Hafsah Umm Khadeeja bint Mahmood Bushnaq

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A Muslim Homeschool 2018
www.amuslimhomeschool.com

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 Introduction
My dear sister,
I decided to put together this short eBooklet as I felt it may
offer more benefit than a regular blog post inshaAllah.
If you are familiar with my blog, you’ll know I don’t proclaim
to have everything all-together when it comes to my own
homeschool.
My homeschool is very much a work in progress. I’m learning
just like you how to ride this path that mixes family with
education.
However, I would like to share with you some things that I
know now, that I didn’t know when my children were
preschool age.
The insights I gleam are partly hindsight looking back, and
partly experience.
I pray that in this small offering of mine you will find benefit
inshaAllah.

Umm Khadeeja x

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 Your fAQ’s
I asked you over on Instagram and Facebook to send me your
questions connected to home schooling your pre-schooler,
since I receive many which are the same. And so I realised it
would be helpful to have something answering all theses
common questions in one place.
Here are those questions.

How to homeschool a 2 year old? 4

What about a 4 year old? 13
Keeping a schedule 16
What to cover? 19
Teaching Islam 21
Incorporating lessons 24
Mobile devices 25
Teaching English as a second language speaker 30
Natural learning 31
Overwhelm 33
Dealing with homeschool prejudice 35
Considering homeschool 39
Recommended resources to aid your growth as 44
parent and educator

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How to homeschool a 2 year old?
You don't!

A two year old doesn't need homeschooling. They simply need

parenting.

I remember when my eldest was a toddler. I remember the

anticipation and excitement to teach this little girl of mine
everything, to make her be the best she can be inshaAllah. To
put her ahead.

She was barely out of nappies, yet in my mind I was trying to

set her up to be ready to begin a PhD.

So I get it. I can completely relate to your question, because

I've been there myself with my own children.

I totally get your enthusiasm, and your desire to help your

child towards success bi'ithnillah. Especially if this is your first
child (usualy this enthusiasm for teaching a two year old is
because he is your first born....usualy).

Let me assure you the time for homeschooling around the

kitchen table will come. Those books and model planets aren't
going to run away. They will be there waiting. So relax, there
is no hurry.

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Two year olds doesn't need school. They need parenting.

A little person who has only been on the planet for a mere
two or three years, doesn't need to be "homeschooled" just
as a child of the same age doesn't need to "go to school".

But what they do need, is mummy to help them play, explore

and discover. They need love, security and nurture.
They need parenting.

We don't school a 2/3 year old, we parent them.

Yet in our zeal for education, and our desire to meet secular
early years guidelines from professionals, we put ourselves
forward as academic teachers, instead of parents, with
misguided thinking that our role as an educator is what will
give our child success over our role as mother.

Your young pre-schooler needs a parent. He doesn't need a

homeschool teacher.

Teach him good manners

Manners are so important to a child's learning and growth.

Because without them, he will not benefit from your
academic teaching as he develops.

If he doesn't know how to ask politely, share, have patience,

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eat the food given to him, listen, not interrupt, then what
makes you think he will be able to take the information to
learn, presented to him when he is 8 or 9?

Manners begins with us. Children mimic everything we do. So

if we want a child with good manners, we need to model that
ourselves first. Its not a case of instructing do as I say, but not
as I do. Kids don't care what we say, they will always, always
learn and imitate from that which we ourselves do first.

Educate yourself, and your child will learn

Our child's learning and cultivation begins with us.

When I first became a parent I was 23. I knew very little about
Islam. I still know very little. But at 23 I knew even less (even if
I didn't realise that at the time!). I knew nothing about
parenting. And I had no one to help me, living in a new city
away from my own family. So I did what I thought I needed to
do.

As my eldest got older and out of nappies, my focus was on

teaching her about her religion. I wanted her to have what I
felt I had missed and always longed for growing up. And whilst
I did continue to learn myself, it soon became a greater focus
to educate her on what I felt she needed to know, rather than
what I need to know first.

And it is this point that I want to convey to you.

Educate yourself.

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About Islam. About Tawheed. About 'Aqeedah. About the
Qur'an and Tajweed. About good manners. About the stories
of the Prophets. About Arabic.

Educate yourself.

About parenting. About education. About teaching. About

learning. About homeschooling.

Because whatever you learn, you will automatically pass onto

your children.

Read aloud plenty

I can not stress enough the power of reading aloud to your

children. Daily.

