Make Holiday Magic

Winter is rich with holidays—such a wonderful time for your children to learn more about your family’s holiday traditions and how holidays are celebrated around the world.

Homeschooling takes on a holiday focus for many homeschoolers, often starting around Thanksgiving and lasting through the New Year. Your kids can enjoy a living “social studies” experience as they learn. 

You may want to

• Explore Christmas around the world
• Throw a "Holidays Around the World" party for teens to explore holidays new to them
• Create a calendar for the New Year with your kids
• Consider December holidays or winter holidays around the world
  

To deepen your children’s understanding of holidays:

• Read aloud. Remember old favorites and look for books in your library’s holiday display 
• Watch holiday movies and TV shows together
• Make holiday crafts and decorate the house
• Cook and bake holiday foods
• Practice old and new holiday traditions: attend a religious service, sing together, host a party or gathering, go ice skating
• Listen to favorite holiday  music

Immersed in the warmth of holiday celebrations, kids often benefit from a break from the routine—and we parents do too! Get your mug of hot chocolate or another favorite treat and invite your children into your stack of holiday books. 

Our family still treasures celebrating Christmas together, and I’ve never regretted our Decembers away from “usual homeschooling,” so we could fit in a little more Christmas.