The Home Education with Ease Podcast

Have you ever handed your child a phone or tablet because you just needed a few minutes to get something done?

I HAVE! And friend, there is absolutely no judgment here!

But how often are we reaching for technology without even realizing it?

This week on the Home Education with Ease Podcast, I'm continuing our conversation about technology following last week's interview with children's author Rebecca Shinsky.

As a mom and educator, I have some growing concerns about how technology is being used in our children's everyday lives, from video games...

How much technology is too much for our kids? And how can we help them develop healthy habits in a world where screens are everywhere?

This week on the Home Education with Ease Podcast, I'm joined by children's author and mom of four, Rebecca Shinsky, for a conversation that I think every parent needs to hear!

Rebecca is the author of Techie Tess Takes a Rest and Bucktooth Becky and Her Silly Headed Siblings. Her mission is to help children develop confidence, self-worth, and healthy habits through meaningful stories.

We talked about the...

What if some of the things we consider essential to early education aren't actually what our children need most?

What if more play, more movement, more time outdoors, and less academic pressure could make a meaningful difference in how our children learn and grow?

This week on the Home Education with Ease Podcast, I'm joined by Jana, a mom of two, military spouse, and business owner who was born in the Czech Republic, grew up in Germany, and is now raising her children in the United States.

We had such an interesting conversation...

Have you ever caught yourself saying:

“I don't have enough time.”

“We're too busy.”

“I don't have what I need.”

“I should be doing more.”

I have, and recently, I started realizing just how often those words were coming out of my mouth.

After last week's conversation about shifting our mindset around money, I started thinking about abundance in a completely different way. Maybe I don't have a scarcity mindset around money…but I realized I was carrying one around time.

And our kids are listening.

I...

What did you hear about money growing up?

“Money doesn't grow on trees.”

“We can't afford that.”

“That's too expensive.”

For many of us, the way we think and talk about money didn't start when we became adults. It began years ago with the words, experiences, and financial habits we witnessed as children.

But we don't have to automatically carry all of those same patterns into the next generation.

In this week's episode, Christine sits down in person with her dear friend, financial strategist, entrepreneur, mom of seven, and f...

Does your child suddenly need a snack, a drink, a bathroom break, or anything else they can think of, the minute it's time to learn? 😂

You're not alone.

Whether you're homeschooling, helping with homework after school, or introducing activities to a toddler, keeping kids focused can sometimes feel like a battle.

But what if the answer isn't asking them to sit still longer?

In this episode, Christine shares practical strategies she's used with her own children, in the classroom, and with the students and families she works with today to make lea...

This week's episode is an extra special one! Christine is joined by her husband, Dan Furman, on his birthday for his very first appearance on the Home Education with Ease Podcast.

After nearly 13 years of marriage and almost 12 years of parenthood, Christine and Dan sit down for a candid conversation about how they've grown individually, as a couple, and as parents and some of the lessons they've learned along the way.

Using the familiar phrase “healthy, wealthy and wise” as their starting point, they talk about three areas that affect so much of family life: phys...

If you have a toddler or preschooler, have you ever wondered, “What am I actually supposed to be teaching them?”

Maybe you've heard someone say, “Just play with them!” But what does that actually mean? And are they really learning enough through play?

In this episode of Home Education with Ease, Christine breaks down the WHY behind learning through play and shares how many of the simple things you're probably already doing with your child are building important academic, physical, social, and developmental skills.

From reading the same favorite book over and over again to...

What if creating a meaningful education for your child didn't require adding more to your already-full plate?

In this final episode of Christine's three-part Build Your Child's Personalized Learning Plan series, Christine brings everything together by focusing on the child sitting in front of you and the life you're already living.

She shares why two children, even siblings in the same family, may need completely different approaches to learning and why that's not something parents need to "fix." Instead, understanding how each child thinks, processes, and learns can help us meet them where they are.<...

Do you ever feel like there are so many things you want to teach your child?

Reading. Math. Writing. Life skills. Confidence. Independence. Social skills. Character. Activities. Field trips...

The list can quickly become overwhelming.

But here's the good news: You don't have to focus on everything at once.

In Part 2 of this special Build Your Child's Personalized Learning Plan series, Christine takes you back inside Day 2 of the workshop to help you identify what matters most for your child and family in this season.

Instead of trying to...

Before you choose curriculum, create the perfect schedule, or start worrying about everything your child should be learning this year, there's a more important question to ask:

What does success really look like for your child?

In this special episode of the Home Education with Ease Podcast, Christine takes you behind the scenes of Day 1 of her Build Your Child's Personalized Learning Plan Workshop.

