February 5, 2025 – What Do Homeschool Dads Do?

Hal and Melanie Young

A Diversity of Homeschooling Dads

Homeschool dads, like homeschool moms, are a pretty diverse bunch. They come from all kinds of backgrounds, have a wide variety of jobs, and their involvement in homeschooling varies, too.

Years ago, a friend said, “I wish my husband was as involved in homeschooling as Hal is!” Melanie asked her what she meant and she said she wished her husband would take on some of the teaching like Hal. Melanie told her, “Hal serves on the board of our state homeschool organization and on our local one, too. He supports us homeschooling 100%, but he doesn’t do any teaching.” Hal was working an intense corporate job back then and let’s face it, most kids aren’t really very teachable at 9 p.m.!

On the other hand, some homeschool dads do all the schooling. They’re retired or their wives work or they just enjoy academics more than their mates do.

Other homeschool dads handle a subject or two. Many don’t do any of the actual teaching at all, but they’re still homeschool dads and support homeschooling in their families.

That’s one of the very best things about homeschooling. It’s not a factory model like institutional schooling. Everybody doesn’t have to do the same thing! One homeschool family, one homeschool dad, doesn’t have to be like another. Homeschooling can be modified to suit your family and your situation and it can even change from child to child and year to year. 

We’ve known families where Dad went to work all day and Mom did all the homeschooling, then Dad was disabled, so Mom went to work and Dad did the homeschooling. We know other families where both parents worked from home, so they sold their house, bought an RV, and went on the road, sharing homeschooling tasks. 

Our life now is very different than it was back then. Both of us work from home in our family business and we’re both involved in educating our kids. Our homeschooling changed to fit our family’s needs—and yours can, too! 

So, what does a homeschool dad do? Whatever his family needs him to!

Your friends,

Hal & Melanie

About the author

Hal and Melanie Young have been homeschooling almost as long as they’ve been married, and they’re still happy with both decisions! They wrote My Beloved and My Friend: How to Be Married to Your Best Friend Without Changing Spouses to encourage their young adults – find out more at raisingrealmen.com.

Most of our families found us after trying something else first. Why did they choose Classical Conversations? One word: Community. Find a community near you. www.classicalconversations.com/tos

Todd Wilson

Familyman Ministries

Dads, Lead the Charge!

(Mom don’t read this . . . just forward it to your husband and tell him I said it was for him.)

Hey, Dad
Can we talk? For twenty-plus years, I’ve traveled the country encouraging homeschool moms. The reason they need encouragement is because they mostly live in discouragement. They succumb to lies that permeate their thinking and spend most of their waking hours feeling like failures and second-guessing the outcome of their homeschooling and mothering efforts.

But 2025 can be different for your wife because you’re going to lead the homeschool charge. You’re going to be her “knight in shining armor” and get your wife through this year. No more coasting or assigning it as “her thing.” It’s up to you and me to make this year the best homeschool year ever.

There are plenty of articles listing things for you to do to help her (I’ve even written a whole book about it*). But if you can do nothing else . . . do this:

Encourage, encourage, encourage, because she is discouraged. All homeschooling moms are. It’s up to you to encourage her throughout the year. And by throughout the year, I mean daily or at least weekly. Take a sticky note and tell her what an awesome teacher she is and post it by her toothbrush. Send her a text thanking her for making the sacrifice to homeschool your children. Don’t just think about it . . . do it! In fact, take a few seconds right now and fire off a text telling her how much you appreciate all she does to educate your children. Tell her she’s amazing and that you could never do as good a job as she does (because you couldn’t) and then tell her how much you love her.

Do it right now before you forget. On your mark, get set . . . go.

You ‘da dad,
Todd

P.S. – You can get your own weekly encouragement in the dad/husband department by signing up for the Familyman weekly.

* Get the best homeschooling book for husbands – Help! I’m Married to a Homeschooling Mom.

