How to Homeschool During the Holidays Successfully
With crisp, cool air, multi-colored leaves, and pumpkin spice everything, we know what’s coming. Family feasts, friendly gatherings, vacations, and present buying. And, still, homeschool. But underlying the excitement and anticipation is often stress and anxiety.
Some homeschool moms decide trying to homeschool between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is a wash and throw in the towel early, picking it up again in the new year. Others, feel the stress of “being behind” and decide among all the other things, they will “Homeschool On,” so to speak, often with unrealistic vigor.
But somewhere in the middle, is a crowd of homeschool moms, who have eased up on the homeschool schedule, but have not given up on it entirely.
To be honest, I have at different seasons in life, found myself in each of those circumstances. I found we feel the least stress when we strive towards balance.
The question becomes if you don’t have the luxury of taking several weeks offs, how do you carefully balance homeschool and the holidays? Nothing will transform you into the Grinch faster than feeling stressed out about the combination of homeschooling and holiday festivities.
Tips For Balancing Homeschool During the Holidays
When You’re Feeling Behind
First, let’s talk about the homeschool portion. In particular, the stress of feeling you are behind and doing less during the holiday season will put you further off the mark. I know that feeling. But in all honesty, having your child cram gobs of information in a short period of time, will not result in learning. It will result in short tempers, tears, and obstinance. None of which will help you enjoy your holiday season.
There are a few options you can employ depending on the circumstance.
If my (older) children were behind due to their own poor time management or choices, then I felt having them continue to do schoolwork while the rest of us were not, was an apt consequence. I didn’t make them do five math lessons in a day, but they did have to continue with their lessons. Most of the time, knowing they would be sacrificing vacation time, they worked hard to get assignments done to avoid it.
When we are just behind where I’d like to be at this point in the year, I take a moment to re-evaluate. Are there lessons I can cut out or shorten? And then, I choose to either tack on extra days at the end of the year, shorten other breaks, or both. I do my best to factor in some downtime around the holiday season, but sometimes life goes off-plan and we need to readjust.
It’s okay to readjust your plan and still take the time you need to refresh.
Scale Back & Add Some Fun
If you happen to be having a magical year, complete with up-to-date lesson plans, you may be tempted to keep on keeping on. However, there is wisdom in cutting back on regular school subjects, if ever so slightly, or reimaging them to include some festive fun. Rabbit Trails through the Holidays allows you to still cover language arts while incorporating Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Hannakuh. Kids can have fun and for a short bit you can use a more relaxed curriculum to give yourself some breathing room.
My Names of Christ Reflective Study Journal is another way to incorporate writing into your school day, while also keeping a Christ-Centered Christmas.
Look at what subjects need to happen (like math) and put the others on the back burner so you can enjoy your family a little more.
After all, isn’t part (or the whole) reason we homeschool to be able to forge family bonds. Let’s not sacrifice them for a Latin drill.
Plan Intentionally When Homeschooling During the Holidays
Now, it is really easy to get caught up in the holiday festivities and completely overwhelm yourself by trying to cram it all in. Even if you’ve scaled back schoolwork, you can stress your family out by trying to do it all. It’s important to be realistic in your commitments. It’s totally fine to give your regrets on attending a(nother) holiday party or to graciouly decline committing to host a brunch for the co-op.
Be picky!
Your time is valuable. Even if you want to do it all, it doesn’t mean you can or should.
When everything offered is good, choose that which is best and decline the rest.
Take a Mental Health Check
My oldest daughter is in her second year of college. She told me that once a week she calls her group of friends to do a mental health check by asking them what their brain space looks like. If one of them is feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or anxious they troubleshoot to see how they can help each other and come up with an action plan.
Take time each week (or day depending) to ask what your and your families brain space looks like. Re-evaluate and change direction if needed. Prioritize your mental health.
Homeschooling and the holidays can both be stressful all on their own. Combined, they can sometimes feel like too much. But, if you take time to follow these suggestions, you’ll find you can homeschool during the holidays successfully.
Thanksgiving Tips and Resources for Homeschooling
If you’re in America, Thanksgiving ususally kicks off our holiday season. I’ve teamed up with some of my fellow homeschool bloggers to bring you some fantastic Thanksgiving-themed tips and resources. Be sure to check them all out below!
Teach Gratitude and Thanksgiving through Praise and Worship from In All You Do
Free Thanksgiving Coloring Pages and Activity Printables from Blessed Homeschool
Thanksgiving and Kids – Learning and Playing All Season Long from Hess UnAcademy
History Behind our Thanksgiving Traditions from Homeschool On the Range
Gratitude Journal for Kids from Homeschooling 4 Him
Thanksgiving Music Lesson with Thanksgiving Printable Set from Music in Our Homeschool
Five Thanksgiving Traditions That Bring Families Together from Geez, Gwen!
Free Native American Unit Study from With the Huddlestons
Thanksgiving Homeschool Resources for a Low-Prep, Mini Unit Study from Whole Child Homeschool
Being Grateful When You Don’t Feel Like It from Julie Naturally
Thanksgiving Homeschool Activities + Unit Studies from Homeschool with Moxie
Thanksgiving Morning Basket from Heart and Soul Homeschooling
Thankful Morning Time Plans from Everyday Graces Homeschool
Free Printable Games and Activities for a Fun Family Thanksgiving from The WOLFe Pack
4 Fall Traditions and A Sensory Look at the Season from Inside Our Normal
Thanksgiving Games: Spot the Difference from The Homeschool Cafe
Thanksgiving Theme Preschool Lesson Plans from Simple Living Mama
