What Counts as “School”? Understanding Informal Learning in Your Homeschool
If you’ve ever looked at your homeschool week and thought, “We didn’t get much done…” take a moment. Chances are that your kids learned more than you realize!
Homeschooling isn’t about trying to copy a traditional classroom. It’s about making room for meaningful learning to take place. That includes informal learning, the kind that naturally happens through everyday life rather than through textbooks, checklists, or formal lessons.
Let’s break it down, especially for families homeschooling tweens and teens.
What Is Informal Learning Anyway?
Informal learning is the kind of learning that happens naturally. It comes through curiosity, real-life experiences, conversations, projects, mistakes, and exploration. It may not follow a lesson plan, but it helps build deep understanding, creativity, and strong problem-solving skills.
And yes, it absolutely counts as school.
Examples That Count (and Might Surprise You)
Here’s what informal learning can look like for older kids, along with how to spot the academic value in the things they are already doing.
Planning a Vacation Itinerary→ Geography, budgeting, research, decision-making, writing (summary or persuasive pitch)
Fixing a Bike or Building a Skate Ramp→ Physics, measurement, tool use, safety, engineering design process
Managing a Resale Business on Poshmark, Depop, or eBay→ Math, marketing, photography, copywriting, economics
Writing Fanfiction or World-Building for D&D→ Creative writing, storytelling, language arts, even history or mythology
Bingeing a History-Based Series and Googling the Real Story→ Historical analysis, critical thinking, bias detection, research skills
Volunteering or Babysitting→ Health, child development, communication skills, time management
Learning to Cook for Themselves (Not Just Cookies)→ Home ec, math (scaling recipes), chemistry, life skills
Deep-Diving a Hobby (like forensics, wildlife tracking, or graphic design)→ Science, tech, fine arts, public speaking (if they present or post their work)
How to Log Informal Learning for Records or Portfolios
Not sure how to prove all that learning “counts”? Here are simple ways to track it:
Weekly Reflection Pages: Jot down informal activities and what subjects they relate to.
Photo Logs: Snap a photo, write a one-line caption (ex: “Rebuilt a laptop → Technology / Applied Science”).
Subject Sticky Notes: Keep a page for each subject and add bullet points when an activity fits.
Project Summaries: Have older students write a short reflection or “what I learned” recap. Great writing practice, too.
👉 Pro tip: Simple is fine. What matters most is consistency.
How to Embrace It Without Guilt
It’s easy to feel like you’re not “doing enough” if your day didn’t involve a stack of worksheets. But here’s the truth:
Real learning often looks messy, spontaneous, or slow.
Depth is better than breadth.
Your child won’t fall behind by exploring interests... they’ll actually retain more.
You’re not slacking. You’re letting learning breathe.
One Last Encouragement
Your homeschool doesn’t have to look like school to be school. Trust the process. Stay curious. And start giving yourself credit for the amazing things your kids are already learning.
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