The beginning of a school year offers a lot of excitement and energy. There is new curriculum to explore, a desire to get back into a routine after a break, and often lots of field trips and opportunities. Then comes the crazy of the holidays with extra crafts, fun events, and various opportunities.
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However, after the holidays comes the winter season. This can sometimes be the hardest time of year for homeschoolers. The newness has worn off, the weather is often less than ideal, there is less sunlight (which affects mood for many people), and it can feel like a long, hard road to spring.
While it can be a challenging season, there are a few simple ways to help improve attitudes (both yours and your students) and get the most out of homeschooling in the winter.
Four Strategies for Beating the Winter Homeschool Blues
- Change Things Up
Add some type of fun extra into your homeschool day. For example, maybe this is when you finally get to those science experiments you have been putting off, or maybe you add in a handicraft that your children are interested in learning. Maybe now is the time to try out a STEM learning kit or an art subscription. Try to think about things that your children would be excited to do.
2. Bundle Up and Get Outside
One of the reasons winter is so hard for many people is the lack of sunshine and the monotony of the days. Someone once said that there is “no bad weather, only bad clothes.” While that is not always true, if we dress appropriately, we can easily get outside for an hour and get fresh air and sunshine to brighten up our day. Check out this post for more ideas on getting outside.
3. Tea Time
Another fun way to add excitement to your winter days is having a daily or weekly tea time. You can enjoy a read-aloud, some poetry, or just share a good conversation with a warm drink and a snack. This could be something homemade that you bake together, or it could be as simple as a package of store-bought cookies and some hot cocoa mix. Remember you can make memories with a box mix.
4. Lean Into the Slowness
While not always the case, winter is often a slower time of year. There are fewer field trips as people slow down and recover from the busyness of the holidays and wait for the warmer days of spring. This could make the days a bit monotonous, or we can lean into it and consider it a blessing. This gives us time to enjoy a long read-aloud on the couch with a warm drink, wrap up in a blanket, and watch a movie that coordinates with our studies.
Do you notice the winter homeschooling blues? How do you help overcome those days and enjoy your time in the winter? I would love to hear additional tips and tricks in the comments.
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