The holidays are such a wonderful time to spend with family and friends. There are many exciting activities and traditions to take part in, but your schedule can quickly fill up. When I was homeschooling, I remember having one or more holiday activities on the calendar every single week. There was a lot of time spent on extra things, whether it was taking meals to families, visiting nursing homes, getting together with extended family, caroling, baking, making crafts, going on holiday field trips, or other special events. And balancing our homeschool days with all these activities would always be a challenge. It left me feeling a bit stressed, knowing we couldn’t possibly get everything done unless we didn’t want to sleep. But with careful planning and a healthy mindset, you can enjoy this special time of year without all the stress. Here are a few things to remember.
- Set your priorities. What are the most important subject areas you need to focus on for each child? Let go of the extras during this time and give attention to the core subjects that shouldn’t be missed. If you are going to have a very busy week, possibly double up lessons where you can so you don’t fall behind.
- Remember your kids are still learning. Even though you might not be doing as much book work during this time, that doesn’t mean your kids aren’t learning. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Homeschooling integrates learning into every part of your daily life together. And it’s not just gaining knowledge. When you are decorating your house for the holidays, baking cookies, and doing crafts together, your kids are learning how to create special bonds and establish traditions. When you go caroling, visit the elderly, or deliver meals, they are practicing how to love people together. When you shop together for Christmas gifts, they are learning how to give and show appreciation for others. When you go to a Christmas musical or play, they are learning about music appreciation, storytelling, and other historical or cultural traditions.
- Keep a simplified meal plan. Especially during this time of year, the Instant Pot or Crockpot is your best friend. It is so beneficial to have easy-to-make meal plans in place for a week at a time. Choose meals that are simple to throw together but that will still appeal to your family. Freeze extra meat or soup so you can use it when you need something in a pinch. Or, if you have time on the weekends, make extra food that will last at least a couple of days.
- Take time to recharge and enjoy the season. Finally, with so many things pulling for our attention, it is easy for the holiday season to come and go without ever really enjoying it. Continually in “go” mode, we go through the motions of making sure we have checked everything off our daily list. When it’s all over, exhaustion sets in and it’s hard to recover. If you need to let go of an activity to save your sanity, don’t feel guilty. If you are overly fatigued, your kids are likely also feeling the same way. Make time for a quick nap to recharge if you need it. Even taking a few minutes to lie down and elevate your legs will relieve stress and relax the nervous system. Also, finding some alone time to sip on a cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa while you pray and enjoy the quiet can help refresh your mind.
Homeschooling during the holidays doesn’t need to be stressful. It can be a joyful time if you adapt your schedule and mindset to focus on making wonderful memories while still learning. Putting in a little thought ahead of time will save you from feeling overwhelmed so you can still have productive school time while also enjoying the magic of the holidays. Many blessings to you and your family for a glorious holiday season!
