Relaxed Homeschooling is a homeschool philosophy developed by Dr. Mary Hood in the 1990s. When I discovered it, it was like the heavens parted! Dr. Hood put into words exactly what our family was trying to achieve: a creative, family-focused homeschooling approach that meets each child where she is (with a customized education) along with an emphasis on developing strong family relationships. For us—especially with a gifted/2e daughter—it was just right.

Why Haven’t You Heard of Relaxed Homeschooling?

At one time, Relaxed Homeschooling was a prominent homeschooling method. It was featured regularly in The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, the OG homeschooling magazine. It was  discussed in homeschool circles. But in recent years, it has faded into the background. Why? It’s not because it stopped working. Quite the contrary—many families, including ours, thrive with this approach. And then one day the reason jumped out at me. I couldn’t believe I had missed it for so long.

The reason is simple: money.

Relaxed Homeschooling is a philosophy, not a curriculum or product. There’s nothing to buy, nothing to sell, and no marketing budget behind it. Other major homeschool philosophies, such as Classical Education or Charlotte Mason, have curriculum companies eager to promote their resources:

• Classical: Veritas, Classical Conversations, Memoria Press
• Charlotte Mason: Ambleside Online, Simply Charlotte Mason
• Textbook approaches: A Beka, BJU Press
• All-in-one programs: Sonlight, BookShark
• Social media-fueled favorites: The Good and the Beautiful

These companies have an interest in keeping their method in the spotlight because they have something to sell you. You will see their products and methods promoted everywhere homeschoolers assemble. By contrast, Relaxed Homeschooling centers on family relationships, learning adaptability, and choosing what’s best for your child each year. It’s not tied to any particular company, curriculum, or influencer. Therefore, it has no promotional budget built in.

Why Relaxed Homeschooling Still Matters

Sadly, that means fewer people hear about Relaxed Homeschooling today. But from my experience, it may be exactly what many families need—especially those feeling overwhelmed or burned out by rigid curricula and expectations. If you feel like your family is serving the method, rather than the other way around, or you want an approach that puts relationships first (but isn’t quite unschooling), Relaxed Homeschooling could be for you.

I don’t have a big curriculum company behind me, but I do have my story and experiences to share with others. I will officially complete my homeschool mom journey in the next few months when our daughter graduates. But I’ll continue sharing about Relaxed Homeschooling because I believe it is a gift many people would love to receive if they knew about it. 

Photo credit