You'll hear a snapshot of Christine's approach to creating an educational experience that begins with your family's vision and values, not a curriculum checklist.

Christine shares why...

Have you ever wondered if homeschooling is possible when you're already juggling work, business, and everyday life?

In this week's episode of the Home Education with Ease Podcast, Christine welcomes back special guest Yafit, entrepreneur and founder of Yeli Creations, to continue a conversation many parents are asking themselves:

Can I really homeschool my child while running a business?

Together, they explore the biggest questions families have when considering homeschooling, from creating a flexible daily routine to choosing curriculum, finding social opportunities, and balancing work with intentional family time.

Christine shares...

What if some of your child's greatest learning moments happen through creativity, culture, and everyday experiences, not worksheets?

In this inspiring conversation, Christine sits down with entrepreneur and creator Yafit, founder of Yelly Creations, to discuss how hands-on learning, creativity, family traditions, and following your child's interests can create meaningful educational experiences that last a lifetime.

Yafit shares her journey of moving from Israel to the United States, becoming a single mom, and creating educational resources to help her daughter stay connected to her Hebrew language and culture. What began as a simple desire to...

Do you ever feel like you're constantly rushing from one thing to the next, trying to do it all while wondering why you still feel overwhelmed?

In this episode, Christine shares a heartfelt reflection on what she's been learning about creating more peace and ease in everyday life—especially while spending time with family during the summer. She opens up about how overpacking her schedule, even with good things, left her exhausted and reminded her of the importance of margin, intentionality, and having a plan.

Christine explains how these same principles apply to home education. In...

What happens when life takes an unexpected turn? For Yafit, it led to discovering a purpose she never imagined.

In this inspiring episode, Christine sits down with Yafit, founder of Yeli Creations, to talk about motherhood, entrepreneurship, resilience, and the importance of preserving culture through meaningful learning. Originally from Israel and now living in Pittsburgh, Yafit shares how becoming a single mom inspired her to create engaging Hebrew learning resources for her daughter when she couldn't find the products she was looking for.

Together, Christine and Yafit discuss building a business while raising children, creating...

Have you ever found yourself staring at curriculum options, scrolling through homeschool Facebook groups, or saving Pinterest ideas, only to feel more overwhelmed than when you started?

You're not alone.

In this episode, Christine continues the conversation from Episode 133 by addressing one of the biggest struggles parents face when planning their home education journey: overwhelm. Instead of searching for the "perfect" curriculum, Christine encourages parents to step back, gain clarity on their family's vision, and create a personalized learning plan built around their unique child.

She shares the four common roadblocks that keep...

With back-to-school season just around the corner, it's easy to get caught up in searching for the "perfect" curriculum. But what if the best place to start isn't with curriculum at all?

In this episode, Christine shares a different approach to planning your home education year, one that begins with understanding your child. Rather than trying to fit every child into the same educational box, she encourages parents to consider each child's personality, learning style, strengths, challenges, and interests before selecting resources.

You'll learn practical questions to ask as you prepare for the upcoming school...

Summer is meant to be filled with fun, family memories, and a break from the traditional school routine, but that doesn't mean learning has to stop.

In this episode, Christine shares practical ways to keep your child's mind engaged throughout the summer without relying on endless worksheets or recreating school at home. From cooking together and visiting the library to grocery shopping, gardening, reading, and building life skills, you'll discover how everyday moments can become meaningful learning experiences.

Christine also shares how her own family incorporates simple educational routines while still making plenty of time...

What if one of the greatest gifts we can give our children isn't protecting them from challenges, but preparing them to overcome them?

In this inspiring conversation, Christine sits down with leadership consultant, educator, author, and entrepreneur Dr. Cindy Zurchin to explore how parents can intentionally raise resilient, confident children who are equipped to face life's ups and downs.

Drawing from decades of experience as a teacher, principal, superintendent, business consultant, and dance studio owner, Dr. Cindy shares powerful stories about transforming struggling schools, creating supportive learning environments, and helping children discover confidence through encouragement...

What are we actually trying to accomplish as parents? Is it perfect grades, perfect behavior, and checking all the boxes? Or is it raising children who are kind, confident, and independent?

In this episode, Christine shares the heart behind EduPlay Learning and her mission to help families raise kind, confident, and independent kids. Drawing from her own parenting journey, she explores the life skills, character traits, and daily habits that truly prepare children for success.

From teaching manners and gratitude to building confidence through perseverance and fostering independence through everyday responsibilities, Christine reminds us that...

Last week, Christine shared about grieving the younger stages of childhood. This week, she's answering the natural next question:

What do we do now?

