The HGTV designer is a fierce advocate for homeschooling, which she says gives the family more time together despite their busy schedule.
“Home Town” star Erin Napier, a fierce advocate for homeschooling, recently shared a detailed update about how her daughters are handling the current school year.
In an Oct. 20 social media post, Napier created a montage of highlights, showing her children learning, playing outside, reading, and creating art.
“First nine weeks of homeschool has been so good for us as a family. We made some curriculum changes for efficiency and our days are moving like a well oiled machine now,” wrote the HGTV designer, who has been educating her daughters, Helen, 8, and Mae, 5, at the family’s Laurel, MS, abode since 2025.
The proud mom touted her elder daughter’s affinity for history, explaining that the third grader is able to “accurately lay out historic events in the right order without help, given one random index card at a time”—a feat Erin admits she was likely unable to accomplish herself as a high schooler, giving her husband, Ben Napier, kudos for being “the best history teacher ever.”
Previously, Erin has shared that with a degree in history, a minor in English, and past experience as a youth pastor, Ben is well-equipped to teach the kids.
Erin and Ben Napier have found a more efficient way to homeschool their daughters as their schedule ramps up with the addition of a "Home Town" spinoff. (HGTV) Helen has also been “learning how to properly write short essays, memorizing lots of poetry,” and finished a handful of popular books, including “Pippi Longstocking,” “Mr. Popper’s Penguins,” and “Paul Revere’s Midnight Ride.”
The 8-year-old is also working on learning about mammals, the nervous system, multiplication, and the states and their capitals.
Helen’s impressive list of skills also includes the ability to “write long passages in cursive,” Erin confirmed in response to a comment from a fan who encouraged her not to “forget” to teach her girls the skill.
In addition to this typical curriculum, Helen is working on some real-world skills such as building fires. She even hosted a “fall party” for 20 of her friends.
As for the family’s kindergarten student, Erin shared that Mae is “reading independently,” learning about animals and maps, and working on a “pumpkin painting book report” of her favorite read, “Make Way for Ducklings.”
Erin has repeatedly championed Ben for being a great homeschool teacher, noting his education in history and English. (Erin Napier/Instagram) 
The designer has shared a look at the family's homeschool setup, which is well-suited for creating art, reading, and writing. (Erin Napier/Instagram) “It’s been hard work and a few late nights planning this year, but it’s also the most fun I’ve ever had as a parent,” Erin reflected.
The entrepreneur acknowledged that the arrangement might not work for most families, but it currently feels right for the Napiers.
“Most of my very best friends in the world have brilliant kids who go to traditional school and they love their schools so much,” she continued. “It is working beautifully for them. For us, this slots in beautifully with our schedule and satisfies our need for more family time.”
The Napiers certainly have a unique schedule, with Erin and Ben recently traveling to Vancouver Island to assist with “Home Town Takeover Canada,” an international spinoff of their own Mississippi-based series.
The couple will continue to host “Home Town” in the United States while new hosts Sarah and Bryan Baeumler will take the lead on the Canadian show.
Erin and Ben explained to Cinemablend that because they are not Canadian, they are “not legally allowed to host the show. We can only be in it as, like, guest stars.”
The HGTV personality has explained that the situation is a great way for the couple to spend more time with their children. (Erin Napier/Instagram) “This was never something that we even dreamed of, being on TV,” Ben told People magazine in an Oct. 23 interview. “And so, the fact that this show about us working to bring back our little town has now gone to multiple states and now across the border to Canada is just crazy.”
While the family of four seems to be enjoying the current situation, Erin isn’t afraid to make a change in the future, if needed.
“One day, they may want to go to traditional school again but until then we gonna be out here loving our ‘weirdo homeschooler’ era!” she added.
When it comes to homeschooling, Erin has been an open book—sharing the family’s successes and challenges while addressing criticism from onlookers.
In April, Erin even opened up to explain that she previously thought homeschool was “weird” when she was “young.” Her opinion was changed forever when she and Ben met some homeschooled children shortly after Helen was born.
Erin remarked that the children they met were “so remarkable, so mature, so communicative, and interested in learning” that it made the couple realize they “wanted whatever that was.”