20 Ways to Beat the Homeschool Blahs

Every year around this time, there’s a little nuisance that may creep in slowly, or march in and stay awhile like an unwanted house guest. That unwelcome guest is the homeschool blahs, also known as the February Funk. Hey, it happens to the best of us at some point or another, so don’t let it get you down, and whatever you do, don’t throw in the towel on homeschooling!

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Homeschooling Month by Month

If you follow a traditional school calendar, excitement for the new school year is buzzing in August or September. New curriculum, new supplies, and new routines excite us mamas, as well as the kids. By October, the homeschool honeymoon begins to slightly wear off. Thankfully, October is such a fun month! The weather is usually great to get outside and enjoy the fall season, there’s a crisp hint of fall in the air, and we carry on. We plan field trips to pumpkin patches and corn mazes, and make seasonal crafts. November and December get most of us off schedule, but it’s okay, it’s the holiday season after all. January brings a renewed energy and most of us welcome getting back into a routine.

February. The shortest month that seems to last forever, hits our homeschool hard, like a dirty wet snowball. Depending on where you live, you are either sick of the snow, the cold, or the dreary days. Valentine’s Day has come and gone, and spring break seems so very far away. Someone in the house likely gets sick, and might even share it with everyone else. We’re not getting outside to play as much, so cabin fever sets in. The next thing you know, we get cranky with our curriculum and our kids, and creativity is at an all time low. We may even start to doubt if we’re really cut out for this homeschooling thing.

The February Funk stinks. It leaves you unmotivated and irritable. While I couldn’t find any specific information about when most homeschoolers drop out, I’ve heard that November and February are when people feel the urge to quit.  DON’T. DON’T. DON’T!!! It’s just a feeling, and it will pass.

20 Ideas to Beat the Blahs

Blahs are not welcomed here, so I made a list of things to choose from for when the blahs hit our homeschool. It doesn’t have to be February for the blahs to come around, nor is it always the blahs. Sometimes it’s just a busy week, or you’ve finished a chapter or unit and don’t want to start anything new until the next week. Perhaps your kids have worked extra hard and deserve a fun, easy day as a reward. One of the many things I love about homeschooling, is that you can run it however you want! So, here are twenty things to help beat the homeschool blahs!

1. Unit Study. There are so many ideas online! Ask the kids what they’d be interested in learning more about, and simply do a Google or Pinterest search. The cool thing about unit studies, is that they can be on any topic, and last however long you’d like. If you need help planning one, and would like to do them often and do them well in your homeschool, I highly recommend this Masterclass from Our Journey Westward. You’ll be a unit study pro in no time!
2. Have a D.E.A.R. day! That stands for Drop Everything and Read! The official day is in April, but any time reading takes first place is a good day. Start a new read-aloud, take turns reading to each other, or write your own stories. You Choose stories are great, and can be enjoyed by multiple ages! Of course, I can help you find the perfect books from PaperPie!
3. Creative Writing Day! A fun thing we have enjoyed is three minute writing. Everyone begins with a piece of notebook paper, and starts a story. After three minutes have passed, trade papers (or ball them up and throw it to somebody, like a snowball). Be sure to include yourself, mama! After three more minutes have passed, trade again. Trade as much as they like. Return the papers to originators, then take turns reading the stories. The stories usually turn out much different than the originator intended! Photo prompts are also a fantastic tool to spark writing, as well as these writing prompts from The Secret Life of Homeschoolers.
4. Mad Libs Speaking of writing, Mad Libs are a timeless classic!
5. Have an art day! One big, messy day of it! If You can even add glitter if you like! If you typically avoid art because of the mess, it’s better to do it all at once.
6. Have a science experiments day! Just like art day, experiments can get messy. Do it all at once! This is a fantastic little book if you looking for fun and easy experiments!
7. Work on a puzzle – I’ve been working on a PixBrix Puzzle lately. I love jigsaws too, but sometimes it’s cool to change things up. Diamond art is a similar activity and both are mess-free! (I might have to get those linked coasters) Oh, and don’t forget Legos!
8. Host a playdate -hanging out with someone besides your siblings can be refreshing.
9. Play board games – all day. Most of us have closets full, and oftentimes they do not get enough use. To make the day even better, do it unannounced in the middle of the week!
10. Get in the Kitchen! Cook up a dish from a foreign country, or your favorite state in the USA. I recommend Eat Your Way Around the World and Eat Your Way Through the USA for ideas!
11. Have a home improvement day. It can even be disguised as a big cleaning day! Take one area that needs deep cleaning and everyone pitches in. As the weather warms, landscaping and pressure washing is something the older kids can do.
12. Have a personal project day. Do your kids have any “projects” of their own to work on? When my kids were in high school, our son had a four wheeler that needed some work. It’s nice to be able to work on something you like without having to do a half-day of school work before you can start! Let them work on their own thing while you work on yours. With teens, time just doing their own thing without direction from mom is good.
13. Bundle up and take a walk outside. I cannot say enough about how the fresh air does the body and mind good! Hit the nearest trail, and notice nature!
14. Geocaching while you’re outside walking, you might as well be looking for something. If you don’t know about the world of geocaching, watch this video and go find one!
15. Pinterest. Do you have boards filled with good intentions like I do? Pick a few projects to do with your kids!
16. Have a freezer cooking day. Many hands make light work of an otherwise large task. Perhaps start with preparing breakfast or lunch recipes. This would also help save time during the school day!
17. Have a movie or documentary day! Remember when the big television cart was rolled into class? I sure do!
18. Scavenger Hunts are a great for inside or outside. Make up your own, or grab these picture cards, or this indoor/outdoor set for family fun!
19. Of course, field trips are a winner. A day out of the house can be just what everyone needs. Check out that museum you’ve been meaning to go to! I live on the coast, and we have an aquarium nearby. This time of year is definitely the best time to go, and often we’ve had the place almost to ourselves!
20. Celebrate! I have a totally free list of days to celebrate each month right on my homepage! They are yours to print and choose to celebrate whatever you want! I also provide ideas for each month on my blog.

Homeschool Blahs Don’t Stick Around

Remember, a short season of the blahs is just that. A short season. You may need just a day or two or perhaps a week of doing something out of the ordinary to improve everyone’s morale and get out of the slump. It’s okay to ditch the lesson plans occasionally. Learning takes place in all forms, and I would totally count any of these ideas as part of a school day.

These days are often the ones best remembered!