Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about all the things we teach in our homeschool that aren’t found in a curriculum. Of course we spend time on math and reading. We memorize poetry, read great books, and do science experiments that occasionally end with someone needing a towel. But some of the lessons I care about most happen in completely ordinary moments. They’re learned while setting the table before our friends come over or while writing a thank-you note after a birthday. They’re learned when we take homegrown flowers to our next-door neighbors or bring a family a meal.

Those moments may not earn a grade, but we prioritize character over curriculum, and I have a unique opportunity to teach life skills alongside academics. We don’t have to wait until our kids are grown to show them how to care for other people. They get to practice those things right alongside us. One area I’ve realized I want to be much more intentional about is hospitality.

When I hear the word hospitality, I immediately picture beautiful tables and women who somehow manage to have fresh flowers on the counter all the time. But that’s really not what biblical hospitality is. When I think of biblical hospitality, I think of my grandma and the stacks of books and quilts she has in her living room. I think of my mom, and how she always tries to make sure our favorite drinks are in the fridge. I think of my mother-in-law, who makes sure my husband has all his favorite foods when she comes to visit. I think of my friend Chelsea, who curates her home with loving intention and beauty, or my friend Danica who has a particular gift of welcoming new families at our church. I have another friend (I am so blessed!), Brittany, who makes the best themed and seasonal drinks, and always has seltzers and popsicles for our church’s community group.

Hospitality starts long before someone walks through your front door. It’s making room for people. It’s opening your heart before you ever open your home.

And the more I thought about it, the more I realized this is something our kids can learn now, not someday when they have houses of their own. And yes, more is caught than taught, but I can be a little bit purposeful with this. My girls can learn to greet guests with a smile. They can help bake muffins for a neighbor. They can write thoughtful thank-you notes, ask good questions around the dinner table, help set the table, and learn to make people feel comfortable in our home. Those aren’t just “nice” things to know how to do, they’re ways we love our neighbors.

I ended up creating a little Hospitality Mini Unit for our family with Bible readings, conversation starters, practical activities, and picture book suggestions. It was such a fun project that I decided to polish it up and add it to my Etsy shop in case it would bless another family too. If you’ve ever wanted to teach your children that hospitality is about so much more than having a perfect house, I think you’ll enjoy it. You can check it out here.

I’d also love to hear from you: What life skills are you making a priority in your homeschool this year? I’d love some new ideas for our family.