Travels with Laurie: Winter

A Home Educator's Travel Guide

Too cold to go out of doors? Now is the time to give in to a personal interest. As homeschoolers we are gifted with the promise of child-led learning, yet we shouldn't overlook our own interests in the process of guiding our children to theirs. What would you like to make or learn? Take a break from your usual routine and chase away the winter blues! Now would be a great time to pick up an old hobby — or even start a new one. Our Activities and Crafts page has some great ideas.

Preventing Winter Burn-out

This is the time to try something new! Do it for yourself, and not just for your child! It’s easy to get the blues when you are a hard-working homeschooling parent facing endless daily responsibilities, especially if you are stuck indoors during cold weather. Now is the time to make something new! Learn a new craft (like jewelry-making or origami), start a project (the family scrapbook or a memory quilt); listen to some new music; create something new in the kitchen. Many projects can recycle old materials, like making paper beads, or creating a memory quilt out of old T-shirts. Focus on a small task that gives you pleasure and make something beautiful, just for the fun of it!

Winter Holidays

All people throughout the world have holidays to help them get through the dark, cold days of winter. We celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, the Chinese New Year. Each has its history, its traditions, and its deeper meaning. Learning more about each holiday helps people understand each other.

Crafts

There are many craft projects that lend themselves to dark winter days. Build a fountain (see Build Fountains for supplies and ideas), make home-made scented candles or soap, preserve your family photos in a collage of your own design.

Jigsaw Puzzles

Putting together a jigsaw puzzle is a great way to spend a day (or several!). And the whole family can help. Whatever your interest, you can find a puzzle to reflect it — art, geography, history, animals, and more.

Birthday Calendar

You'll never forget a birthday or other anniversary again if you make your own Birthday Calendar. It's just like a regular calendar, but with no days of the week, so it will last for year after year. Personalize it with pictures of the birthday person or pet.