Ah, winter … short, often sunless days, the ice, the cold … Have you hit the dreaded winter doldrums in your homeschool year yet? You feel you can’t go another day without the sun and daydream about sunny destinations, the kids have cabin fever, it’s difficult to get them motivated to do their homeschool work, and you’re all on edge and snapping at each other! I’ve been there, too! So, what can we do to endure homeschooling through the winter doldrums?
A New Curriculum
Part of the doldrums at this time of year is a feeling of the same old routine. Eat breakfast, start with math, then writing, have lunch, read, do science. Day in, day out … it can become monotonous. You can mix things up with a new curriculum. Of course, you don’t have to change your whole curriculum! Grab a new unit study or a new read-aloud. It doesn’t have to be fancy or costly, it can even be free! For some ideas, check out my Reviews and Free Homeschooling Resources posts.
New Approach
Mix things up with a new approach to your homeschool day. Have you been reading books together? Try an audio book instead. There are some great audiobooks out there that are well done and so entertaining! An audio book can also get your resistant teen reading. You can even download them free from your local library system.
How about injecting some drama (the good kind) into your homeschool? Bring books to life with drama. Ask your kids to act out a scene from a book or play you’ve been reading. Work on sewing some simple costumes together and go all out.
Take a Day Off
It doesn’t have to be a public school snow day to take a day off! Surprise your kids with a day off anytime. If the day isn’t starting off well and you’re all miserable, declare a day off on the spot. Do something fun together as a family, such as skiing or sledding, or hitting an indoor play place. Alternatively, let the kids work on whatever they like while you catch up on some reading or engage in activity you enjoy. Don’t feel guilty, even if you take a week off! Remember that plenty of days in the public school system are eaten up by assemblies, videos, snow days, and PD days … you can take a PD Day, too!
Speaking of PD Days … The Canadian Online Homeschool Conference recordings are on sale from February 2–8! Access 8 incredible homeschool conferences for just $17 each. Whether you’re just getting started, homeschooling high school, or looking for parenting tips, there’s something for everyone. Don’t miss out! PLUS, there aren’t only sessions for parents, there are sessions for your kids too!

Have some fun in your homeschool and before you know it, spring will be in the air.
Are you struggling through the winter doldrums? What are some things you do to help snap out of it? Please let me know in the comments below!
Love, Luck &
Laughter,
Kimberly
Please note: This article was originally posted in January, 2015 and has been updated for accuracy and effectiveness. And this article contains affiliate links – if you click and buy, I make a few bucks to keep up Homeschooling in Nova Scotia. Thank you for your support!
This year, I’m a mix of blah and fine. It’s weird. I think it’s because we don’t have any snow and haven’t basically all winter. The kids need to go out and play in the snow!! It’s just been either too cold with nothing to do outside, or too muddy all winter. I hope we get SOME (I can’t believe I’m saying that. I hate snow. LOL!)
We are all just “blah.” Although thank goodness for dance, because my children are all smiles when they’re at dance class 🙂 There hasn’t been any snow here to speak of, either. None of it has been packing snow, so we haven’t even had the chance to make a snowman for our student from China!
These ideas can definitely do the trick!
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