I remember when I thought the only survival skills my kids would need were navigating high school and learning to drive. But life is full of surprises.
Now, as a homeschooling mom, I'm not just teaching math and English— I'm helping my kids learn how to survive in this unpredictable world by including homeschooling survival skills.
And I know I'm not alone. The shift from traditional schooling methods has led many parents down an unexpected path — teaching their kids homeschooling survival skills. It seems to me that it makes sense to include these skills as part of our everyday lessons.
Now, this might seem like uncharted territory for some, but don't worry — I've got you covered. Whether adding STEM activities into outdoor adventures or turning household chores into lessons on self-sufficiency, I'll share some practical ways to prepare your child for whatever comes their way.
The Rise of Homeschooling with a Focus on Survival Skills
Homeschooling, once considered a niche form of education, has become increasingly popular in Canada and the United States. Especially after COVID.
In fact, a recent study revealed that approximately 2.5 million students were homeschooled in 2023. This shift can be attributed to several factors, but one stands out - parents wanting to provide tailored education.
And that's one of the reasons we homeschool off the grid. We've been homeschooling since 2013 and are going into our eleventh year.
The Advantages of Tailored Education
One main reason for this surge of interest in homeschooling is the opportunity homeschooling offers for personalized learning experiences. It allows parents or guardians to focus more on their child's needs and interests instead of following a generalized curriculum.
Parents can design unique educational plans catering to their children's growth and development. In other cases, they might use a boxed homeschool curriculum.
We use Sonlight, a Christian homeschool curriculum, as our "spine" or core materials in our home. Then, I added Canadian educational content from Donna Ward/North Woods Press.
We also add various extra-curricular options like high school technology classes through MyTEKLab.
In addition, five years ago, we discovered Outschool online classes when looking for homeschool classes on gardening and raising chickens.
We've also added unit studies on knife skills, cooking, bushcraft, survivalism, animal tracking, etc. From focusing on teaching survival skills as part of basic survival training unit studies to incorporating tech skills like teaching coding and STEM subjects, I've been able to customize lessons based on each child's interests and aptitude.
Survival Skills as a Core Part of Homeschooling Curriculum
Homeschooling has changed since we began. Recently, I've noticed an increased emphasis on including practical life skills within these customized curriculums, particularly those relating to survival situations.
This new trend focuses on teaching kids about cardinal points or using a compass rose for navigation during camping trips. It also encourages them to build forts from natural materials outside their comfort zone.
And it highlights experiential learning, too. Field trips to local parks allow hands-on experience while participating in summer programs at Boy Scout camps, which offer new experiences and help to embed these lessons deep into young minds.
But why survival skills? As a homesteader and a homeschooling parent, I can vouch for the fact that such skills equip children to handle emergencies and also give them a sense of self-reliance. It gives us a chance to teach and learn integrating practical skill units like water filter and water purification techniques.
We might plant a homeschool garden in the summer. And in the spring, you might find us building a chicken coop together. Learning these skills helps to foster independence and confidence.
Survival Skills Taught in Homeschooling
Homeschooling gives a unique opportunity to teach survival skills often overlooked in traditional education. These practical abilities prepare children for real-world situations, both common and unexpected.
Wilderness Survival Skills
Teaching kids survival skills starts with the basics of wilderness survival. It helps foster self-confidence and respect for nature while teaching downright practical life skills.
For example, learning how to start fires safely can be an exciting science lesson as well as a vital skill everyone should know. Outdoor survival activities like building shelters from natural materials introduce engineering concepts while encouraging resourcefulness.
A simple family camping trip could turn into a comprehensive unit study on outdoor survival skills. Children can learn outdoor safety rules and learn primitive methods of food preservation or basic shelter construction using what's available.
This is also an excellent opportunity to focus on screen-free time as a family. And on survival without technology.
For example, cardinal points become more than just abstract ideas when GPS isn't available; they become essential navigation tools. And by the way, National Geographic offers helpful free resources to help make teaching these lessons easier and more engaging.
Home Maintenance Skills
Often overlooked in public school settings, home maintenance tasks are an important part of homeschooling survival skills as well as part of everyday life. Many of these basic skills are simple yet key to preventing property damage, stressful situations or even death.
Skillsets like knowing how to fix leaks quickly could help prevent water damage until professional help arrives. And learning how to change the batteries in smoke detectors or how to help someone choking could save a life.
By including these areas within homeschool lessons, parents empower their children to become capable, independent adults who don't need external assistance whenever something goes wrong at home.
This type of instruction doesn't have to be dull or boring. Instead, turn each lesson into a fun project. Getting the kids to build something like a solar oven from scratch, problem solve and get creative can keep them engaged and eager to learn more.
Emergency Medical Skills
Consider adding first aid basics, wilderness first aid, and emergency medical skills to the homeschool lessons for upper elementary and middle school students.
After all, being prepared for unexpected situations can be a beneficial lesson to learn, one that may even save lives in the end. And by the way, if you'd like to see more articles on resources and options for teaching this in your homeschool, leave a comment below.
Socialization and Homeschooling
When it comes to homeschooling, one common question parents ask is about socialization, which can arguably be considered a survival skill. Can homeschooled children still get the vital interaction they need?
I believe so. After all, we lived off the grid full-time for almost 11 years with our two youngest daughters while homeschooling them.
Yes, I had to be intentional about booking visits, trips, online and in-person classes and workshops, but they enjoyed a full social life. With careful planning and creativity, kids can learn survival skills while also building strong social bonds.
The Great Outdoors as a Social Classroom
And remember, homeschooling doesn't mean confinement within four walls. Instead, think of it as opening up possibilities for real-world experiences that traditional schooling may not offer.
For instance, field trips to natural sites allow children ages 8-18 to interact with each other while learning about foraging for wild greens and herbs, plus hunting, fishing and gathering activities.
Try this: One fun way to teach outdoor homeschooling survival skills could be having your child create their shelter using natural materials found around them. Or get a good animal tracker field book and learn to track together.
Scouting and Guiding Programs: Learning Survival Skills Together
Joining a scouting or guiding troop or attending summer programs like forest schooling programs or day camps provide another good way for homeschooled kids' to learn survival skills and enjoy social interaction. Students spend time outdoors learning survival skills together.
Tech Skills Meet Social Interaction
Although my family loves simple living, I understand that we live in an age where tech skills are just as critical as knowing which berries are safe to eat in the wild. And after all, my own business is 100% dependent on internet technology.
One of the things I love about homeschooling is that it lets us teach our kids both sets of competencies side by side, opening up a whole new world of possibilities.
For example, imagine a group of homeschooled children working together to build an app that identifies edible weeds and plants. They're learning coding, one of the most sought-after STEM skills, while also honing their survival knowledge.
Their shared experiences during these projects will foster teamwork and equip them with problem-solving abilities for real-world situations. These situations could include fixing a bug in code, building an emergency shelter or a fire, and getting water when lost while hiking or camping.
How to Teach Homeschooling Survival Skills
As a homeschooling family, decide what life skills you want to include in this year's homeschool studies. Consider your family culture, what's important to you, and your children's interests and abilities.
Survival skills can include wilderness living and bushcraft, emergency medical, technology, and even financial literacy skills. Remember, homeschool survival skills are lifelong tools that help prepare kids for real-world scenarios while fostering their interests and needs.
Look for online courses, books, unit studies and free workshops on your topics. Alternatively, local groups and places like museums, libraries, conservation groups and science centers may offer classes or workshops for kids.
Can you think of a homeschool survival skill that I missed? If so, let me know in the comments below.
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