Whether they curl up besides you snuggled on the sofa, or sit

on the floor in front of you listening as they continue to play
with their cars or puzzle.

Read. Aloud. Daily.

Reading together not only helps to foster connection between

us, it provides no end of learning opportunities; introducing
new vocabulary, ideas, and knowledge on every topic
imaginable as well as being an important life lesson to see you
model regular reading habits yourself (remember, kids imitate
what they see).

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Choose books that you will enjoy reading aloud too, because
your enjoyment and enthusiasm will be passed onto your little
person.

If your child doesn't appear to be interested, rather than

instructing him that its time to read, invite him by simply
begining to read and wait for him to toddle on over to see
what you are doing.
What child doesn't want to join in on something fun Mum is
doing and is clearly enjoying herself?

Something which really helps generate excitement about

books is to get new books (whether from the library or store
bought), and leaving them out on the coffee table to be
discovered in the morning when your children wake up.
Or try turning a few books on the book-shelf so the cover
faces outwards just as you would find in a book store. You'd
be surprised how doing this one simple thing helps draw
attention to a book which otherwise is lost in and amongst all
the other spines.

Play lots

Young children love to explore and discover. You often find

them imitating skills and tasks they see others perform
throughout their play. Don't undervalue the significance of
this in their development.

Although children don't realise that they are learning, play in

and of itself a meaningful activity aiding their learning growth.

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Its too easy for us as parents to see our kids engaged in play
and think nothing of it, but to the child they are structuring
their environment and processing ideas through it.

Provide opportunities for natural learning growth

Babies learn to sit, crawl, walk and talk without any concerted
effort from parents other than encouragement.

We don't need to read books and research papers on the best

way to get our babies crawling and making babbling sounds. It
just happens. They are by nature curious, and spend all their
time mesmerised by their surroundings.

They watch, observe and try. And importantly, don't give up.

When we see their efforts to make their first "da da" sounds,
we sit face to face gleaming with excitement repeating back
to them "da da", encouraging them to keep on trying.

When we see their attempts to start crawling we place

something of interest to them a few feet away to help them
keep on pushing.

When we see they are standing on their feet and ready to try
making those first couple of steps unaided, we let go of their
hand and crouch our self down arms wide open, cheering
them on to walk into our championing embrace.

Our babies did all of those things and more, simply my

watching us model these skills without a second thought and

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they did the rest.

They are born with curiosity and a desire to learn.

Think about it. We keep everything that could harm them out
of sight and out of reach, why? Because we know that no
matter how many times we tell them "no" they will keep on
trying to get it. Their curiosity drives them with a compulsion
to discover and explore anything new. We know we can not
stop it.

So use this impulse for unearthing new things to yours and

their advantage.

Create an environment and provide opportunities which

encourage natural learning growth.

Keep a low level shelf where you can leave a couple of

interesting objects, or learning toys. Change the contents of
the shelf every week or even every day.
I'm not talking about buying in loads of expensive toys or
manipulatives. Simple, inexpensive items which will spark
their curiosity and ignite creativity.
For example:

o A small box or basket filled with a nature collection;

things like pinecones, dried conkers, small twigs,
interesting rocks, shells, laminated leaves and flattened
flowers. Add a child's magnifying glass for extra interest.
o A small pot from the kitchen with a wooden spoon (you
know kids love pots and pans because most of us have

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 child locks all over the kitchen cupboards or a stair gate
blocking them from getting in at all!)
o Place a small tray with two small jugs. One filled with
either water or some dried lentils / rice that you will
cook later that day. They will love pouring the contents
from one jug to the other. Working on their fine motor
skills and co-ordination.
o A large chunky string or shoe-lace and giant wooden
beads.
o A long, thin piece of rope and a box full of empty toilet
rolls to thread.
o Lacing cards (you can draw or print these yourself,
laminate and punch holes into for your child to push
shoe-lace through.
o A couple of small containers, pompoms and a spoon.
o Wooden block shapes.
o Fill small plastic bottles with different items, such as
dried rice (you will cook later), marbles, buttons, water
with glitter, whatever you can think of that looks
interesting and makes different sounds. Just make sure
the lids are screwed on tight!
o Get a shoe box, super glue / hot glue a fabric lid on the
top and cut two small holes that will fit your child's
hands through.
Leave inside pairs of small objects which your child can
feel around to find and bring out matched. For example,
2 crayons, 2 toy cars, 2 pine cones, 2 spoons, 2 golf size
balls etc
o A small dustpan and brush....the bonus is your floors will
be clean(ish) all day!

