Happy New Year 2026: Homeschooling Fresh Starts

Starting the year with Beast Academy math, growth mindset, and exciting plans ahead

Author

Homeschool Hippo
January 09, 2026

Hey there!

Happy New Year! 🥳

I hope you had a wonderful holiday break.

I took some time away from work to be with family and friends. It was exactly what we needed. Time to rest, recharge, and remember why we do what we do.

There is something about starting fresh that makes everything feel possible again. Homeschooling in the new year feels like opening a brand new book. You never know what the story will bring, but you are excited to find out.

A Quick Update from Our Homeschool

I thought I would share a little about what's happening in our own homeschool this year. If we haven't met yet, I'm Hippo, and I homeschool my two kids. My son is 6.5 and my daughter just turned one last week.

We started our formal academics journey in June 2025, right after my son turned 6. Before that, learning happened naturally through everyday life. He picked up counting by watching elevator numbers light up. He learned to recognise numbers by spotting apartment doors and reading street signs during our walks.

Even now, we keep academics light and playful. We don't do more than an hour to an hour and a half of formal lessons each day. The rest of the time? He is building, exploring, asking questions, and just being a kid.

When we started formal academics, I chose Math with Confidence Kindergarten to see where he stood. It turned out he had already picked up most of the concepts through play. He finished the entire curriculum in 3 to 4 months, working just 15 to 20 minutes a day, 3 to 4 days a week. He enjoys numbers and loves solving problems, so math has always come easily to him.

This month, we are trying something new. Beast Academy.

I have been reading about it on Reddit and other homeschool forums. People say it's challenging, visual, and great for kids who need more than the typical workbook approach. Some say it's for gifted kids, but honestly, I just think it might be a good fit for my son's learning style. He loves stories, he loves visuals, and he loves a good challenge.

So we are going to see how it goes. No pressure. Just curiosity.

Writing is a different story. We are taking it slow there. He only recently started tracing and writing letters, and I am completely fine with that. I want to keep things gentle and age appropriate until he turns 7. I know he will catch up when he is ready. His hands and brain just need a little more time to develop, and that is okay. He showed me with math that when kids are ready, they learn fast.

Watching my daughter grow this past year has been a beautiful reminder of this truth. She is one now, exploring everything, learning through touch and play. Every child has their own pace. Every child has their own timeline.

And that is what I love about homeschooling. We get to honor that.

So here we are. Ready for another year. Ready to stay curious, try new things, make mistakes, learn from them, and keep figuring out what works best for our family.

What's Coming This Year

Now that I'm back and recharged, I'm excited to share what I have planned for 2026.

This year, I am launching a few research backed mini guides. These will answer the most asked questions I get from homeschool families like you. Questions about socialisation, balancing work and homeschooling, navigating college admissions, and understanding child development and learning.

I am also recreating my Deschooling Challenge. This time with more depth, more research, and more practical steps you can actually use. I will be launching it soon, so stay tuned.

But before we dive into the new year, I wanted to look back for a moment. Here are the most read issues from 2025. These are the ones that resonated with so many of you:

Most Read Issues from Last Year:

Now let's dive into this week's newsletter.

🛠️ 3 Tools to Try

  • Beast Academy Math
    A comic style math curriculum that makes learning fun and challenging. Perfect for kids who love stories and visuals. It teaches problem solving, not just memorising. My son is starting this and I will share how it goes. Great for ages 6 to 13.

  • Homeschool Planet
    Games, projects, and activities straight from NASA. Perfect for the kid who wants to know everything about planets, stars, and what's beyond our sky.

  • Easy Peasy All in One Homeschool
    Brain training games designed by neuroscientists. Fun challenges that build memory, attention, and problem solving without feeling like work.

📥 Struggling with Socialisation Concerns?

Are you worried about your child's social development? Do friends and family keep asking "What about socialisation?"

Download my free guide on Homeschooling and Socialisation. It answers all your questions and concerns with research backed information. Learn why homeschooled kids often have better social skills, how to create rich social experiences, and what the research really says.

📚 2 Reads Worth Your Time

The Power of Your Mindset in Parenting
This piece talks about how parents with a growth mindset help their children believe they can learn anything through effort. Research shows that when we praise effort instead of natural ability, kids become more willing to take on challenges. The article shares simple ways to shift your thinking and support your child's learning journey.
Read here ↗

New Year Goal Setting for Kids
Teaching kids to set goals helps them understand they have control over their own lives. This article explains how to make goal setting meaningful and fun for kids of all ages. It includes tips on keeping goals positive, personal, and achievable. A great read if you want to start the year with intention.
Read here ↗

💡 1 Big Idea

Why Growth Mindset Matters More Than Ever This Year

The new year is a perfect time to think about how we approach learning with our kids. One of the most powerful things we can teach them is not a subject or a skill. It is a mindset.

A growth mindset is the belief that abilities can be developed through effort and practice. Kids with a growth mindset see challenges as opportunities to learn. They do not give up when things get hard. They understand that struggle is part of the process.

Research from Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck shows that children who develop a growth mindset perform better in school and in life. In one study, mothers who praised their babies for effort rather than ability had children who showed more desire for challenge five years later. These kids were more willing to try new things and did not give up easily.

The opposite is a fixed mindset. This is the belief that you are either good at something or you are not. Kids with a fixed mindset avoid challenges because they are afraid of failing. They think failure means they are not smart or talented.

As homeschool parents, we have a unique opportunity to shape how our children think about learning. Every day, we can choose our words carefully. Instead of saying "You are so smart," we can say "I love how hard you worked on that." Instead of "You are a natural at math," we can say "Your practice is really paying off."

This small shift in language makes a big difference. It teaches kids that effort matters more than being perfect. It gives them permission to make mistakes and try again.

And here is the beautiful part. When we model a growth mindset ourselves, our kids learn it naturally. When we say "I do not know how to do this yet, but I will figure it out," they see that learning never stops. When we share our own struggles and how we overcame them, they learn that challenges are normal.

This year, let's focus less on perfection and more on progress. Let's celebrate effort, curiosity, and persistence. Let's build a home where it is safe to fail, safe to try, and safe to grow.

Because the skills our kids need most are not found in a textbook. They are found in how they approach life when things get difficult.

Until Next Week,

Hippo

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