As children grow and become more independent, our role as parents changes. The toys change. The activities change. The conversations change. And sometimes we find ourselves wondering how to stay connected while still encouraging independence.

In this episode, Christine shares practical ways to interact with older children, reduce screen time, encourage creativity, and create meaningful family memories without feeling like you have to entertain your kids all day long.<...

When you hear the word grief, what comes to mind?

For many of us, grief is associated with losing someone we love. But what if grief can also show up during life's transitions, even the beautiful ones?

In this heartfelt episode, Christine explores a different kind of grief, the grief that can accompany watching our children grow, change, and become more independent.

Through personal stories, reflections from her recent health and homeopathy journey, and honest conversations with friends, Christine shares how she realized she was grieving the younger versions of her children while...

In this heartfelt episode of the Home Education with Ease Podcast, Christine shares a deeply personal behind-the-scenes look at a recent business opportunity that forced her to pause, reflect, and seek discernment.

As families wrap up another school year and transition into summer, many moms are asking big questions:

• Should we continue homeschooling?

• Is public school still the best fit?

• Do we need a curriculum change, co-op, or new rhythm?

• Is this next opportunity aligned… or simply a distraction?

Christine opens up about the emotional weight of decision-m...

In this heartfelt and encouraging episode, Christine sits down with Miriam Workman, host of the Confidence in Motherhood podcast, for an honest conversation about motherhood, homeschooling, intentional parenting, routines, emotional awareness, and balancing family life while running a business.

Together, they discuss the importance of creating meaningful family rhythms, helping children feel seen and supported, and learning how to respond with intention instead of reacting out of overwhelm. They also share practical ways to create structure and routines that help families thrive while still leaving room for flexibility, connection, and joy.

Christine and Miriam open...

Can you really run a business, pursue your goals, and create meaningful learning experiences for your children at home?

In this heartfelt episode, Christine speaks directly to the moms who feel pulled in multiple directions and wonder if home education is even possible while balancing work, business, motherhood, and everyday life.

Christine shares her own journey of stepping away from a traditional teaching career, navigating the fears and pressures that come with choosing a different path, and learning how to create peaceful rhythms that support both family life and personal goals. She reminds moms that...

Motherhood is beautiful, meaningful, stretching, emotional, and sometimes incredibly hard all at once. In this heartfelt episode, Christine opens up about the realities of motherhood that are often left unspoken. From expectations and perfectionism to healing, growth, grief, and personal identity, this conversation creates space for moms to feel seen, supported, and encouraged.

Christine shares personal reflections on motherhood, balancing business and family life, learning to release pressure and comparison, and becoming more intentional with her time, energy, and priorities. She also speaks directly to the moms carrying heavy loads behind the scenes, including single moms, grieving...

Summer is just about here, and with it comes a shift in routines, expectations, and daily life. In this episode, Christine shares how to create a simple, flexible summer rhythm that allows your family to enjoy the season while still keeping learning alive without pressure or burnout.

If you’ve ever felt torn between being present with your kids, keeping up with learning, managing your home, and growing a business, you are not alone. This episode walks you through how to move away from an all or nothing mindset and step into a rhythm that supports your wh...

In this final episode of the month, Christine Furman, home education expert and host of the Home Education with Ease Podcast, takes you behind the scenes of what a real-life reset has looked like in her home.

After a full season of activities, responsibilities, and preparation, Christine shares how nothing was necessarily “wrong”… but everything felt a little off. That feeling led her to slow down, reflect, and make intentional changes in her home, her health, and her daily rhythms.

From a personal health reset (including a 72-hour fast) to reorganizing her EduPlay room, building in int...

In this episode of the Home Education with Ease Podcast, Christine Furman is joined by special guest Aubrey Worek, a transformation coach who helps women feel strong, confident, and energized—without guilt, pressure, or unrealistic expectations.

As part of this month’s theme of resetting your energy and restoring your rhythm, Christine and Aubrey dive into what it really looks like for moms to take care of themselves in the middle of busy, full lives.

From fitness and nutrition to mindset and identity, this conversation is filled with simple, practical strategies that actually fit into your...

In this episode, Christine Furman, home education expert and host of the Home Education with Ease Podcast, dives into the idea of a reset—something every mom feels at some point.

Whether it’s your home, your routine, your health, or your mindset, that feeling of “everything is off” is often a signal that something needs to shift.

Christine shares personal stories—from preparing her home for the Masters Tournament to navigating overwhelm, family routines, and everyday chaos—and offers simple, realistic ways to reset without pressure.

You’ll learn how to recognize when you need...