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  How could I not mention books! You can get these from
the library and swap them every week or two.

There are so many inexpensive DIY toy ideas online, which will
save you a tonne of money and honestly, in my opinion
interest a 2 year old far more than a big plastic toy that lights
up from the local toy store (I hate those!).

My parting advice for homeschooling a 2 year old

Just remember, your 2 year old needs parenting right now, not
schooling.

Talk with him lots, play lots, read aloud lots, walk in nature, go
to the park, teach him good manners, keep providing
opportunities to nurture curiosity and most importantly of all,
teach him about Allah.

Our children are amazing.

When we are engaged with them as a parent, talking to them,

playing with them, discovering with them, we will be
astounded at how much they are capable of learning and
growing without us consciously trying subhanAllah.

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What about a 4 Year old?
Your question:
What about a 4 year old? Do you start structured 'school' /
activities or still do random activities with them?

Drawing on my own homeschool experience with my family,

I’d say that much of the advice I gave in the previous question
regarding a 2 year old, is still applicable to a 4 year old.
 Be an interested and engaged parent.
- Read aloud lots
- Play lots
- Talk lots
 Continue teaching and re-enforcing good manners.
 Continue to provide an environment and opportunities
for learning and discovery.
Create an environment in your home which encourages
learning and growth.
Put out supplies and materials which are free to use
whenever your child pleases. Put them in a space he can
easily get them and put them back away without having to ask
for your assistance.

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Again, as mentioned in the previous answer, set aside a small
space, a few low shelves or a cupboard which can be filled
with interesting materials and manipulatives.
Show your child how to use things, and how to put them
away.
You might include things like:
o Puzzles
o Lego bricks
o Pencil crayons and plain paper
o Pritt stick glue
o Scrap papers to cut out
o Different coloured construction papers
o Watercolour paints
o Playdough
o Montessori materials / Montessori inspired
o Colouring pages / book
o Alphabet / phonic or number tracing sheets
o A cardboard box full of smaller boxes and scrap card that
can be used to make something
o Magnifying glass
o Magnet set
o Bug catcher with magnifier to catch, observe and free
o Books
There are so many ideas online to try.
The point is, you are trying to encourage discovery and
allowing for your child to develop his own ideas.

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Your child just needs opportunities put in his way, and he will
take them with both hands running.
If you really feel the need to do something more formally, and
would prefer having some structure to your learning, then
create a structure that you are happy with and gives you that
comfort you are seeking.
However I would just like you to consider that you are in your
home, not a school. Allow your structure to reflect your home
and family. Embrace the qualities of home and allow that to
transcend into your homeschool routine.

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 Keeping a schedule
Your question:
How do you keep to a schedule? I have the best intentions but
can’t keep to it.

So often we over complicate our routines by trying to start

everything all at once because we don’t want to miss
anything, or because we feel having a schedule is the right
thing to do.
The first thing I’d ask you to consider, is the difference
between a schedule and a routine.
A schedule gives an activity a time and a place. It is dentist
appointments or outside the home classes and clubs.
A routine on the other hand, is something we do irrespective
of time. We brush our teeth before we go to bed, regardless
of whether we head upstairs at 9pm or 11. Before we go, we’ll
brush our teeth. It’s routine. It’s just something we do.
Your home is not run on schedule. It’s your home. You have
routine intertwined throughout your whole day, whether or
not you may have noticed them.
What so many of us find difficult to settle with when
homeschooling, is balancing what we remember from our

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own experiences at school, with bells for classes and a strict
start and end time each day, and our home.
We try to take our understanding of school, and squeeze it
into our home, which is our family life.
Families don’t thrive on schedules. They thrive with routines.

Start with one thing

I always say to anyone wanting to create a regular
homeschool routine:
Start with one thing. Do it well. Do it consistently.
Once you have given yourself enough time to make this one
thing a part of your routine, then go ahead and add something
else. Do it well. Do it consistently.
So whether that is learning your phonics, numbers, Arabic,
science activities, even a daily read aloud, start with one thing
and build it up over a period of time.
Whatever it is you choose to start with, I do suggest beginning
with something you all actually enjoy, because that is going to
help you stick with it inshaAllah. Even if that is a daily dose of
light crafting or read alouds. When you begin with something
that doesn’t feel like a chore, you will find yourself navigating
towards it with ease instead of procrastinating to avoid it.
Something else you may like to consider to help developing a
consistent routine which allows you to get everything you
want done, “done”, is loop scheduling.

