Question 1

Is My-Backyard.org free to use?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All stories, homeschool lessons, devotionals, coloring pages, and printable worksheets are free forever for families. The ministry runs entirely on donations and shop merchandise sales.

Question 2

Is My-Backyard.org safe for children?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The site complies with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act). Children under 13 require a parent or guardian to set up their account. All community content is moderated before it becomes publicly visible, and the site uses row-level security to protect every user's data.

Question 3

What ages is My-Backyard.org designed for?

Accepted Answer

The content is designed for children ages 4–12 and their families. The homeschool curriculum covers Kindergarten through Grade 5 with lessons in History, Science, Math, Geography, Cursive, and biblical virtues.

Question 4

What is the Backyard story world?

Accepted Answer

The Backyard is a faith-centered story world featuring Russ the Storyteller and animal characters like Max the Black Lab, Milo the Mouse, Carl the Carrier Pigeon, and Charlie the Grey Fox. Each character carries a biblical virtue and Scripture verse, and the stories are designed to comfort, encourage, and grow faith in children.

Question 5

Can I use the homeschool curriculum for my family?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The faith-based homeschool curriculum is free for all families. It includes Scripture-rooted lesson plans, printable worksheets, character guides, a weekly lesson planner, and a parent dashboard to track your child's progress.

Question 6

How can I support My-Backyard.org?

Accepted Answer

You can support the ministry through direct donations, purchasing merchandise from the Backyard Mercantile shop, or giving to one of the children's charities we honor. All support keeps the resources free for every family.

Question 7

Are these Bible stories or original stories?

Accepted Answer

My-Backyard.org features original, character-driven Christian stories — not direct Bible retellings. The Backyard Friends are original animal characters who each carry a biblical virtue and Scripture verse. The stories are written in a gentle, Mr. Rogers-inspired style that weaves Scripture truths into relatable adventures. This makes them complementary to Bible reading, not a replacement for it.

Question 8

What makes My-Backyard.org different from other Christian kids websites?

Accepted Answer

Unlike sites that retell Bible stories or require paid subscriptions, My-Backyard.org offers an original, immersive story world with animal characters who embody biblical virtues. It's completely free, ad-free, COPPA-compliant, and includes a full K–5 homeschool curriculum integrated into the story world. The gentle, Mr. Rogers-style storytelling approach and interactive map, virtue garden, and character-driven lessons create a unique, narrative-first experience for Christian families.

Question 9

Can Sunday school teachers use these resources?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sunday school teachers and children's ministry leaders can use the free stories, printable worksheets, coloring pages, character guides, and virtue lessons. The resources work well for Sunday school, VBS, homeschool co-ops, and family devotional time. Ministry partners can also connect through the Ministry Partners page.