How to Choose the Right Homeschool Curriculum for Your Child's Learning Style

Starting to homeschool can feel so overwhelming, especially when you're staring at hundreds of curriculum options. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How do I know what will actually work for my child?”, you’re not alone. While there isn’t a straightforward answer on how to find the curriculum that is best for your child, the secret to finding the right one often lies in understanding your child’s learning style. Once you know how your child learns best, choosing curriculum becomes less stressful and more successful.

1: Observe How Your Child Learns Naturally 

Before you buy anything, take a few weeks to simply observe. Watch how your child engages with the world. Here are some prompts to consider:

• Do they love listening to audiobooks or songs? They may be an auditory learner.
• Do they need to see pictures, charts, or read instructions to understand? Likely a visual learner.
• Do they learn best by building, moving, or doing things hands-on? That's a kinesthetic learner.

Understanding this can help you avoid buying a curriculum that doesn’t match their strengths.

2: Match Curriculum to Learning Style

Once you’ve identified your child’s learning style, look for curriculum that aligns with it:

• Visual Learners: Look for colorful textbooks, graphic organizers, video lessons, and illustrated stories. Picking a curriculum that is more book style versus being online.
• Auditory Learners: Choose programs with strong read-aloud components, audiobooks, and songs. This is where an on-line program may be more beneficial to your child.
• Kinesthetic Learners: Seek out hands-on projects, experiments, unit studies, and curricula that integrate movement. There are some fantastic nature-based curriculums out there that encourage movement and outdoors to benefit this type of learner. 

Pro Tip: Many kids are a mix of these! Don’t be afraid to blend resources. Seriously almost every curriculum company allows you to buy products a-la carte and MANY homeschool families do this.

3: Set Realistic Expectations (For You and Your Child)

Even the “perfect” curriculum will need adjusting. Your child may love one subject and resist another. That’s normal. Instead of looking for a one-size-fits-all program, focus on flexibility.
How to do that is:

• Is it easy to modify?
• Can I skip or substitute parts?
• Does it allow room for creativity and pacing?

Your confidence in knowing you find the right tools will grow as you learn to adapt the curriculum to your child—not the other way around.

4: Try Before You Buy (If Possible)

Many homeschool publishers offer samples, free trials, or YouTube reviews. Use them! This gives you a sneak peek at how your child might respond.

• Have your child watch a sample video or read a short lesson.
• Ask how they felt: Was it boring? Fun? Confusing?
• Watch their body language—sometimes that tells you more than words!

5: Trust Yourself

You don’t need a teaching degree to choose the right curriculum—you need a willing heart and a watchful eye. You know your child better than anyone else.

If something isn’t working, you can change it. That’s the beauty of homeschooling.

Choosing the right homeschool curriculum isn’t about finding the most expensive or most popular one. It’s about choosing what works for your child. By understanding their learning style and starting with their strengths, you’re setting up your homeschool for success.
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Was this helpful but you want a more in-depth look into figuring out how to homeschool? Check out my eBook How to Start Homeschooling With the End in Mind. Click below to get your copy today!

And remember: you’re doing a great job, just remember to keeping one step at a time.

Lori
To Know God and to Make Him Known

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