“More is caught than taught. If you live your life in front of your kids like you want them to live their lives, they’ll learn what they need to learn, both in character and in academics. But that takes time. It takes a platform of affirmation. It takes safety and security, fewer distractions, less celebrity culture, and more butterflies and earthworms.”

A breath of fresh air! Just when you think you have “everything figured out” in your homeschool routine, you read this book and Ginny turns you on your head- in the best possible way!

It’s always refreshing, especially at the end of a school year, to read and soak up knowledge, advice and encouragement from a veteran homeschooler. I enjoyed this book so much! Other people mentioned that they didn’t care for the quotes, but I enjoyed them, because they gave me other books to add to my TBR pile.

I’m really looking forward to working on plans for next school year and implementing some things I learned in this book!

*ARC review*

As a parent who is planning to home educate I found this book really valuable and encouraging and it gave me lots of information to consider.

As a homeschooling mom, I was immediately drawn to this book because of the title—it felt like the exact encouragement my heart needed. I’ve followed @1000HoursOutside for years and knew Ginny Yurich’s words would be uplifting and grounded in real-life experience. I expected a motivational guide—and it delivered that and more.

This book reminded me that homeschooling doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful. Ginny’s message—that you’re doing it right just by showing up—is one I didn’t know how much I needed until I read it. One of the most impactful takeaways for me was the reminder that connection, not perfection, is what makes a homeschool thrive.

That said, I’m giving it four stars because at times it felt a bit heavy on quotes from other books. Still, the message and encouragement are strong—and deeply meaningful.

I received a free advanced e-copy, but I also pre-ordered a physical copy and can’t wait for it to arrive (today 👏👏). I’m sure it will be a beautiful book to keep on my shelf and return to when I need a reminder of what matters most.

Whether you’re a brand-new homeschooler, somewhere in the middle, or just curious about homeschooling, this book will meet you with grace, truth, and encouragement.

Great read! Lots of excellent information and a wonderful reminder on the benefits of home education.

My new favorite homeschool book! Ginny takes her years of podcasting, interviewing and research and pulls out all the statistics that make you go “wow, I’m so glad I get to homeschool my kids.” From avoiding the majority of bullying and the dangers of tech to the number of hours of your children’s childhood you get to reclaim and spend with them, this book will reinforce your decision to take the road less traveled and say yes to homeschooling.

We finally decided to homeschool our kids literally the day before I started reading this book. Having just made the decision, I was excited to get some practical advice from this book. Unfortunately, I felt most of this book was either common sense (i.e. boredom is good for kids) or long anecdotes about the author's own experiences.

I'm willing to bet that many thousands of people will find this book encouraging - because it is - but it's not practical like I expected it to be. If the title had been 'Stories from Homeschooling' or something, my expectations would have been clearer and I wouldn't have read the book at all.

This was such a refreshing take and loved getting to see Ginny’s journey and inspiring ideas that helped shape her homeschool. I jotted down so many books to add to my TBR. It’s a great book for moms who are looking into homeschool and a confidence builder to give you courage to just take the plunge. It was so relatable, inspiring, encouraging and uplifting. Everything Ginny gives off in her podcast and more. As a homeschooling mom it really just was a sweet reminder on my why, getting confident in my educational philosophy and leaning into the good that comes about this way of life. I’ve already recommended it to so many friends and can’t wait to read it alongside them again!

I enjoyed this book. I hope to homeschool my children in the future so this gave me the encouragement I needed to know I could do it. All the facts along with the stories that Ginny would tell made this a nice read.

This book is soooo encouraging for anyone who is homeschooling already or for anyone thinking about homeschooling. No matter what cirruculum you use or your educational style, this book bolsters parents' choice to homeschool by sharing some of the many benefits of keeping your kids by your side to learn from life with you! What a treasure! Every parent should read this book!

The subtitle says it all! For months, I looked forward to reading this book, and then I finished it one day! Ginny’s writing style is just that engaging (and funny!). Her background in education, poignant stories of her own homeschooling journey, and practical encouragement drew me in right away. Other homeschooling books have me adding titles to my booklists for my children; Ginny’s books inspire me to add the titles that have inspired her to my own to-read list.

Nervous about homeschooling and curious about how we could possibly take on something as big and intimidating as our children’s education? Look no further than the research-based truths and encouragement in this book. I will loan out my underlined copy of this book for years to come and recommend it to all homeschooling parents.

This book feels like a big ol’ pat on the back while simultaneously providing inspiration to grow as a homeschool educator. I love her “one size does not fit all” philosophy and unlike so many education books, she encourages families to find what works best for them.
I will mention that she often references previous interviews from her 1000 Hours Outside podcast and quotes other educational figures, many of which come from John Holt. I would have enjoyed a bit more of her original thoughts, rather than frequently referring to her favorite authors.
(But on the bright side, I have a list of books that she refers to in my TBR list!)

