Homeschooling during the holidays doesn’t have to be a nightmare. Check out our top tips for making it through a busy season.
Homeschooling in Busy Seasons
Homeschooling is no joke any time of the year. It’s a lot of work, and people don’t understand this unless they have been through it.
So give yourself a pat on the back for making it this far.
Busy seasons will come and go.
Here are our best tips for surviving and homeschooling during the holidays.
This article may contain affiliate links to products that may help you when homeschooling preschool.
Top Tips for Homeschooling During the Holidays
1. Create a Schedule
But not just any schedule; create a holiday fun schedule.
Pepper in something fun daily to keep your little ones engaged and looking forward to.
A schedule will keep you on track and ensure that the events or activities on your priorities list are scheduled into your day.
2. Utilize Themed Lessons
Your little one will be thinking about the holidays all day long. Use this to your advantage.
Find themed crafts and activities that work on the skills you are looking to work on.
There are many great Christmas and winter-themed activities to try while homeschooling during the holidays.
3. Enjoy Festivities
Many local places will have Christmas festivals or activities. Take advantage of these field trips.
Some may even offer free (or discounted) admission on certain days.
4. Read Holiday Books
We have many excellent holiday book suggestions about Christmas and Christmas Around the World.
There are so many beautiful things little ones can learn from books!
5. Incorporate Cooking
With the holidays comes lots and lots of baking. Bring your preschooler along while you bake.
Sure, it will take longer and be a bit messier, but kids love getting into the kitchen.
Kids need to see where food comes from and how it is made.
Plus, it’s a great way to introduce recipes and measuring.
Homeschooling during the holidays brings out fun activities.
6. Keep a Routine
Kids thrive on routines. Change a kid’s routine, and you usually have yourself in for a rude awakening.
When homeschooling during the holidays, keep your general routine and find ways to bring in the holiday fun at logical times.
Missing rest time will make for a long afternoon for the grown-up and the kid.
7. Learn about Other Cultures
Reading and learning about other cultures opens preschoolers’ eyes to new things and provides an opportunity to talk about where different countries are on a map.
After reading about how another culture celebrates the holidays, consider making a holiday treat from that country.
8. Most Things Can Be Turned into Learning Opportunities, but Don’t Ruin the Moment with Lessons
You can write ABCs and 123s on Christmas trees, Christmas lights, snowflakes, anything, but should you?
Sometimes, doing a craft or an activity for pure enjoyment is enough. No literacy or mathematical strings attached.
Crafts and activities are valuable in their own way.
9. Music and Movement is Key
Everyone is wound up a bit tighter during the holidays. The anticipation is felt in the air.
Blow off some steam with movement breaks.
Put on some music and let your little ones dance. Do finger-play songs and stories.
Search for brain breaks online to keep them fresh and appealing.
10. Relax
It’s okay if everything you have planned doesn’t happen. Spending quality time with your littles is a memory in itself.
Homeschooling Close to the Holidays
Use the tips above to help push through the busiest time of the year– the holidays! Homeschooling during the holidays isn’t easy, but you can do it!