Timberdoodle is a family-owned curriculum company that curates award-winning educational materials from hundreds of publishers into grade-level kits, emphasizing STEAM subjects, hands-on learning, and critical thinking skills.
What is Timberdoodle?
Timberdoodle is a family-owned homeschool curriculum company founded in 1985 in Shelton, Washington. Unlike publishers who create their own materials, Timberdoodle operates as a curriculum curator—they personally test and select award-winning resources from hundreds of publishers, then bundle them into grade-level kits. Founded by Dan and Deb Deffinbaugh (originally as a dog breeding business that pivoted when homeschool friends kept asking where Deb found her teaching materials), the company has grown from a "humble back-porch venture" into a thriving business with multiple warehouses.
Key Takeaways
- Curated kits from PreK through 12th grade in Basic, Complete, and Elite tiers
- Offers both Classic (Christian) and Non-Religious (secular) versions of each kit
- Strong emphasis on STEAM, hands-on activities, and critical thinking
- Custom kit builder allows swapping any component that doesn't fit your family
- Includes free online scheduler tool and grade-specific handbooks
Kit Options and Structure
Timberdoodle offers three tiers at each grade level: Basic Kits cover essentials (math, language arts, thinking skills) for budget-conscious families. Complete Kits add science, history, and hands-on components. Elite Kits include everything plus extras like coding, survival skills, and art supplies. Each kit comes with a grade-specific curriculum handbook and access to their online scheduler that creates daily and weekly checklists based on your start and end dates.
Religious vs. Non-Religious Options
Timberdoodle offers two parallel product lines: Classic kits include materials with Christian perspectives (Protestant orientation), while Non-Religious kits replace religious content with secular alternatives—labeled as "charter-school-friendly." The company is owned by a Christian family, so the Classic kits are their default, but they've intentionally created robust secular alternatives for families who prefer to handle religious education separately.
What Makes Timberdoodle Different
Unlike literature-based curricula like Sonlight or BookShark, Timberdoodle prioritizes STEAM subjects. Their "big three" are Language Arts, Math, and Thinking Skills—every kit includes brain boosters, logic puzzles, and critical thinking resources. First graders build circuits; eighth graders simulate flying airplanes. The curriculum is designed for children to work independently as early as possible, and components are updated annually based on testing and feedback rather than remaining static year after year.
The Bottom Line
Timberdoodle offers a unique approach for families who value hands-on, STEAM-focused learning without wanting to piece together a curriculum from scratch. The custom kit builder means you're not locked into components that don't work for your family, and the availability of both religious and secular options makes it accessible to diverse homeschooling philosophies. Keep in mind that you're paying for curation and convenience—individual items could theoretically be purchased separately, but most families find the bundled approach saves significant planning time.