Feels like a warm hug for homeschooling parents ❤️ the encouragement and inspiration every homeschooling family needs! Thank you so much Ginny for sharing your heart! If you are in a tough season with homeschooling, or are thinking about homeschooling, this book is for you! I will definitely be coming back to this book when I need to hear kind words from and encouragement that I’m doing the right thing for my children!

This is a good encouraging and informative read, Homeschooling – You’re Doing It Right Just by Doing It by Ginny Yurich. For those who are wondering if homeschooling something I can do, am I doing it right, doing enough, messing up my child… this is one book you will want to read. Also, for those who need the encouraging reminder as they are in the middle of it, you will find good wisdom and encouragement!

I like how she included so many references from well-known homeschool advocates, books, and researchers. Such as: John Taylor Gatto, John Holt, Joy Clarkson, Sissy Goff, Charlotte Mason, John Delony, Sara Mackenzie, Israel Wayne, Dr.Phil, and many more.

A few of the highlights I took from the book:

Children need time to become themselves, but starting at an extremely young age, they are shuffled through a regimen that they didn’t choose.
Boredom is not failure. Boredom is healthy.
Natural teachers who don’t have advanced degrees or any degree at all emerge in the world and still have so much to offer.
What we see in today’s educational system was not ushered in by loving family members who cared for the children around them.
If you attended school in a traditional setting, you can recall how much of your time there was spent waiting.
This journey is not just about academic achievement; it’s about fostering self-reliance, encouraging curiosity, and nurturing a lifelong love of learning…
By stepping back from the pressures of structured activities and scheduled programs, we allow our children to develop their own interests, build self-esteem, etc…
You are the best teacher for your child.
Trust in your abilities, embrace the journey, and remember that your unique perspective and deep understanding of your child make you the ideal person to lead them through their educational adventure.

She goes into depth of what homeschooling is and does: you are protecting and nurturing, providing a personalized education, instilling values and character, encouraging curiosity and creativity, ensuing emotional and social development, adapting to your child’s learning style, nurturing a lifelong learner, and preparing your child for a changing future.

Ginny does it again. I absolutely adore everything Ginny writes. This book is a perfect mix of science and the feeling that you are just having a heart to heart with a fellow homeschool mom. I thought the chapter breakdowns were great, and some topics were covered that I haven't seen covering in other homeschooling books (I.E. bullying/negative social interactions). Definitely recommend!

Homeschooling is the first book I have read of Ginny Yurich's. Even though I am a homeschool mom, I don't typically read a ton of books about homeschool. In some ways, I found some of the things Yurich shared in this book to be incredibly helpful to think through. However, toward the end of the book, I felt like I got a little lost in the purpose of the chapter that discussed AI and computer chips.

This book was helpful in encouraging me to consider some new options for how to approach the structure of the day. This book was definitely not prescriptive. It was more abstract in ideas and really didn't have helpful applications for me to apply once I finished the book.

Homeschooling by Ginny Yurich is a refreshing, informative look at the reasoning behind and the benefits to homeschooling. Written by a former school teacher turned mother turned homeschool teacher, Ms. Yurich brings experience and insight to the table and gives us all a new look at homeschooling in 2025. I highly recommend this book for any educator homeschool or public education as the ideas laid out in this book could be helpful to either teacher. I give this book 5 stars. I received a complimentary review copy of this book and am writing this review voluntarily.

Our family is all in on the 1000 Hours Outside lifestyle—and honestly, it’s been a total game-changer! I wasn’t exactly an “outdoorsy” type at first, but I wasn’t about to miss out on the adventure (hello, FOMO!). So I jumped in, muddy boots and all.

Now, anytime Ginny drops a new book, it’s an instant add to cart moment. Her words just get me. Especially when our homeschool path doesn’t look like anyone else’s—which has led to more than a few moments of doubt.

But if you’ve ever felt the same? This book is your reminder: you’ve got this. Seriously. You’re doing an amazing job, and you’re not alone. We’re all figuring it out together—one muddy trail, messy art project, and memory at a time.

Thank you Ginny for an advanced copy!! I absolutely loved jt!!

If I were to recommend just one book on homeschooling to answer people's questions, this would be the book.

If I were to recommend just one book to a parent who was struggling or doubting how they were doing as a parent, how they were doing with homeschooling or if they could even do well at it, this would be the book.

If I were to recommend just one book to others to help them better understand why I choose homeschooling, this would be the book.

If you haven't ordered your copy, I'm telling you, it's worth it!

This book was like sitting down and enjoying a real conversation with a friend. Ginny makes reading her books extremely enjoyable, as well as relatable. I really enjoyed the encouragement and support that this book provides. It doesn't feel like shame and really feels like Ginny is in my home letting me know I'm not failing my children.

This is one of the most well-written and researched books I have read about homeschooling in my 11+ years as a homeschooling mom. Filled with encouragement and practical ideas, I would recommend this to anyone interested in homeschooling or homeschooling already. Ginny has, once again, brought her unique journey into the book, paving a way forward for others. Her honesty and rawness make the book super relatable. Read and be inspired!