Life learning always has started in the home. It seems it is therefore very appropriate that this be part of a home schooled child's curriculum. Children tend to blossom when they are being taught in a hands on learning environment. The biggest help is to just let THEM do it. Here are some ideas of ways to promote learning from life in to your home school curriculum.
Service: The best way to teach a child to serve and care for others is to give them the opportunity to do so. Plan activities like visiting senior centers, or picking up trash before playing at the park. The more they serve with you by their side, the more likely they are to grow into adults that serve.
Finances and Math: Start by teaching them to work and save for the things they want. There are several methods from paying them for each job they do, to giving an allowance if they complete the jobs assigned during the week, to even encouraging them to start their own business. When a child has to work for money, they value it more, and are more likely to save it for things they really want or need. Next, teach them to use a checkbook and register. Although the plastic credit/debit card is taking over, checks are still a handy thing to know how to use. When they reach an age that they can comprehend a little more, teach them about percentage rates, loans, mortgages, and other things they will have to know to survive life on their own someday. Once a child learns how to figure percentages let them figure out the discounts on merchandise they want to buy. The more they know and do when they are young, the less likely they will fall into the discouraging pitfall of debt, and the more they will remember the lessons learned.
Self-Reliance: It's good to include in your home school regiment the teaching of self-reliance skills. If you lack a skill that you wish your child could learn, sewing for example, look into what kind of programs are available. The 4-H program can be found in most counties and states, and offers many classes led by volunteer instructors. Classes range from horseback riding to bread baking. To know what is available go to your county 4-H office. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts are also good programs for learning skills to make one independent.
Friendship: The only downfall to home school is the lack of social involvement. There are ways around this however. One way is to create home school groups that can meet once a week or more in person. It gives children the opportunity to gain social skills, and gives adults a chance to swap ideas making the whole home school experience better for child and parent. Another way to teach friendship, is to get your child involved in extracurricular activities. Youth theater camps, clubs, sports, and music are just a few ideas. If you can get them out of the house and interacting with other kids and adults, it's easy to teach social skills by guiding and correcting where needed.
Reading: Asking a young child to help read the names of stores, road signs, can labels, news paper articles, and other simple objects, can help them learn to read. Reading fun books out loud to them from you, and the other way around at night can help a child gain a love for reading. This is a life skill that they will carry into adulthood, and will enrich their lives for continual growth and learning.
In conclusion, yes there should be time set aside for traditional studies, but learning is a life long process, so why not let them learn from doing as well as studying.
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