The doldrums have hit our house. Mix together freezing weather, illnesses, the mundane, and the scheduled schoolwork, and we have a recipe for the perfect case of blahs! So here is where a little creativity, flexibility, and down right rule breaking come in to save the day. Let me share with you some ideas for shaking it up a bit!
- Costume Day! This is pretty self explanatory. Everyone dresses up! Be creative. Dress up as your favorite book character, favorite super hero, or maybe as what you want to be when you grow up. And you do it too, Mom and Dad! Learning a new multiplication table while dressed as Captain America seems to give the day a needed spark.
- Change Roles! Let your kids be the teacher. I have done this with history and Latin. My kids have learned more this way prepping and studying for their difficult (me) student. And I have learned of gaps in their studies, and have been given insight to ways my children learn and process information I didn’t know before.
- Progressive Lunch! This one is so much fun. And fairly unexpected for the kids. We started lunch at our regular lunch time and place. But it was smaller than normal without all the regular choices. Then every half-hour to hour, we took a break and ate more of our regular lunch or an added snack. We also never ate in the same place twice. Our littles called it a traveling picnic! Maybe next time, we will add the reading of a new book to the adventure.
- Play Day! We had these when I went to school. It was like the best of P.E. and recess all rolled in to one. But to make this work in the winter, host an indoor play day! Let me warn you, this is not for the faint of heart. It should be loud, messy, and have some rule breaking going on! Play tag inside, run races, have a jump roping contest. Do things that you normally never allow inside! Run obstacle courses, set up forts, blow bubbles. You could even set up a foam sword tournament! Do face painting, think carnival games, BE LOUD! Let your kids loosen up for a bit, and let them see Mom and Dad be carefree ~ having FUN!
Remember, everyday in your home isn’t a holiday. It shouldn’t be a party all the time. But homeschooling IS a joy! So put some excitement back into school, leaving the drudgery behind. For “this is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” And may that rejoicing abound in your home this winter!
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