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Loop Scheduling
Normally what tends to happen to most of us when we want
to organise our home school, is we typically assign different
lessons or activities to specific days.
So maybe for example everyday you work on numeracy and
literacy, but Mondays are for science, Tuesday crafts,
Wednesday Islamic Studies etc etc. you get the drift.

But what happens if Tuesday some one is sick, or Wednesday

you want to meet your friends at the park or Friday you have
your inlaws dropping by from out of town....now what!? You
miss a day or two and immediately you feel behind!

This is where loop scheduling saves the day!

While it won't help you get more done, it will help you be
consistent, remove the burden and stress from doing it
inshallah, and stop you feeling like you got behind or feeling
guilty that appointment or play date messed up your week.

Instead of assigning subjects to days, you simply list them all

out and work your way through them. If something
unexpected comes up, that's okay, you pick up and continue
exactly where you left off the next day you get back to it.
Once you reach the end of your list, simply jump back up to
the top and work your way through it again.

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 What to cover?
Your question:
Can you generally list subjects / topics / concepts I should
be teaching apart from alphabets and numbers?

This is a hard one for me to answer as it will really depend on

you and your family and what kind of educational philosophy
you are adopting.
Really, I’d say follow whatever interests your child. Go down
whatever rabbit hole that captures his interest.
Unless you have decided that you want to follow the school
curriculum closely (in which case, find out what learning
objectives are given in your country), continue encouraging
natural learning growth with whatever occupies your child’s
curiosity.
This is where you being an interested and engaged parent
comes in.
A pre-schooler doesn’t know what interests them. They don’t
know what is out there after only being on this planet a mere
three or four years.
So provide meaningful opportunities for discovery.

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Take walks in nature and point out all the different bugs and
critters.
Visit museums and see what sparks his attention.
Introduce a stream of new books regularly.
Talk a lot. And listen.
Encourage and nurture your child’s natural curiosity for
learning new things.
And when learning, you don’t have to have a piece of paper to
show something has been learnt.
It is what lives inside your child’s heart and mind that shows
learning has taken place.
I say to my now twelve year old, education isn’t about the
writing of facts and ideas, but it’s about what has stuck inside
the mind, what has truly been learnt and remembered.
We can have all the exercise books in the world filled in, or
worksheets piled high, but that means nothing if what has
been studied hasn’t impacted the chid (or us) in a positive and
meaningful way.
I certainly did not realise this back when she was just three or
four.

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 teaching islam
Your question:
How to incorporate Islamic studies at this age?

Think about the early generations of Muslims.

How did they teach their children Islam?
They didn’t do fancy arts and crafts or follow specially
designed curriculum like many of us do today.
They taught their children Islam with their daily interactions
and words.
I don’t make mention of this to say we shouldn’t encourage
their Islamic learning through means which captures their
enjoyment and pleasure.
But I raise it to remind myself first and foremost, that when it
comes to teaching our children Islam, we must seek to learn
and act upon that knowledge ourselves first, because
whatever we learn, will be passed onto them.
 Talk about Allah.
 Observe the creation of Allah in nature.
 Read the stories of the Prophets.
 Read the stories from the Seerah.

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  Teach the correct manners from Islam for eating and
drinking, going to the bathroom, respecting elders.
Islam is about practice, not theory. It is action, not only belief.
The daughter of Shiekh Muqbil ibn Haadee al-Waadi’ee, Umm
Abdillah al-Waadi’iyyah, writes in her book My Advice to the
Women a chapter mentioning 21 points to the raising of
children which I highly recommend you read.
She mentions an advice regarding the age suitable to teaching
which I feel we can benefit from reflecting upon here:
“Whenever you find that the child is able to comprehend the
pillars of Islam and Emman, and the pillars of Ihsaan, then you
should teach him. I do not restrict teaching him (this) to a
particular age because both the ability of children to articulate
and their intellects differ.” (1)
Look at your own child and think about both their age and
ability to comprehend. It isn’t a race to teach our children
everything so they reach the “end”, for there is no end. But
rather we want to die whilst traversing that path in seeking
that knowledge inshaAllah.
I advise myself first, to seek the advice our scholars from
Ahlus Sunnah wal Jammah upon the way of the salaf as saalih
regarding the teaching of our children Islam and its method,
as they are in the highest position to advise.
Some books you may find of benefit:
o Teaching children Tawheed – A guide to what is obligatory
upon us to teach our children
(1) My Advice to the women pg 99
Umm ‘Abdillah al-Waadi’iyyah
Published by Tarbiyyah Bookstore Publishing.
Translator unspecified.
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 Muhammd bin ‘Abdul-Wahhab
Translated by Aboo Sufyaan ‘Uthmaan Beecher
o My Advice to the women
Umm ‘Abdillah al-Waadi’iyyah
Published by Tarbiyyah Bookstore Publishing.
o A woman’s guide to raising a family
Shiekh Salih al-Fawzan
Translated by Raha Batts
o Sincere council to the seekers of sacred knowledge
Shiekh Ibn al-Jawzi
Translated by Ayman ibn Khalid
o My home my path
A compilation of teachings from various scholars
Compiled and translated by Umm Mujaahid Khadijah bint
Lacina al-Amreekeeyah