In this episode, Christine Furman, home education expert and founder of EduPlay Learning, kicks off April by shifting the conversation from reading into real-life math. If math has ever felt overwhelming—for you or your child—this episode will completely reframe how you see it.

Christine shares how math doesn’t have to live in a workbook. Instead, it can come alive through everyday moments already happening in your home—from sorting jelly beans and measuring ingredients to telling time and counting steps.

Through personal stories, practical examples, and simple strategies, you’ll learn how to slow le...

As we wrap up our month focused on raising confident, independent readers, this special episode brings everything together in a powerful and practical way.

Christine sits down with children’s author, homeschool mom, and former teacher Katie Vieira to explore how reading, real-life experiences, and intentional learning can transform the way our children engage with the world around them.

In this conversation, they dive into the growing challenges of screen dependency, how it impacts learning and behavior, and why shifting back to books, outdoor play, and hands-on experiences is more important than ever.

Ka...

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about raising confident readers and understanding why many children are currently struggling with reading.

In this episode, we take the conversation one step deeper by exploring how stressful life situations, nervous system dysregulation, and increased screen exposure can impact a child’s ability to focus, process information, and develop strong reading skills.

Christine shares real-life experiences from families navigating medical challenges and major life disruptions — seasons where routines shifted, survival mode took over, and learning understandably became more difficult.

You’ll learn how the brain pr...

Over the past few weeks, Christine has been sharing practical ways families can raise confident readers through intentional read-aloud time, exposure to multiple genres, and creating meaningful learning experiences at home.

In this episode, she dives deeper into a question many parents are quietly asking: Why does reading feel harder for so many children right now?

Christine explores how shifts in early education expectations, pandemic learning gaps, increased screen exposure, and missing foundational literacy skills may be impacting children’s reading development. She also shares personal stories from her own childhood and experiences working with fa...

In this episode of the Home Education with Ease Podcast, Christine continues the conversation about raising confident readers and supporting literacy development at home. Building on last week’s episode about reading aloud, she explores how reading strengthens attention, focus, imagination, and creativity in children.

In a world full of quick clips, flashing screens, and constant stimulation, children are often expected to sit and focus for long periods of time without ever being taught how to build that skill. Christine shares how intentional reading time can gently strengthen a child’s ability to listen, visualize stories, and deve...

It’s Dr. Seuss Day and Read Across America Week, and Christine is celebrating the magic of reading aloud—because in her home, books are a daily rhythm, not just a school subject. In this episode, she shares why reading to your kids is one of the most powerful (and simple) ways to support literacy, confidence, comprehension, and connection. You’ll hear practical ways to weave reading into real life—like the car, waiting rooms, the porch, and the couch—plus encouragement for both early learners and struggling readers. Christine also reminds parents that every child learns on their own timeli...

In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Dr. Leslie Pasco, founder and CEO of MyoWay Centers for Kids, to explore a topic that many families have never been told to consider: how your child breathes.

Dr. Leslie is a former general dentist of nearly 30 years who made the bold decision to retire from clinical dentistry to focus on one critical issue she believes is at the root of so many modern childhood challenges—sleep-related breathing disorders and improper jaw and airway development.

We discuss:

What if your child’s focus struggles… emotional outbursts… or restless nights weren’t about curriculum at all?

In this personal and powerful episode, Christine Furman—home education expert, former special education teacher, and mom of two—shares her family’s journey into MyoWay (myotherapy) and how breathing, oxygen, and sleep may be a missing link for many children.

After years of sleep struggles with her daughter—including difficulty falling asleep, waking disoriented, and even sleepwalking—Christine began exploring airway and breathing support. At the same time, she started recognizing red flags in her son: teeth grinding, be...

In this episode, Christine Furman—your home education expert—dives into a timely topic as Valentine’s Day brings a wave of brightly colored treats: food dyes. Christine shares why her family chooses a mostly dye-free home, how she approaches the topic with a judgment-free, education-first mindset, and why this conversation matters for kids’ learning, behavior, sleep, and overall regulation.

You’ll hear a real-life story from church treats that sparked a family conversation, plus a helpful reminder: even dye-free treats are still treats—because sugar and ultra-processed ingredients can impact kids too. Christine breaks down what food dyes ac...

Welcome to a brand new month and a brand new episode of the Home Education with Ease podcast!

In this episode, Christine Furman, home education expert, former classroom and special education teacher, and homeschool mom, answers a question she’s asked often: What exactly is EduPlay Learning, and how can it support my family?

Christine shares the heart behind EduPlay Learning, how it grew alongside her own children, and why learning doesn’t have to look like school to be effective. From snowy winter updates and real-life family rhythms to play-based learning, life skills, and conf...