I used to feel overwhelmed when it came to choosing extracurriculars for our homeschool. There are so many good options out there, and it’s easy to feel like you’re either doing too much or not enough. Over time, I’ve found that having a few categories in mind helps me make decisions without second-guessing myself.

This is a loose guide I come back to when I’m looking at the year ahead. It helps me make sure we’re covering a wide range of experiences while still keeping our schedule doable.

Here are the categories I think through when I’m planning our extracurriculars:

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1. Character and Faith
This is where we invest in our kids’ hearts and values. For us, that means a weekly kids’ program at church as a minimum. It could also mean volunteering together at a food pantry or baking cookies for neighbors. Even a simple devotional time or a seasonal service project can go a long way.

Examples: Awana, Sunday school, neighborhood clean-up days, collecting food or socks for local shelters, reading missionary biographies.

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2. The Arts
Creative outlets are so important. I usually aim for at least one art-related activity a week, whether that’s a formal class or something we do at home. We’ve done pottery, drawing classes, piano, tons of painting, and even a backyard art club with friends.

Examples: Piano lessons, watercolor class, theater camp, cooking camp, homeschool musical, photography project, chalk pastels at home, free-draw afternoons with good supplies.

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3. Physical Activity
My kids need to move. So do I. I try to make sure everyone has a chance to burn off energy in a way that fits their personality. We’ve done dance, gymnastics, swim lessons, soccer, basketball, and long nature walks. Sometimes it’s as simple as a family walk in the morning.

Examples: YMCA sports, ballet class, martial arts, hiking with a nature group, backyard obstacle courses, trampoline time, Youtube yoga for kids

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4. Life Skills
These are the practical things that don’t always make it into a curriculum but really matter. I think of this category as a way to build independence and confidence. My kids have learned to cook a few meals, care for a garden, fold laundry, and probably some things I can’t think of at the moment. As they get older, this will be more and more important.

Examples: Weekly “cook dinner with Mom” nights, gardening projects, pet care, beginner sewing, learning how to do laundry start to finish, car care (not yet!), making a simple budget.

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5. Social and Service Opportunities
We’re home most of the day, so I try to be intentional about regular time with other people. This might look like a homeschool co-op, playdates, or community classes. like at the library. I also look for simple ways to serve together, like writing cards to nursing home residents or planning ways to raise money to donate to various charities.

Examples: Weekly park meetups, group field trips, youth group, homeschool clubs, babysitting younger cousins, helping with setup/cleanup at church.

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6. STEM and Logic-Based Learning
I don’t always have time for full STEM units, but I like to keep some options open for hands-on learning. We’ve tried monthly science boxes, logic puzzle books, and intro coding classes. Some kids love this stuff, and others enjoy it in small doses.

Examples: KiwiCo or Tinker Crate kits, Snap Circuits, coding with Scratch, Lego challenges, logic games like Rush Hour or Gravity Maze, science fair-style projects.

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7. Self-Directed Passion Projects
This is one of my favorite things to make space for. I try to keep afternoons open enough that my kids can follow their own interests. One might want to learn magic tricks, another might decide to write a book, and another might set up a pretend vet clinic in the living room. These aren’t assigned at this point, but more on that later. I have a plan to facilitate a mutli-week passion project for my third-grader this year.

Examples: Birdwatching notebook, building a dollhouse from scratch, writing and illustrating a comic book, baking experiments, creating stop-motion videos.

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8. Foreign Language
Learning another language is something we value, but I’ve also learned to keep expectations realistic. Some years we’re consistent, and other years it’s more of a light exposure. Sometimes we use a structured program, and other times it’s just songs, games, or shows in another language. We have dabbled in ASL and hit Spanish fairly solidly.

I think the key is to keep it fun and doable. When kids are young, even 10–15 minutes a few times a week makes a difference, especially if it’s something they enjoy.

Examples: Duolingo or Duolingo ABC, watching cartoons in Spanish, French songs on YouTube, using a picture dictionary together, taking a beginner class at co-op, or having a weekly themed dinner night to learn new vocabulary (like taco night + Spanish words).

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To Sum it All Up…

Before I say yes to something, I ask:

• Is this something we’ll look forward to?
• Does it serve a real purpose in our current season?
• Can we afford it, both financially and in terms of time and energy?

That’s it. There’s no perfect balance, but this approach helps me choose extracurriculars that actually support our family’s goals instead of just adding more noise to the calendar.