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incorporating lessons
Your question:
I am looking for some activities in which lessons can be
incorporated.
Sit down with a pen and paper and list out your lesson
objectives.
What is it that you want your child to learn?
And then, take a look at how you can bring those lessons into
various activities you enjoy facilitating.
Whatever you are exploring with your child, look for ways to
bring in the academic learning you want to see growing.
Maybe you’re studying sealife.
How big is a Killer Whale? How could you measure that? How
many of your child’s little feet lined up would be needed to
show its length? (all maths)
What letter of the alphabet do all these sea creatures begin
with? Can you find poems about the sea? (literacy)
How are icebergs made? How can you make one at home?
How does water turn to ice? (science)
You can learn literally any subject through any topic.

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 MoBile devices
Your question:
How to keep them away from phones or any other gadgets.

You might not like my answer.

Don’t use them.
I’ve seen too many mothers handing their young child a
mobile phone to keep them quiet at the masjid or when they
are busy at home.
Our children wouldn’t want these technical appliances in the
first place if we didn’t use them as a pacifier to hush and
entertain…and… if they didn’t see us with them in hand so
often.
We have a big part to play in this, because many of us
ourselves are addicted.
Yes, addicted.

Mobile phone addiction

Mobile phone addiction is a big problem today, and for the
children who follow us I can’t even imagine the potential long
term damage it will have on them.

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Many of the mobile applications, games and social media we
commonly use have been designed purposefully to draw us in
and keep using them. Because the more time we spend on
them, the more money some one else is able to make through
advertising.
Designers use hooks commonly used in gambling casinos to
keep us going back for more; as Muslims we don’t gamble,
however I’m sure all of us are aware of what a slot machine is.
Its leaver is pulled and a few moments go by whilst 3 images
appear. Often they don’t match, but sometimes they do. The
user keeps on pulling the leaver in anticipation of getting that
endorphin release of excitement when they finally get a win.
This is what many mobile apps, games and social media sites
are doing to us to replicate that rush of a “win”; notifications.
You know if you have watsapp or Facebook notifications show
up on your phone: 99 out of 100 notifications mean nothing
to us. But we keep picking up our phone anticipating that one
good one comes up, and to make sure we don’t miss
anything.

The tech guys designing these devices and features know the
danger.
o One of Facebooks founders, Sean Parker said that its
addictive qualities “exploit a vulnerability in human
psychology…God only knows what it’s doing to our
children’s brains. (1)

(1) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/12/tech-bosses-kids-time-smartphones-parents-mental-health

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 o Jony Ive, chief design officer for Apple, said that
“constant use” of the iphone was “misuse”. (1)
o Apple co-founder and chief executive Steve Jobs was
asked in a 2010 interview if his children loved the ipad.
He responded “They haven’t used it…we limit how much
technology our kids use at home.” (1)
o Bill Gates, the former CEO of Microsoft, implemented a
cap on screen time when his daughter started
developing an unhealthy attachment to a video game. He
also didn't let his kids get cell phones until they turned
14. (2)
o Chris Anderson, the former editor of Wired and now
chief executive of 3D Robotics, a drone maker, has
instituted time limits and parental controls on every
device in his home. “My kids accuse me and my wife of
being fascists and overly concerned about tech, and they
say that none of their friends have the same rules,” he
said of his five children, 6 to 17. “That’s because we have
seen the dangers of technology first-hand. I’ve seen it in
myself, I don’t want to see that happen to my kids.” (3)

It starts with us
So you see, our children’s mobile phone and gadget usage
begins with us and the example we are showing them through
our own actions.
We are showing them what to value in their life through what
we value.

