Homeschooling Multiple Ages
Homeschooling multiple children: growing together, learning together
Homeschooling more than one child can be a beautiful adventure, and also a big challenge! One child is ready for a maths lesson, another wants to read aloud their latest story, and someone else can’t find a pencil (again!).
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. Many homeschooling parents juggle the needs, interests, and personalities of multiple children every day. The good news is it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming, and it doesn’t have to look like a classroom.
Learning together, living together
Homeschooling multiple children is as much about creating a family rhythm as it is about academics. It’s about finding ways for everyone to learn together – sometimes in the same lesson, sometimes side by side doing different things – and recognising that education happens all day, not just when the books are open.
You might start the morning with something everyone can enjoy together: a read-aloud, a walk, or a shared project. These moments of connection set the tone for the day and remind everyone that learning can be something you do together, not something you have to tick off individually.
Tip: Pick one 'together time' activity each day, even if it’s just 15–20 minutes. It could be a read-aloud, a short science experiment, or a mini art project. It creates a sense of rhythm and connection before diving into individual work.
Older children can often work more independently, while younger ones join in for snippets of lessons or explore hands-on activities nearby. Some days, everything flows beautifully. Other days, you might feel like you’ve achieved nothing but making snacks and mediating arguments. That’s okay. It’s all part of the rhythm.
Letting go of ‘school at home’
When you have multiple children, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you need to teach every subject separately or create different lesson plans for each child. But homeschooling doesn’t need to look like a traditional classroom.
An integrated approach lets one topic spark layers of learning. Take A is for Australia, for example. This core program works beautifully for children aged 5 to 11 and covers English, Maths, Science, History, Geography, and Art. Your learners can work together in a group or separately on the same activities.
Tip: Use multi-age activities. For instance, while your 5-year-old is colouring the map of Australia, your 11-year-old might begin researching landmarks or writing a short report. Everyone is learning, just at their level.
“We’re so close to the end of A is for Australia, and it brings me so much satisfaction and joy to look back over all the beautiful creativity and curiosity this gorgeous core has fostered in my children – not to even mention the satisfaction of the gorgeous big map of Australia adorning our kitchen wall.
My eldest generally eschews creative arts (he’d rather get his creativity out in Minecraft!), but seeing him give it a go, enjoy the process, and walk away with artworks he is SO proud of has been a gift to both of us. His favourite was definitely Opal Art in O is for Oodnadatta. My younger homeschooler is SO proud of his Great Barrier Reef major artwork. He spent weeks adding little details, and sitting alongside me, experimenting with techniques when adding in colour.
This journey around Australia with Simply Homeschool has been so rewarding, and I’m so grateful for the encouragement and inspiration.”
Creating a family learning plan
With Simply Homeschool, you can customise each child’s learning plan while keeping the family working together. Many families start with around four Core Programs plus maths, adapting as they go. Because the program is built on integrated learning, you don’t have to separate every subject. Many activities overlap naturally, making it easier to manage time and create shared experiences.
Tip: Plan a weekly ‘menu’ of activities. Pick a few shared lessons, then list options for independent or age-specific work. Kids love having some choice, and it helps parents stay organised without feeling like they need to control every moment.
Some days your children might all explore the same topic at different levels; other times, they’ll follow their own interests. The beauty is that you can shift and shape your plans as your family grows and changes.
“I just want to share how satisfied and happy we still are using these programs now in our second year. We are still thoroughly enjoying our lessons of Classic Poetry, Tales from Shakespeare (for the older two girls), The Book Thief (16yr-old only), Human Body, Ancient World History, Into the Woods (all together) and more recently Aesop’s Fables Literature pockets (for my nearly 8yr-old). I have four children between 7-16 and it is wonderful being able to do the same lessons for most, with the older ones doing some by themselves. Highly recommend, Simply Homeschool is simply the best!!”
Diagram by 6 year old
Diagram by 9 year old
Diagram by 11 year old
Diagram by 14 year old
Finding support and balance
Even with flexibility, homeschooling multiple children can feel intense at times. That’s where community and support make all the difference. Simply Homeschool’s experienced team and community resources are there to help families navigate registration requirements, plan workloads, and find a rhythm that works.
Tip: Don’t try to do it all yourself. Connect with other homeschooling families, join forums, or swap activity ideas. Sharing experiences saves time and gives you fresh inspiration.
It’s not about getting it all perfect. It’s about finding what’s sustainable and life-giving for your family. Some days will be full of energy and creativity; others will call for slowing down and focusing on relationships. Both are valuable.
“Simply Homeschool is such a fun, creative, hands-on program to follow, not forgetting the engaging video links to watch and great extended information found on Britannica. Honestly, I can’t think of anything that would work better for various-aged children and/or larger families like ours. I really appreciate how the lessons are doable with multiple ages and that every child can interpret learning in a different way and also extend when interested. Thank you Simply Homeschool, you make a parent’s preparation short and homeschooling simply enjoyable!”
Table by 6 year old
Table by 11 year old
Learning for life
When you step back, you’ll see something extraordinary unfolding in your home. Your children are learning together, discovering how to cooperate, share ideas, solve problems, and support one another. They’re building independence, resilience, and curiosity. These are skills that will serve them for life.
Tip: Celebrate small wins every day. Did someone try a new skill? Did siblings help each other? Did a project spark curiosity? These little moments build confidence and make the journey joyful.
Homeschooling multiple children isn’t always easy, but it’s deeply rewarding. It’s about growing together, as a family and as learners, one day at a time.