6 Ways to Thrive Through the Winter Slumps

Early in my homeschool career, I heard it said that February is the month everyone wants to put their kiddos into public school.  My kids were young, school was very flexible and fully delight-directed and I was living in Hawai’i.  I couldn’t understand why February would be such a hard month! 

Then we moved.  In the winter.  And my kids were older and school was more rigid.
By February, I understood why people said that.

The newness of the school year has worn off.  Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas are over with no other holidays insight.  The weather is cold and gray.  Spring feels so close…yet so very far.

That homeschool lore seems to prove itself true every year as I hear homeschool moms lamenting just that.

February can be rough!  

My most basic goal is just to make it through each February, relationships intact and without daydreams of sitting around eating bonbons while the kids are in public school!

But muddling through isn’t ideal.  There have been years when that is all I could manage.  Sick babies, deployments, bad attitudes, endless gray skies.  If that is where you are at this year, then just get through your days.  No guilt, no pressure.

Why survive when you can thrive?  Make February something your homeschool anticipates each year.

6 Ways to THRIVE Through February

Study something new.  Harness the enthusiasm that comes with learning something new and change up your studies.
Tip: If you can’t do this every day, try every Friday or even just one afternoon a week.

• Set aside your history text in favor of literature & non-fiction books.
• Find a short unit study or lapbook that you can complete this month.  This year is perfect timing to study the Olympics!
• Make this month a month of science activities rather than text & worksheets.

Continue reading…

This post is featured on The Outmatched Mama today where you can continue reading my tips for thriving, not just surviving, through the winter slumps.