(1) https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jan/12/tech-bosses-kids-time-smartphones-parents-mental-health
(2) https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/bill-gates-and-steve-jobs-raised-their-kids-techfree-and-it-
shouldve-been-a-red-flag-a8017136.html
(3) https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/fashion/steve-jobs-apple-was-a-low-tech-parent.html
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You have to limit its usage for yourself also.
I realised that I couldn’t keep my own children away from
these things if I am using them constantly.
I had to get real and be honest with myself.
So I started hiding my phone. Not to hide it from the children,
but to hide it from me.
Before I go to bed at night, I put my phone in my bedroom
drawer. I don’t look at it until the next morning sometime
after getting up. And then, unless I know I need the camera to
take photos for the blog, I leave it upstairs (usualy).
No one calls me on my mobile. It’s rare. So I know I’m not
going to miss an important call. And even if there is, I will call
them back later when I check in.
Usualy it’s just a bombardment of watsapp group messages or
social media notifications which I don’t need to pay any
attention to.
And so I hide my phone, from myself. And check it consciously.
Believe it or not, we don’t have to respond to every call or
message immediately. I know, it’s a shock right!
Can you see how the culture we are developing today, says
that those who are away from us are more important than
those who are right there physically with us?
Think about that.

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And then decide if that is a value you want to instil in your
children. If it isn’t, you have the power and responsibility to
do something about it.

Provide things which capture interest

We can’t say to our children they can’t have the mobile or
tablet if all they see is us all day long using it.
Young children model us. They want to do what we do.
So hide your phone and surround you and the kids with things
to inspire you all.
Books.
Drawing materials.
Puzzles.
Real life games.
Recycled cardboard bits and bobs to create their own
imaginary play.
Bug viewing catchers.
Get outdoors…there is no such thing as bad weather, only
inappropriate clothing.
Go for walks.
Visit places.
Meet real people.
Talk.

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Teaching English as a second language speaker

Your question:
My first language isn't English so should I read English
books to him or not?
Children benefit from all languages.
Their tiny brains are powerful subhanAllah.
From a secular point of view, if you are able to speak more
than one language, then use that to your advantage.
Read books in your mother tongue. Read them in English. And
if you know Arabic, read in Arabic.
From an Islamic point of view however, if you are not in an
English speaking country and have no real need for acquiring
the language (especially if you are in a Muslim land) I would
recommend that you seek further guidance on this question
from our Noble Scholars in regards to teaching your children
English.
Masjid Daar us Sunnah has on their website a translation from
Shiekh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymin in which he
discusses the issue of learning the English language.
http://dusunnah.com/video/the-ruling-on-learning-the-
english-language-shaykh-muhammad-ibn-salih-al-uthaymin/

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 Natural learning
Your question:
Do I really need to reinforce the alphabets with activities
when I see he's catching on amazingly without it?

Children are natural born learners alhamdulillah.

And when their curiosity is nurtured, they continue to be
inspired to peruse new discoveries.
We all know children learn naturally, because we find so many
of us gushing to family members and friends that our little 3
year old has learnt their colours, or can indeed recite the
whole alphabet or count to 20.
But once they reach official “school age”, we seem to think
they no longer have that ability.
I’d say for many children, it isn’t that they no longer have the
ability to learn naturally once they reach 5 or 6, but it’s more
of a case that we as parents and teachers force them to turn
off their innate perusal of learning, because we don’t believe
they can without being told how, and the lesson plan dictates
we do something else.

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If your child is picking up the alphabet, keep providing him
with the learning opportunities that you clearly are, and
continue to grow inshaAllah.
Continue playing your alphabet games and picking up books.
It sounds like you are doing a great job Allahumma barik.

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 OverWhelm
Your question:
How to not become overwhelmed by so much that is out there?
Trust yourself.
Trust your children.
Trust the process.
This is harder to do than it is to say, I know it is. I still struggle
with this myself.
Its easy to look at what everyone else is doing, and think we
should be doing it too.
I’d recommend sitting down with a journal and a pen, and
writing out all the things which are important to you in
relation to your family and your homeschool.
Ask yourself and answer:
o Why do you want to home educate?
o What is important to your family?
o What is important to you about education?
And then, think about how you can achieve those things
inshaAllah.

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There is no harm looking around for ideas and inspiration.
We’re not necessarily trying to reinvent the wheel when it
comes to educating our children. Those with experience have
plenty of wisdom and direction we can benefit from.
But always ask yourself, whatever you are drawn towards,
does it align with what you feel is important for your family
and for your homeschool. And if it doesn’t, leave it.