About the author

Todd Wilson is a dad, granddad, writer, conference speaker, and former pastor. Todd’s humor and down to earth realness have made him a favorite speaker at homeschool conventions, retreats, and churches across the country. As founder of Familyman Ministries and the Smiling Homeschooler, his passion and mission are to remind dads and moms of what’s most important through weekly e-mails, podcasts (The Familyman Show & The Smiling Homeschooler), seminars, and books and products that encourage parents. Todd, and his wife Debbie, still homeschool two of their eight children (six have graduated with four married) in northern Indiana. You can read more at www.familymanweb.com.

Adam and Dianne Riveiro

You Can’t Do It All, But You Can Do Something!

As a homeschool dad, I often wrestled with a lingering sense of guilt about my involvement (or lack thereof) in my children’s education. My wife was doing the real work of teaching our kids while I was . . . not. Look, it’s not that I was sitting on the couch binge watching Netflix while Dianne was teaching; I was busy serving as a full-time pastor and sometimes working a part-time job to help make ends meet. But still, I wanted to do more—not just for my wife’s sake but for my kids’ sakes as well.

Over the years, I’ve learned that, while there’s much I can’t do when it comes to homeschooling, there’s still plenty I can do. For instance, I’ve . . . 

• taught a weekly Bible class. On Saturday mornings, I taught Bible to our kids before the weekend commenced. I wish I’d started this years earlier!
• gone to homeschool conventions. Taking a day or two off to support your wife at a local convention is worth it. Trust me, you’ll enjoy it!
• volunteered at the local co-op. I’ve had a blast helping with drama class and judging fine arts competitions.
• assisted with curriculum choices. Each year, Dianne and I sit down together to review curriculum and make decisions for the upcoming school year. We examine books, discuss homeschool philosophy, and drink lots of coffee (my favorite part).

Hey, Dad, don’t outsource your children’s education to your wife and assume there’s nothing for you to do. In reality, you have a vital role. I don’t know you or your wife, but I know that she’d appreciate you doing more in regards to helping with homeschooling. Make an investment in your children’s future and your wife’s sanity. You can do something!

-Adam

About the author

Pastor Adam and Dianne Riveiro live in Easton, Massachusetts, where Adam leads Liberty Baptist Church. They’re the authors of several books, including Hope from Our Heart to Yours: A 30-Day Devotional Journey for Special Needs Families, available from their family’s publishing label at www.readyscribepublications.com. They have four children: Bethany, Kaylee, AJ, and Peyton. They’re passionate about helping their fellow special needs families find joy and contentment in Christ.

Roger Smith

Calling All Dads!

When uncertain, or in doubt,
Run in circles, scream, and shout!

This month’s question is “What do homeschool dads do?”

We take credit!

Actually, most say, “Well, my wife’s doing the homeschooling.”

She is in charge of the curriculum and the schedule in 98% of cases, but homeschooling is bigger than that. It is in the “bigger than that” part where dads can shine!

Children need their father’s validation, interest, and inspiration.

Mickey Mantle, baseball hall of famer, was in a slump early in his career when his father made a long trek to visit him. No magic words were offered, no stirring pep talk occurred, and no fixes for Mickey’s troubles were delivered. But “dad showing up” resulted in a renewed vigor and determination.

Validation looks different from child to child, but feels the same—“Dad likes me!”

Interest is usually listening to a child talk about what they are learning or thinking about.

Inspiration can be an “attaboy” or “that’s amazing!” or daydreaming with a kid.

Dads can do bookwork (and I recommend it). Experience the wonder of reading aloud to your children.

But, be sure to validate, show interest, and inspire. (or at least run in circles, scream, and shout!)

About the author

Dr. Roger Smith is a family doctor in rural Louisiana, where he and his wife, Jan, raised four adventurous children who are all grown, making their own mark in the world. He speaks and writes on parenting issues and produces brief videos that can be found on Facebook @ParentingMattersNow.

Many homeschooling resources are created for homeschooling moms, but moms aren’t the only ones in the trenches of homeschooling. We see you, homeschool dads! Homeschool Dads: Leading the Charge on SchoolhouseTeachers.com includes the best articles for homeschool dads from The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine to encourage dads on their homeschooling journey.