We’ve been homeschooling for 16 years and we’ve already produced two college graduates (one of whom runs her own business!). We love this flexible type of education because it’s allowed us to relocate and travel without interrupting learning. Homeschooling was a lot less popular when we started, but due to the pandemic, it’s very popular now. So, we’re sharing our homeschool organization ideas for young kids!
To be honest, these ideas work for kids of all ages. It’s just that we’ve got three little ones in the same grade at the same time, so the mess can get crazy. We’ve found products that really make a difference, and we hope we can help tame the madness in your home too!
Homeschool Organization Ideas for Small Spaces
Some kids have their own room with a nice, large desk and lots of space. Others, like our own kids, share rooms. We have learned we really need to be efficient with what we buy and where we put it.
One more thing to note is that we’ve totally surrendered home decor for now. Kids are this young for such a short period of time, we are completely happy to make our home all about them for now. Let’s look at some of the products that work well in our modest size home.
Step2 Flip and Doodle Desk with Stool Easel
We have three of these and I can’t tell you how much we love them. When they are upright in “easel mode” they don’t take up much space. When needed, they easily flip down to become desks! The little bins hold a LOT of crayons and other supplies and everything is easy to clean. One of our best purchases ever!
Paw Patrol Folding Table & Chair Set
We’ve had this table since January 2019, and we still use it almost every single day. It folds up beautifully and fits right under a bed or behind a dresser. We love it because we can move it just about anywhere. The chairs did not last, however, but they use the stools from the Step2 set above and it’s perfect.
Kids 4-Tier Book Rack Storage
Do we have three of these things? We absolutely do! This is actually one of my favorite homeschool organization ideas! At first, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about them. I like being able to put my books on a shelf and look at them. Then, we got these and they take up much less space and feel less dangerous than a regular bookshelf (due to the tipping hazard).
Square Storage Cube Organizer
It’s hard to argue with the versatility of this cube organizer. On the top two shelves, we’ve got loose items in bins, and on the bottom shelf we have books that we want to keep safe. We keep this storage unit in our bedroom closet away from little hands. When they get older, we can repurpose this for other things!
How to Organize Homeschool Supplies
Whenever things go on sale (back-to-school deals, for example), I stock up. So, we’ve got a lot of homeschool supplies in our house! It’s everywhere. We’ve had to find ways to keep everything organized and tucked away. Here are some of the items in our home.
Large Storage Totes
We have a couple of these for miscellaneous items such as blocks, puzzles, and other games. We also use these for storing art supplies. You can put just about anything in here and then stack them in the back of a closet. I like the clear ones so I can see what’s in there without having to dig around.
Plastic File Folder
I love these so much! Initially, I bought some for another part of the house and ended up using these for printouts, coloring books, and magazines for the kids. It keeps my shelving unit looking so tidy!
Caddies
Where would we be without these great little caddies? This is a must-have if you’re looking for homeschool organization ideas! Each kid has their own color and we fill it with just what they will need for an Outschool class. Plus, they just seem to love them.
Stackable Bins
These little treasures are great in so many ways. We have some filled with different types of paper, small manipulatives (like dice or base ten blocks), and even snacks. If we know the kids are doing a tougher lesson (a weekly Japanese class, for example — got to be ready for our move to Japan!), we have Kinder Joy eggs waiting in one of these for when they’re done.
Homeschool Room Ideas
You already know that you need paper, pencils, glue sticks, and scissors. Now, what else can you add to your homeschool to give your kids a great experience? We’ve tried many things over the years, but here are some items we currently have in our home.
Planet Wall Decals
Our kids are very interested in space, so buying this was necessary. Whenever there’s a launch of any kind, they line up their little easel desks and watch. These decals were easy to apply to the wall and have been up for almost two years now!
Food Group Posters
This was a bit of a surprise, but during a conversation about healthy foods, one of our kids burst into tears. He said he wanted to be healthy, but didn’t know how. So, we looked for food group posters, and lemme tell you – it’s not as easy as it should be. Now that we have these, though, the kids are always consulting them. It’s been kind of shocking and amazing.
Bulletin Board Set
Having to get up and go to school, kids learn the days of the week and months very quickly. For homeschool kids, the days may be a little less defined. We hang these types of bulletin board sets prominently and make a point to have them change the day every morning. We also have this cute little sloth that they dress up according to the weather.
Step2 Neat & Tidy Cottage
We’ve sacrificed an entire corner of our living room for this cottage, but the kids love it. They huddle in there to read, enjoy snacks, take a breather, and even decorate it for the holidays. This can also work outside!
Seesaw
Yes, you read that correctly. This is a seesaw. We intended to use it outside, but the summer was way too hot, so we assembled it in our living room. When it wasn’t in use, we dragged it off to the side. No one minded! We’ve disassembled it for now but will put it back together in the new year. Then, when it gets warmer, we will probably move it outside.
Wooden Supermarket Toy Set
You’re probably wondering if there’s any room left in our house. There is, but by far our space is dominated by things the kids will enjoy. Right now, with two five-year-olds and a six-year-old trying to navigate this pandemic, we want them to be happy. It’s been almost a year since we gave them this grocery store and they still play with it almost every day. In the picture above, you can see the easels/desks behind them and the playhouse to the right!
We Hope These Homeschool Organization Ideas Help!
At the end of the day, you’ve got to do what’s right for your family. We do hope, though, that these homeschool organization ideas have given you some inspiration. Some things will seem fantastic, but your kids hate it — and that’s okay. Play around and figure out what works for them.
As people who have homeschooled for years, we have just one piece of advice — don’t stress! We aren’t overly structured and we try to find learning opportunities in everyday life. My younger daughter (now 18) didn’t learn to read until she was nine because she didn’t seem ready. She’s a voracious reader (and a great writer!) today. You’ll find your rhythm!
