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Wondering how you can beat the homeschool winter blues?
In some areas of the country, winter can seem to drag on forever. Dark days, cold winds, and lots of time inside can make days a little hard to handle.
When all my kids were very small, I really despised winter time.
I was ready to go to bed by 6 since it was dark out, the kids ran circles in the house, and to be honest it often felt like a prison.
Now I know that seems a little dark but I often experience SAD in winter or Seasonal Affective Disorder.
I learned really quick how to brighten up our days and put an end to that housebound feeling.
How to beat the homeschool winter blues
Bust out the board games
We have a closet of board games that come out when we are stuck inside. If your kids are younger you will need to sit with them at least for the first few rounds.
Older kids can stay busy with board games and will actually learn a lot of critical thinking skills during the games.
A few of our favorites include Clue, Catan, Ticket to Ride, and UNO. Our kids can play these games completely alone and are good for middle school age.
Get dressed every morning
I think only homeschool families will understand this one.
As easy as it seems to stay in your jammies, you need to get dressed each day to beat the winter blues.
By changing your clothes it really helps to separate the night from daytime and mentally tell your brain it’s daytime.
I have found that personally when I am dressed, even down to my shoes, I am a lot more productive and have a more positive mindset in general.
It will also help break up the day for the kids so morning, noon, and night don’t all blend together.
Origami
My girls adore creating all kinds of origami shaped animals and even shoes.
All you need is a square piece of paper and a few origami tutorial videos.
It’s tons of fun and is perfect for fine motor skills.
Find a way to get moving
Exercise is so important for your mental health and during the winter it gets hard.
What do you do with kids during the winter?
Well, if weather permits, please consider sending them outside for a few minutes to run around.
If you can’t get outside at all, I’ve actually put on workout videos for us to follow along right in the living room.
At least we are moving, right?
I actually have an indoor exercise bike for the oldest and we have also joined a fitness center with a pool and equipment indoors.
We did these Cosmic Kids Yoga videos with the kids for a long while and they really enjoyed it.
Open up those blinds
Sunlight is extremely important for your mental health, including the kids.
Bright light makes melatonin and helps your brain create happy hormones.
During the winter I make sure all my blinds are open and there may even be a few days you can crack a window for some fresh air.
A lot of the homeschool winter blues come from a lack of bright light. It’s so vital to your mental health.
We get plants to put in our window seal all year around. It really helps to bring the outdoors inside.
Get Baking
Days inside are perfect to bake up extra breakfast muffins, loaves of bread, or any tasty treats you will be needing.
My kids love getting creative and decorating their own cookies or cupcakes with regular kitchen items.
If you don’t eat sweets or have food allergies, you can even make homemade playdough. It has kept my kids busy for hours and hours when we were stuck inside.
Trips to the library
We adore our local library!
Not only can you check out interesting books on endless subjects but most libraries offer clubs, science projects, book kits with hands-on activities and play areas.
It can be a great indoor space if you are tired of being stuck inside because of the weather.
Don’t be afraid to ask or call your local library to see what they have available for your age kids.
Connect with other families
Try to set up a play date with another family at least once a week if you are not part of a co-op or homeschool group.
Simply spending a few hours talking with other moms has a way of resetting your heart.
You need to hear what other moms are going through and you can share your journey as well. We are all in this together and it’s not a competition.
Find a family that you can bake cookies with, play board games with or just watch a movie together on the couch. It really helps to beat the homeschool winter blues.
Let us know all the ways you beat the winter blues in your homeschool in the comments below.
