In the world of HGTV, Erin and Ben Napier are the undisputed champions of the "slow life." They’ve spent years renovating Laurel, Mississippi, one Victorian porch at a time, preaching the gospel of small-town charms and antique wood. But lately, the conversation around the Napier household has shifted from heart-pine floors to something much more personal: the dinner table turned classroom.
HGTV Erin Napier homeschooling isn't just a rumor anymore; it’s a full-blown reality for daughters Helen and Mae.
Honestly, if you’ve followed Erin on Instagram for more than five minutes, this probably doesn't shock you. She’s always been vocal about her "Osprey" movement—Old School Parents Raising Engaged Youth—which is basically a call to arms against the "digital invasion" of childhood. Last year, Erin shared that she was getting "weepy" watching her oldest, Helen, start school. By late 2025, that sentiment evolved into a massive lifestyle pivot.
Why the Napiers Decided to Teach Their Own
The decision to pull the girls out of their "amazing little school" wasn't about a lack of quality in the local education system. It was about time. Or rather, the lack of it.
Erin has been open about her "dream" of homeschooling since Helen was born in 2018. But life got in the way. Shows like Home Town and Home Town Takeover are massive productions that eat up the calendar. Then Mae arrived in 2021. The "someday" they kept promising themselves finally arrived in the fall of 2025.
"The dream wouldn't leave me alone," Erin shared in a post that set the internet on fire. She mentioned that after three years of traditional schooling, she and Ben just weren't ready for the summer magic to end. So, they did what any DIY expert would do.
They built a school.
A Studio-to-Schoolhouse Transformation
You’ve seen Erin’s painting studio on the show. It’s filled with light, brushes, and that specific artistic clutter that feels cozy rather than messy. Well, that studio became a "classical school" practically overnight.
💡 You might also like: Wire brush for cleaning: What most people get wrong about choosing the right bristles
If you're picturing a high-tech lab with iPads and smartboards, you’re looking at the wrong family.
The Napiers are leaning heavily into the Classical Education model. Erin has been spotted reading The Well-Trained Mind by Susan Wise Bauer, a literal "bible" for parents who want to focus on the trivium—grammar, logic, and rhetoric. It’s an old-school approach. It fits their brand perfectly.
- No Devices: This is a non-negotiable. No tablets. No phones. No apps.
- The Tutors: Don't ask about the nanny or a private tutor. Ben and Erin are doing the heavy lifting themselves.
- The Environment: Think wooden desks, whiteboards on stands, and plenty of physical books.
Ben joked in a 2025 interview with People that everyone assumes they hired a tutor. "No, we're the tutors," he said. It’s a lot of work for two people who also run a furniture line, several retail shops, and a television empire. But for them, it’s the "year of doing hard things."
The Battle Against the "Digital Education"
A huge driver for the HGTV Erin Napier homeschooling move was the creep of technology in the classroom.
Erin has expressed frustration with schools that require apps or tablets for assignments. For the Napiers, a screen-free childhood isn't just a hobby; it’s a core value. She once noted that pulling Helen out of school early on "digital education days" was a regular occurrence. They’d go to Ben’s woodshop or do art instead.
There’s a real nuance here that most people miss. It’s not that they hate technology—they use it for work and family movie nights (watching The Berenstain Bears or Prancer). It's that they believe a child's brain doesn't need "the entire world in their pocket" until they're much older.
What the Critics (and Fans) Say
Not everyone is on board. The "tradwife" label gets thrown around on Reddit quite a bit, with some critics suggesting the Napiers are becoming "caricatures" of Southern life.
📖 Related: Images of Thanksgiving Holiday: What Most People Get Wrong
Some parents point out that not everyone has the "privilege" of a flexible HGTV schedule or a dedicated art studio. Erin, to her credit, doesn't claim this is for everyone. She’s called it "what we’re trying this year," not a universal law.
But for a huge segment of her audience, she’s a hero. They see a mom who is actually "stopping the clock" and reclaiming her kids' childhood from the grip of social media.
The Reality of Being Your Child's Teacher
Homeschooling Helen (8) and Mae (4) means balancing two very different stages of development.
Helen is entering that "big girl" phase—journaling, tumbling, and dreaming of being a veterinarian. Mae is still in the "babyness" phase, though Erin notes that she’s losing that infant quality in exchange for "sweet, thoughtful conversations."
The Napiers have found that the girls support each other in ways they wouldn't in separate classrooms. Ben has shared stories of Mae helping the shy Helen introduce herself to new people. In a homeschool setting, that sibling bond becomes the primary social structure.
How to Apply the Napier "Slow Life" to Your Own Schooling
You don’t need an HGTV contract to take a page out of Erin’s book. If you're looking at your kids and feeling like "time is flying," here are a few actionable ways to "Napier-ify" your family’s education:
Audit the Screen Time
Start by looking at how much "incidental" tech is in your child's day. Is there an app for math? An app for reading? Try swapping one digital hour for one physical hour. Buy the paper version of the book. Get the wooden blocks out.
👉 See also: Why Everyone Is Still Obsessing Over Maybelline SuperStay Skin Tint
Create a "Creative Station"
Erin’s big tip? Always leave a heavy mug of water, brushes, and cheap watercolors out. If the materials are there, the kids will paint. Every. Single. Day.
Embrace the "Boring"
The Napiers are anti-giant-birthday-parties. They do supper at the grandparents' house. This "slow living" philosophy reduces the pressure on kids to always be "entertained." Homeschooling thrives in the quiet moments between lessons.
Look into Classical Education
If the idea of a "low-tech" education appeals to you, start with The Well-Trained Mind. It provides a roadmap for teaching without the need for a digital crutch.
The HGTV star’s journey into homeschooling is a reminder that you can always change the plan. Just because you started in a traditional classroom doesn't mean you have to stay there if your "dream won't leave you alone."
For the Napiers, 2026 is about being present for the "awkward parts" of growing up. It's about being the ones to answer the hard questions. And honestly? It’s about making sure that "summer of being together" never actually has to end.
If you’re considering making a shift in your child’s education, start by identifying your family’s "non-negotiables." Whether it’s screen-free time or more hours spent in the woodshop, those values should be your compass. You can begin by setting aside just one afternoon a week for "analog learning" to see how your children respond to a slower pace.