December 1, 2018 · Leave a Comment

December Homeschooling

There’s no denying it, December can be hectic!

With the holiday season in full swing, obligations and festivities can pile up and cause stress and overwhelm. Exhaustion can lead to illness. Instead of enjoying the month, it’s easy to find ourselves wishing it away. And December homeschooling can feel really overwhelming!

My first suggestion for you involves SLOWING DOWN whenever possible! Do your best to limit your “have to’s” and practice simple and consistent self-care.

Let’s focus on the whimsy and magic of the season!

Quick Note: For my friends in the southern hemisphere, I realize this is your summer. So feel free to bookmark this post and return to it during colder winter days.

Here are some simple december homeschooling activities for you and your kiddos to enjoy together!

1. Celebrate the winter solstice

The day in December when the North Pole is tilted farthest from the sun is called the winter solstice. This is the shortest day (containing the least daylight hours) of the year for people living in the northern hemisphere. It is also the day when the sun is at its lowest point in the sky.

Throughout history, the winter solstice has been acknowledged and celebrated among cultures and religions everywhere. Consider reading a book about it. Do some baking. Cozy up by the fireplace. Play some winter-inspired music. Light candles…

Find a couple of simple and meaningful ways to celebrate the winter solstice.

2. learn about a religious tradition different from your own

Whether you consider yourself a religious person or not, you likely have ways that you celebrate different holidays and seasons.

Why not spend a little time learning about a religious tradition different from your own?

If you have friends of different religions, spend some time asking them questions and learning about their beliefs. You may also want to watch a documentary, listen to a podcast, or read up on a specific religion.

Books I recommend are One World, Many Religions: The Ways We Worship by Mary Pope Osborne, the DK What do You Believe: Big Questions About Religions, and The Kids Book of World Religions by Jennifer Glossup and John Mantha.

Expand your knowledge by learning about a religious tradition different from your own.

3. have a Family movie night

How about making some popcorn and hot chocolate, snuggling up on the couch, and watching a movie together as a family?

We often have the best intentions to spend time together like this, but life’s demands take over and it’s all too easy to push these family times aside. The next thing we know, months have gone by!

What are some movies you’d enjoy watching together as a family?

If you’re feeling stuck, start listing the movies your family members have mentioned wanting to watch in the past.

Are there movies that feel especially reminiscent of winter? Movies that feel magical and full of the spirit of the season?

Choose a movie, (or movies!) and enjoy a family movie night together.

4. String up indoor twinkle lights

Want a simple way to add some magic to your December homeschooling?

Get some indoor string lights and hang them up around the house!

Indoor twinkly lights add a sense of wonder and magic.

5. Practice saying no

I cannot emphasize this enough.

Practice saying NO!

I’ve already expressed my strong feelings about slowing down and practicing self-care whenever possible. It’s so easy to get caught up in self-imposed obligations, “shoulds” and “have-to’s” this time of year.

But what if you could eliminate everything that doesn’t NEED to be done? Imagine how much more time you’d have to relax and enjoy.

I’m not going to pretend that this is easy.

It’s not!

But it IS worth it. And it DOES get easier with time.

For practical support and inspiration, you may want to read Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown.

I recommend both of these books to help you “flex” your “boundary muscles” as you get more comfortable saying NO!

Practice saying NO and free up for time and space in your life.

In summary, here are five ways to celebrate December:

Celebrate the winter solstice
Learn about a religious tradition different from your own
Family movie night
Indoor twinkle lights
Practice saying NO

And make sure you check out the following blog posts to help you with homeschooling throughout the other months of the year:

I’m sure you’ll find seasonal encouragement and inspiration in each of these posts!

What are some ways that your family enjoys celebrating December? Let me know in the comments below!