Fight the winter doldrums in your homeschool

The holidays are over. The days are short. It’s cold outside. Where did the sun go?

For many of us, the winter doldrums have set in.  We’re all struggling to get back to the homeschool grindstone. It’s that time of year when we’re staying in more.  Refrains of, “I’m bored,” ring through the air. Your children aren’t seeing their friends as much and neither are you.  

Why not shake things up a bit, add some fun to your days? Here are a few ideas that can take your boring days of winter and turn them into exciting and joyful days for your family! And take note, you can sneak in some learning at the same time.

1. Decorate your house with paper snowflakes.  With a few sheets of paper and a pair of scissors, you can make magic happen in your home.  And while you’re at it, grab a bar of white soap and let the kids decorate some windows as well! If you want to turn this into educational fun at the same time, learn about snowflakes from the master, Snowflake Bentley! There’s a wonderful book about him, too.  Snowflake Bentley (the book) by Jacqueline Briggs Martin is available at the library.
2. Have a winter picnic right there in your living room.  Pack a picnic basket, lay out a quilt, pop in a movie, and enjoy! Don’t forget the hot chocolate! If you really feel it necessary to turn this into school, then match the movie to a subject your children are learning.
3. Drag out all the games you can find.  Let your children take turns choosing which game to play.  Many games are sneaky when it comes to educating your students while they play.  So go ahead, count it as a school day!
4. Bake.  Cookies, pies, cakes.  Most children love baking with mom. Once again, there’s a good deal of educational value in cooking.  Chemistry, math, following recipes, teamwork. School!
5. Do a winter nature study.  Get outdoors and see what your trees and plants are doing during this season of rest.  Take notice of the birds and squirrels. Look for animal tracks in the snow. Talk with your children about why the trees are bare and how the animals prepared for winter months ago.  There are several winter nature studies you can purchase as well:  Winter Wonders, Coping with the Cold, Winter Nature Study Adventure.
6. Make some pinecone bird feeders and hang them in the trees in your yard. Your bird friends will be happy to see them and your children will learn lessons in caring for nature!

Winter doesn’t have to be gloomy and boring.  There are so many things you can do to liven things up a bit.  Be creative. Think outside the box.  Ask your kids for ideas.  Make winter a special time for your family.  Make some memories!