily be the best fit for yours.

Sometimes it helps to talk with someone who can look at the bigger picture.

SCAIHS counselors can help families consider a student’s academic needs, strengths, goals, learning preferences, course requirements, and future plans while evaluating curriculum choices.

You don’t have to figure out every part of homeschooling by yourself.

What if Your Child Doesn't Like the Curriculum You Choose?

Even after thoughtful research and discussion, you may choose a curriculum that doesn't work as well as you expected.

That doesn't necessarily mean you need to throw it out immediately.

Talk with your child again.

Try to determine what isn't working. Is the material too difficult? Too easy? Is there too much repetition? Does your child need more explanation? Is the workload unreasonable? Would a small adjustment make the curriculum more manageable?

Sometimes changing the pace, skipping unnecessary exercises, adding hands-on activities, or providing more direct instruction is enough.

Other times, you may decide that a different curriculum really would be a better fit.

That's part of homeschooling, too. You are continually learning about your child, and you can use what you learn to make better educational decisions.

Your Child’s Voice Matters—And You Are Still the Parent

Parent-directed education does not mean your child has no voice in their education.

You know your child in a way no curriculum publisher ever could. And as your child grows, they increasingly know themselves—their interests, frustrations, goals, and preferences.

Listen to them.

Ask questions.

Give them appropriate opportunities to participate.

Then use that information, along with your own judgment and responsibility as the parent, to make the decision that you believe will serve your child best.

Choosing homeschool curriculum doesn't have to be about finding the one perfect program. It's about knowing your child, making thoughtful choices, and being willing to adjust along the way.

And when you need guidance, SCAIHS is here to walk alongside you.