Homeschool badges can be fun additions for rewarding that home journey. To be a part of those moments of conquering milestones and seeing those “lightbulb” moments in my children’s eyes is just one of those joys of homeschool.
Making a badge banner for those learning hurdles that have been conquered has been a fun way to celebrate. The banner and badges don’t have to be fancy or professional. Surprisingly, the simpler and more rough looking the badge, the more personal they are for your kids. At first, I didn’t think that it would be that much of a big deal in the eyes of my kids, but after taking one of the banners down to add to it, it’s absence was immediately noted.
So, have fun making your own family banners to celebrate those learning leaps.
Make your Homeschool Banner:
- First, pick a fabric of your choice. It can be the same for all kids like ours or chosen specifically for each individual personality. We picked some scrap pieces of a scholarly plaid that was a mix of polyester and cotton for durability and less stretch. Don’t make it too busy that it competes with the badges for the eye attention.
- Measure out roughly 16 inches wide by 42 inches long or the size you choose.
- Fold the fabric in half long-wise to mark the middle point for the tip at the end.
- While the fabric is still folded in half, use a straight edge to mark a line slightly angled from this mid-point to the sides. This will create your pointed bottom edge. Cut along this line.
- Double fold 1/4 inch each long side of the banner so that you have a nice hem on those long sides. Sew along the edge of the hem.
- Fold under 1/4inch along the top edge and then fold that over 2 inches to create a larger top pocket for a dowel rod. Sew along the bottom of this hem.
- Now double fold 1/4 inch along one side of the bottom pointed angle. Sew this hem. Fold over the second angled side and sew.
- Insert a dowel into the top pocket slightly wider then the banner. Attach colorful ribbon to hang.
Homeschool Badges are the scouts honor of the journey!
Now to have fun with felt and embroidery floss! The sky’s the limit on what shapes and subjects you celebrate. I used a basic blanket stitch to sew badges to the banner in fun accent colors. Shapes were needleworked in long/short satin stitch, French Knots, etc. If you would rather, just cut out an accent felt shape subject and layer it onto the badge felt. Attach with fabric glue. You don’t even have to hand sew the design. As you can see, I am not even close to an accomplished needlework crafter and I am woefully behind but that is A-OK. The kiddos love that they earned and conquered something to get it on there.
We also picked up ready made badges from National Parks and forts as well as earned badges from the Junior Rock Club. Even some enamel pins from the Chocolate Factory field trip were added. For Tae Kwan Do, we will use a slice of a rank belt that is cut off of during the belt ceremony as a badge piece. It’s all about the memories. Some ideas for badges are below:
Littles
- Colors
- Shapes
- Letters / Alphabet
- Getting dressed by yourself
- Making your bed by yourself
- Potty trained
- Finished phonics / Starfall
Youngins’
- Learned to read
- Can ride a bike
- Learned addition, subtraction, multiplication, division
- Can write by yourself
- Learned to thread a needle and sew a running stitch
- Proper use of a hammer, screwdriver, etc.
- Can run the washer/dryer
- Finished basic knitting, crochet, etc.
- Graduated from swim lessons
- Martial Arts belt rank
- Achieved a year of Bible memorization
- Salvation date
- Baptism date
Middles
- Can canoe/kayak paddle successfully
- Can use leather working tools successfully
- Archery
- Middle math: fractions, decimals, percentages
- Add Mileage Club charms to banner
- Patches from National Parks
- Junior Rock Club badges
- Add on beads for beading skills
- Finished Babysitter class
- Lost last tooth
Tallers
- CPR / First Aid
- First prom/ dance
- First job
- Mowing
- Higher math: Algebra, Geometry, etc.
- Achieved driver’s license
- Finished a book on NaNoWriMo
- Computer Coding
- Graduation
- Power Tools
- Lifeguarding
- Sciences
- Checkbook Maintenance
Collect your “rocks” and “knots”
The list is endless and personal to your child. My daughter’s banner will end up looking different then my son’s as they grow older. In the end, it serves as a sort of scrapbook for them. It reminds me of the custom of collecting rocks or knots in a rope to mark milestones in a person’s life. I suspect that this rough, unskilled, “corny” banner full of earned homeschool badges will stay around awhile and looked on with pride and love. Be sure to download the larger list of ideas in the printable form below.
What other homeschool badges would you add to your banner? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear other ideas!
Don’t have time to sew? Use our printable badges and banners
I know us mommas don’t have that extra time to sew banners and badges for each child in most cases. Make it easier on yourself by printing out a banner, then printing out badges on sticker paper. Easy peasy and your finished. The kids will like seeing their achievements along the way.
