Homeschooling while working isn’t for the faint of heart… but it is possible. I have homeschooled while running a business from home for years, and while my husband is also home as an entrepreneur, it hasn’t always been that way, so I want to share some tips for how to homeschool while working with you.
Whether you’re working full-time from home, running your own business, or squeezing in freelance work during naptime, the secret isn’t perfection — it’s teamwork, flexibility, and teaching your kids the beautiful skill of independence.
Let’s talk about what this can realistically look like (without the guilt, the Pinterest pressure, or the impossible expectations).
Work as a Team With Your Spouse
Homeschooling doesn’t have to sit entirely on one parent’s shoulders.
If you’re married, consider homeschooling as a team project. You might handle morning lessons because your brain is fresh, and your spouse might read bedtime stories, cover evening math practice, or take the kids for an hour so you can finish your tasks.
Some families even split subjects — one parent teaches reading, the other teaches science experiments on weekends.
There’s no “right way.” There’s just the way that keeps your marriage strong and your home peaceful.
For us, we tried and tried to split the “teacher” responsibilities and it did NOT work. For us, this looks like me being fully in charge of their “formal” education, and my husband focuses on the housework and life skills with the kids. He has zero desire to teach math, but is happy to work with the kids on chores and learning to cook and other things.
Teach Your Kids the Gift of Independence
One of the most valuable things we can teach our kids — no matter how old they are — is the ability to work independently.
Start small:
- Putting their own laundry away
- Tidying play areas
- Independent play
- Independent reading
- Wiping down a table after snacks
- Finishing a math page on their own
- Listening to an audiobook while following along
- Creative stations
These little habits stack up, and suddenly you find that you can answer emails or schedule client calls while your kids work beside you. The best hack for how to homeschool while working!
And yes… they will interrupt you sometimes. That’s normal. But it gets better.
Independent Work Ideas for Kids (By Age & Season of Life)
For Preschool & Kindergarten
- Puzzles
- Lacing cards
- Magnetic tiles
- Coloring pages
- “Quiet bins” with sorting or simple manipulatives
- Listening to audiobooks during free play
- Looking at books
For Early Elementary
- Journaling
- Copywork
- Independent math worksheets
- Easy science videos
- Reading time (fun books + assigned books)
- Painting or crafts
- Lego challenges
For Upper Elementary / Middle School
- Research projects
- Self-guided unit studies
- Audiobook + notebooking
- Independent history or science lessons
- Creative writing
- Typing or coding practice
Self-Led Curriculum Options (Perfect for Working Parents)
There are so many wonderful options that allow kids to learn at their own pace while you get work done:
Open-and-Go or Self-Led Programs
- The Good and the Beautiful (simple, beautiful, easy to follow)
- Masterbooks
- Christian Light Education
- Abeka video lessons
- Teaching Textbooks
Online or App-Based Options
Sometimes the best gift you can give yourself as a working homeschool mom is a curriculum your kids can do without you sitting next to them.
A few great options:
- Mia Academy
- Acellus
- Khan Academy Kids
- Prodigy Math
- Epic Books
- ABC Mouse
And if you need ideas for apps specifically, here’s a whole breakdown for you:
👉 The Best Learning Apps for Kids
Use Real Life as Part of Your Homeschool
Homeschooling doesn’t have to look like desks and worksheets.
When you’re working, life-schooling becomes your best friend:
- Let kids help prepare meals
- Ask them to organize the pantry
- Involve them in budgeting or grocery planning
- Let them fold towels while listening to a history podcast
- Give them real responsibilities that make them feel capable
These moments matter just as much as phonics lessons.
Schedule Work Time While Kids Work
One of the easiest rhythms is “everyone works at the same time.”
Set up:
- You at your laptop
- Kids at the table with their work
- A snack nearby
- Soft music or an audiobook playing in the background
Is it perfect? No.
Is it doable? Absolutely.
And honestly, your kids watching you work teaches them discipline and purpose.
Make the Most of Nap Time (If You Have Littles)
The naptime hustle is real — and powerful.
If you have toddlers or babies, this is often your golden hour.
Use nap time for:
- The work that needs quiet
- Client calls
- Editing, writing, or content creation
- Anything that’s easier without interruptions
And if naps are unpredictable?
Even quiet time with books or quiet toys can give you a pocket of breathing room.
Be Flexible — That’s the Beauty of Homeschooling
Some days will flow beautifully.
Other days you’ll celebrate if you just kept everyone fed and loved.
It’s okay.
You can:
- Do school in the evenings
- Save heavy subjects for weekends
- Have a lighter day when you have deadlines
- Swap Tuesday’s lessons to Thursday without guilt
The point is not perfection.
The point is creating a home where learning happens all day long, in meaningful little ways.
If You’re Struggling to Create a Routine… I Have Something for You
Finding a rhythm that works for your family (and your work schedule) takes trial and error — and it can feel overwhelming when you’re trying to do it alone.
If you want a little help figuring out:
- A routine that fits your life
- Simple systems that keep your home peaceful
- Schedules that actually work
- How to balance homeschool and work without burnout
My Simplified Homeschool Starter Kit was designed exactly for this.
It walks you through routines, schedules, planning pages, and realistic systems that help you bring calm into your day.
👉 Grab for $17 here!https://thesimplifiedhomeschool.mykajabi.com/offers/g2bmgVQt/checkout
You don’t have to figure it all out on your own.
You just need a starting point — and you’re already doing an amazing job.
xo,
Katelyn
Need more homeschooling tips? Check these out:
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