Many homeschool parents continue to teach through the holidays at a more laid back pace in the homeschool classroom. Even if there is no serious studies happening, the homeschool students continue to read and write and do a lot of craft projects related to the holidays. This ensures that when studies resume in earnest in the new year the students have suffered from little “brain drain”. Here are some traditions that homeschooling families have developed around the Christmas Holiday.
Cards for All Family Members
Homeschool students get to paint, draw, paste or do just about whatever art form they want to create Christmas Cards and greetings for all members of the family. These are exchanged on Christmas Eve. The excitement over individual cards which are kept secret from the intended recipient can help deal with the curiosity to look under the tree for gifts. Plus the card making can provide hours of artwork which can be logged into the homeschool schedule.
Baking Seasonal Treats
Cookies, cupcakes, walnut fudge, caramel candy, no matter what the treat is, the homeschool students learn how to make it. The recipes for most such treats are available online. Many times there are family recipes handed down and can be followed. Besides the actual skill of cooking, children also can be told about family history of the treat. A portion of the treats produced will be then packaged and delivered to a local charity. This can be logged in as a field trip by the homeschool students.
Clean Up and Decoration
No house looks complete without Christmas decorations. There are many family traditions related to putting up the tree and homeschoolers in particular take pride in homemade decorations. These can be taught in the homeschool classroom by producing one sample and allowing the children to come up with the remaining decorations. Older children will even be able to contribute with their own creative designing skills. Of course everyone gets together to deal with the cleaning of the house and then decorating the tree.
What is your homeschool Christmas tradition? If you don’t have one, now is a good time to think up of one.
