As homeschool parents, we are presented with the opportunity to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the season and instead, immerse our families into the anticipation of and focus on the Savior’s birth.
Christmas traditions don’t have to be elaborate. In fact, over the years one of the most precious Christmas traditions has simply become learning.
Throughout the years we have explored different cultures and holiday customs, enjoyed Christmas unit studies and participated in Advent preparations. Breaking away from our regular curriculum and embracing the joy the Christmas season brings has allowed us to capture traditions within our home.
Put away the “formal” learning this season, and focus on a few simple activities that will build traditions and strengthen your children’s faith and family bonds. The benefits of this will be beyond measure.
Here are some ways that we have built a tradition of learning in our home during the holiday season. You can return to each year, no matter old your children are.
December then becomes a time of anticipation and learning!
Christmas Reading
Some of my favorite moments are those spent curled up with hot cocoa and reading beautiful holiday and seasonal books. You can find recommendations of some selections we are reading this year here (video link).
Reading is always an excellent way to learn. It provides opportunities for learning
about other cultures, social and emotional growth, and most importantly - strengthening the bond as a family.
A simple Christmas book basket placed in the living room can provide hours and hours of learning - and when your children are older (even adults!) they will still love it when the Christmas book basket makes an appearance!
Resources for holiday reading:
Our Christmas Book Basket (Mary shows you what has been in their Christmas book basket for years and years!)
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (after years of reading things, your children will have it committed to memory!)
Check out my YouTube video with all of our December Morning Basket resources - which includes lots of books!
Simply sitting down and READING is a gift during an otherwise busy time.
Christmas Crafting
Holiday crafts are endless! Whether you are looking for something simple like a premade painting kit from Hobby Lobby or making salt dough ornaments as keepsakes and family gifts - Pinterest and Google will provide endless ideas!
Admittedly I’m not a “craft mom.” It makes me nervous to have glitter and glue everywhere. But there is something about breaking away from the “normal” during this season that gives me the ability to endure it.
We had fun making ornaments from dehydrated oranges for our Christmas tree last year.
A few SIMPLE ideas for crafting/art this holiday season:
Chalk Pastel Christmas Video Art Lessons (we LOVE Nana and all of her chalk pastel lessons!)
Take an art workshop from Masterpiece Society (also fun if mom wants to join in!)
Fuse Bead Christmas Ornaments (big kids can really enjoy this, too!)
Holiday Themed Unit Studies
Have you have seen all the beautiful Christmas-themed unit studies floating around? Honestly, it can be overwhelming if you do a simple internet search. Here are a few of my favorite Christmas studies:
Christmas Calendar Study (from Where’d You Learn That?)
Christmas Carols and Nutcracker studies from SQUILT (I am a former elementary music teacher and a huge advocate for music education. Our family loves SQUILT. Mary offers three volumes of Christmas Carol lessons, as well as a simple unit study about The Nutcracker ballet.)
Complimentary Jesse Tree Advent Study from Confessions of a Homeschooler
Christmas Around the World Unit Study Resources from Homeschool Share
Advent and Scripture Readings
One of my favorite yearly traditions is our Advent and scripture reading. This is THE MOST simple and meaningful gift you can give your children.
Every year we read a chapter of Luke each day leading up to Christmas. By
Christmas Eve, we have read about the life and ministry of Jesus. You would think after a couple of years, doing the same thing would become tiring, but there is always a new realization or conversation that comes out of reading through these scriptures.
We typically combine that with a nightly advent reading. Last year we read through the advent story, Jotham’s Journey. This year we will be reading through Tabitha’s Travels.
Serving Others During Christmas
This time of year we are given a wonderful opportunity to follow our Savior
as an example for serving others.
He came to serve rather than be served. ~ Matthew 20:28
It can be easy for our children to fall into the trap of “wanting” rather than selflessly giving and serving others. And, in an increasingly materialistic world, we need to equip our children to THINK OF OTHERS FIRST.
Bake cookies for first responders
Serve the homeless in your area with local relief organizations
Choose an angel off the Angel Tree to purchase Christmas for as a family
As homeschool parents, we are presented with the opportunity to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the season and instead, immerse our families in the anticipation of and focus on our Savior’s birth.
Taking time to slow down (a HUGE benefit of homeschooling our children!) allows us to capture the joy this season brings, and what a gift that is for our family.
I am so grateful for this precious opportunity - and THAT is why learning has truly become one of my favorite Christmas traditions.
Do you have a favorite learning activity/tradition in your home?
Share it with me in the comments below!
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This post is from Homegrown Learners’ contributor, Megan.
Megan is a homeschool mom of 6, wife to Jon, former public school teacher, and follower of Christ. Homeschooling and homemaking are areas that the Lord has drawn her to be passionate about and it is her desire to be as intentional as she can in both.
She enjoys cooking, reading, gardening, history, and hiking in the beautiful mountains of East Tennessee. In her spare time, she is also a content creator for her YouTube channels Pennies and Salt , as well as her website, Pennies and Salt.