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Dealing with homeschool prejudice
Your question:
How do you answer when someone tells you that
homeschooling is bad for your children?

I hear from many of you who have loved ones telling them
that homeschooling doesn’t provide a healthy opportunity for
education or social activities.
Let me reassure you, this reaction is completely normal.
When we don’t know about something, we often fear it
because it is easier to remain in fear and cast it aside because
that means we don’t have to do anything to create change,
and we can carry on in our own merry lives.
Most people have never come across home schoolers. So
homeschooling for many, is the great big unknown.
The only idea most of us initially have about home educators,
is that they are socially awkward misfits who don’t know
anything, because unless you are taught by a qualified
teacher, you can’t possibly learn anything.
I used to think the same.
Yes I did.

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When my eldest was a baby, a mutual friend introduced
another sister and I since we lived on the same street.
I remember meeting this sister who homeschooled, for the
first time in her home. She had 5 or 6 children at the time and
I thought she was crazy. Clearly these kids should be in school
otherwise they were just going to be weird.
Fast forward 4 years later, I was a fully fledged homeschooler
and a huge advocate to this day.
You see, I didn’t know anything about home education when I
was first introduced to it. And so I used my own experiences
and ideas to form an opinion that had no basis in reality.
When someone questions your decision to homeschool, see it
as an opportunity to tell them about it, but at the same time
understand that it’s not your job to convince them.
We are all entitled to our own opinions. And just because
some one thinks home schooling isn’t beneficial, it doesn’t
need to take anything away from you.
You don’t have to convince them, to validate your choice for
your family.
Often, those common misconceptions people have are
melted away once they actually see home schooling in action.
So sometimes, all you need is to give people time.

Academics
You are best one to teach your children. You have what even
the best teacher in the world will never be able to compete

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with; your drive and motivation to help your children
genuinely succeed in both this Dunyah and the Akhira. You
will find ways to help your children continue to grow
inshaAllah because you will never give up on them.
There is a joke in the homeschool world, a home-schooled kid
never misses a maths problem.

Socialisation
First of all, not all children in school are social. Some have a
very poor social experience, either because they are left out
or bullied, or are the bully themselves.
Homeschool children are not social recluses. Wherever you
find people you find opportunities to meet others and
interact.
In school, kids for the most part are told to sit down and be
quiet, often separated from friends in class so as not to
distract them from their learning.
They get about an hour a day as a break from studies in which
they are free to actually be “social”.
Home educated children are interacting all day with family
(family being something our modern society is losing its value
and appreciation of), they attend various homeschool classes
or clubs, meet up for playdates or arrange group learning
activities. They often interact with children and adults of all
ages and embrace it, rather than being put into a room with
30 other kids who are exactly the same age as them.

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When it comes to the argument of socialisation and
homeschool, your child will be as social or antisocial as you (or
they) want them to be.

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 Considering homeschooling
Your question:
My three year old son will start his school only in September
this year inshaAllah, but I am seriously considering
homeschooling. I have NO idea and I am a disorganised
person. I am also worried that since I am not really good at
maths, I might not be able to do well. I need some
motivation please.

This kind of question runs through the minds of (almost) every

single parent who thinks about embarking upon the trajectory
of home education.

For the majority of us, we were educated in the traditional

school fashion. We know school. We know the teacher knows
best and the student (and their parents!) know nothing.

We know this box and until we start to home educate, most of

us are still stuck inside it...but once we dare to educate
our families ourselves, we will escape and learn to think
outside its boundaries inshaAllah!

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Home-schooling is something completely new to most of us
so we don't know what to expect or what is "normal". Our
mind's rush with worries and anxieties; we are afraid of
getting it "wrong"....and that's because we have been trained
throughout our own school experiences that only teachers
know how to teach! (which is not true!)

I want to assure you that as a loving parent, you are in the

best position to teach your child. You know your child better
than anyone else, and no one wants them to succeed more
than you ever will - not even the most dedicated teachers in
the profession.

You are totally your kid’s number one champion ....even during
those times when they (and even you) might not think so after
they have been sent to their room or reprimanded for
misbehaviour. Because even when you discipline them, you are
doing it from a place of love and a strong earnest desire to
build them for long term success in both the dunya as well as
more importantly, the Akhira.

The biggest tip I can probably give you, is do not even attempt
to replicate the "school" model as a home educator. Home
schooling really is not the same as School-at-home. They are
in fact worlds apart!

