Website design By BotEap.comTaking a break can be very important to a successful homeschooling. I don’t mean that you need to take a long summer or Christmas break several times a year, and I don’t mean that year-round schooling is bad. I mean, you must recognize when your children, and YOU, need a break.

Website design By BotEap.comThere are many ways to take a break so you can recharge and be ready to get back on track and on your normal schedule.

• Have a NON SCHOOL DAY – If you are a traditional homeschooler, and not an out-of-school child, you may wish to have a NON-SCHOOL day to break the norm. Tell your kids that they can choose whatever they want to work on and learn today. See where your day takes you. (Don’t worry, one day won’t kill the schedule!) If you’re not in school, maybe plan the day for the kids with worksheets and reading lists and see what happens.

• Take an unplanned field trip – Do you feel like nobody wants to go to school today? Take an unplanned excursion to a park, museum, library, and even the mall. Decide to walk, talk about whatever you want to talk about, stop and relax (and not think about the schedule). Have lunch out. Walk outside. Go to the dog park and name the types of dogs. Look at nature and talk about trees. Just get out of the house and out of the daytime schedule and see how much more focused everyone is the next day.

• Let the children teach – Tell the children that today, they don’t have to go to school, but you need to learn. Have them teach you for the day. It’s silly, but everyone will have fun and both you and the kids will be amazed at how much they learn.

• Have a game day – Spend all day playing board games, card games, and physical games. Get everyone to play, even if it’s a game for young or old. Help the little ones by working in pairs. Make older sister suffer for Candyland. Everyone will have fun playing the game, taking turns choosing what’s next, and just spending time together.

• Bring Daddy Lunch – Do you need to take a break from routine and get out of the house? Take dad to work for lunch. Find it in your dining room, in a park, or if that’s not possible, find a nearby restaurant and take it there. Enjoy talking to Dad at lunch for a change. Maybe show the kids your office. Children will like to see daddy and even daddy will enjoy the break!

• Don’t be afraid to have a movie day. If you really need a total rest. Head to your local library or movie store and rent some movies. Pop some popcorn and snuggle up for some movies. They can be a mix of education and fun. Let each family member choose a movie. Movie day can be fun and educational.

• Take it outside – Even in the winter months, you can take time outside to enjoy the weather and take a break from school and housework. Do you have snow? Build a snowman or have a snowball fight (peek at yourself in PE). Walk around the block and enjoy the beauty (name a few trees and you will have Science). Just get out there and breathe in that rejuvenating air.

Website design By BotEap.comHow do you take a break from your school?