303. Raising Kids Who Thrive: Habits and Foundations for the Early Years | Erin Cox of The Gentle + Classical Press

Simple Farmhouse Life

Lisa Bass

Home & Garden, Leisure

4.9 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 19 August 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Homeschooling isn’t just about academics. It’s about shaping character, habits, and family culture in the everyday moments. In this conversation with Erin from Gentle + Classical Press, we talk about what the early years can look like without the pressure of early academics, how to raise children who know how to use their free time well, and why consistency matters more than perfection. You’ll hear encouragement for the overwhelmed mom, perspective on kids’ different personalities, and practical ways to build a gentle and classical foundation in your home. If you’re looking for fresh vision and tangible ideas for your homeschool days, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! In this episode, we cover: Erin’s family life with four children, 15 years of homeschooling, and a business run alongside homesteading A shift from academic goals to discipleship, character development, and strong family habits The meaning of a “gentle and classical” approach, blending Charlotte Mason influence with classical education in a soft, approachable way Preschool years centered on scripture memory, virtues through song, habit training, and life skills, with limited academics before age six Encouragement for overwhelmed moms: God equips you for the children He gave you, one hard day won’t undo everything, and comparison online is misleading The role of children’s personalities in shaping both family dynamics and parental growth Homeschooling with a deeper purpose of individualized learning, supporting specific needs, and cultivating family culture Lessons learned from the early years, including the importance of consistency in habits and the danger of overemphasizing grades or peer influence Recognizing readiness for formal learning by watching attention spans, keeping lessons short, and letting children progress in their own time Homeschooled kids often learn to use free time creatively, developing projects and play rather than becoming bored or dependent on screens View full show notes on the blog + watch this episode on YouTube. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that make this show possible! RESOURCES MENTIONED Listen to Erin’s recent podcast episode about why homeschooling is a foundational choice for her family Check out Erin’s preschool homeschool offerings Join my FREE masterclass to learn my 4-step framework for making money on YouTube Master the rhythm of sourdough with confidence in my Simple Sourdough course Gain the sewing knowledge and skills every homemaker needs in my Simple Sewing series Turn your content creation dreams into a profitable business with my YouTube Success Academy Keep all my favorite sourdough recipes at your fingertips in my Daily Sourdough cookbook CONNECT Erin Cox of The Gentle + Classical Press | Website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube Lisa Bass of Farmhouse on Boone | Blog | YouTube | Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest Do you have a question you’d like me to answer on the podcast? A guest you’d like me to interview? Submit your questions and ideas here: bit.ly/SFLquestions.

Transcript

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0:00.0	As a parent, you want to empower your child to succeed now and in the future.
0:05.3	I know a lot of listeners are brand new to homeschooling and seek additional support.
0:10.7	K-12 can help your child reach their full potential and give you the support you need to get them there.
0:16.2	K-12-powered schools are accredited tuition-free online public schools for students in kindergarten through
0:21.5	12th grade. Designed with an engaging curriculum that supports individual learning styles. With K-12,
0:26.7	learning is personalized and provides the flexibility your family needs. When school can be anywhere
0:31.8	there's internet access, they can learn at their own pace, in their own place. And K-12-powered
0:36.2	schools have state-certified teachers specially trained in teaching online place. And K-12-powered schools have state certified teachers
0:38.0	specially trained in teaching online. They utilize hands-on innovative technology to make learning
0:43.2	interactive. K-12-powered schools even offer social opportunities, extracurricular activities,
0:48.5	and in-person events. K-12 has more than 25 years experience helping students gain the skills
0:52.8	they need to thrive in the future.
0:54.4	Join the more than 3 million families who've chosen K-12 and empower your students to reach their
0:59.0	full potential now. Go to k-12.com slash farmhouse today to find a tuition-free K-12 powered school
1:04.7	near you and enroll now. That's the letter K-the-number 12.com slash farmhouse.
1:09.8	Even when I talk about casting a vision and having a certain intention for your family,
1:13.9	that just means that you've put something in the GPS.
1:17.2	You're going in a particular path.
1:19.5	But that doesn't mean there's not going to be detours.
1:21.9	We're in charge of sowing seeds.
1:23.8	We're not in charge of outcomes.
1:25.2	The goal is to not be in control of them. Like, literally
	...

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