First off, your home is exactly that - your home. A place of

rest, a place of sanctuary, a place to escape the hustle and
bustle of the outside world. Keep it that way.

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Secondly, you don't need to spend 6 hours a day officially
"schooling" - depending on where you are in the world your
local authority / State may have certain requirements so you
will need to find out what those are. But generally speaking,
you do not need to spend 6 hours a day working as they do in
mainstream school institutions. And certainly not at ages 3
and 4....at this age children need a lot of play and not a lot
more. You may only need an hour or 2 to accomplish
everything you want to (or even less).

Let me assure you, there is no right or wrong way to home

school....so long as learning takes place! What works for one
family may not work for another. As you try things out and
figure out what works for you and your child's learning style,
your confidence in your ability to teach your children will grow
inshaAllah.

My advice to you is don't overwhelm both yourself and your

son at this young age. Children this young benefit and learn so
much just by being with you and having the freedom to play,
explore and just take everything in.
Being with you at this young age is the best place for him and
far superior than being left with strangers in a school.

If you look at the various education systems across the globe,

you will see that in the vast majority of counties, formal
education does not begin until the age of around 6 or 7, and
their Education system out performs the British standards and
results (Finland comes to mind).

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Children are by nature curious. They want to explore and
learn. Simply nurture this curiosity and have fun.
Don't fall into the school-at-home trap which catches so many
of us when we begin home schooling and we start out with
our little student sat at the table unable to speak as we stand
towering before them like a teacher explaining the life-cycle
of a butterfly (I did this ...cringe!).

When it comes to subjects like maths which you mentioned,

make it as practical as you can. Get out the building blocks
and count them together. See how many blocks there are
when you take 4 red and 3 blue together! Find out how many
of your son's hands are needed to measure across the length
of the table.
Maths is not as scary as we may have been taught to believe.
When your child gets older, if you prefer to follow a
curriculum, then there are plenty to choose from. .....but
don't rush into buying straight away! That's the 2nd trap many
new home schoolers fall into! We will buy every resource and
curriculum we see, only to discover they don't work for us or
there is something else better, leaving us with ££££££££'s
lost!
Another option if you really feel unable to teach a particular
subject is tuition, co-ops (if you have one nearby) or online
learning. Home schooling doesn't mean it has to only be me
myself and I. Benefit from the skills other people offer and
resources available to you - it doesn't make you any less of a
home schooler - in fact it makes you a better one.

Ease yourself slowly into home-education, don't put so much

pressure on yourself (and son!). Relax, seek support from

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other home schooling families, have fun, play and allow
yourself to think outside the "school box".

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 Recommended resources
To aid your growth as a parent and educator

Islamic Books
 Teaching children tawheed – A guide to what is
obligatory upon us to teach our children.
Muhammad bin ‘Abdul-Wahhab
Translated by Aboo Sufyaan ‘Uthmaan Beecher.
 A women’s guide to raising a family.
Shiekh Salih al-Fawzan
Translated by Raha Batts
 Sincere council to the seekers of sacred knowledge
Shiekh Ibn al-Jawzi
Translated by Ayman ibn Khalid
 My Home my Path
Compiled and translated by umm Mujaahid Khadijah bint
Lacina al-Amreekeeyah.

Islamic audio
 Prophetic guidelines for parents and educators (4 part
audio series)
Moosa Richardson
 Advice to the Muslimeen concerning nurturing children
upon the Deen (11 part audio series)
Abu Hakeem Bilal Davis
 How the Salaf were with their children
Abu Hakeem Bilal Davis

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 30 Hadith on raising children – Advice for parents and
educators (6 part audio series)
Moosa Richardson
 The importance of educating your child (audio lecture on
Youtube)
Abu Iyad Amjad Rafiq
 Advice for Educating the Muslim children (including
Umm Abdillah al-Waadiyyah’s 21 points on raising
children)
Abu Abdullah Hasan as-Somali

Secular books to aid homeschool

 Project based homeschooling

Lori Pickert
 A Gracious Space
Julie Bogart
 How to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk
Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish
 How to talk so kids will learn at home and in school
Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlish

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For further homeschool support, sign up to the newsletter
through the blog to receive this free ebook:

Advice for the Muslim Homeschooler

Page | 46
For homeschool support, printable resources and activity ideas
visit www.amuslimhomeschool.com

For community homeschool advice and support join my private

Facebook Group
https://www.facebook.com/groups/muslimhomeschoolers

Follow me on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/amuslimhomeschool/
Follow me on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AMuslimHomeSchool

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