We were all buzzing like bees about the holidays, eager to whip up cider and craft those homemade Christmas gifts with the kids. But now that New Year has passed, well, it feels like someone hit the snooze button on our excitement!

If you’re a homeschooling mom, the winter blues can sneak up on you faster than a toddler with a permanent marker. It’s easy to lose steam when the world outside looks like a gloomy snow globe. Personally, I’m not a fan of this chilly season and I find myself falling into those winter blues each year. I loathe the cold and would much rather be basking under the warm sun somewhere.

Sometimes, I sit and dream about the days of summer and ponder how quickly the warmer days will grace us with her presence. Yes, my friends, that’s the winter blues talking… It’s like winter is a houseguest that overstays its welcome, and you’re stuck inside forever, clinging to your cozy blanket fort.

Instead of letting the cold, gray weather get you down, why not embrace it and venture outside? 

This year, I’m throwing down the gauntlet (and dragging you along) with a winter accountability challenge!

No, I’m not suggesting you send the kids out while you sip cocoa inside and bask in the quiet (though that sounds rather nice right about now doesn’t it?). I mean, join them! Go on a nature walk and turn family time into an outdoor adventure. Here are some winter nature study ideas that we enjoy (provided by Simply Charlotte Mason).

After your frosty escapades, warm up with a steaming cup of hot chocolate or tea with a good book (we recommend Narnia) in your laps!

Dive into winter! Where did all the animals go, and which ones are still out and about? We love reading Burgess Birdwhile creating watercolor masterpieces inspired by the book, all while sitting at the picnic table listening to the real birds and squirrels in our backyard. Study the frost and winter weather, do projects and experiments with ice and snow if you have it, or read fun winter-themed books together.

Shake things up a bit and dust off that extra curriculum you’ve been saving for a rainy day. You know, those puzzles, mad libs, handicrafts, or even learning winter words in another language. They can be sneaky fun, your kids might not even realize they’re learning, and you get to feel like the superstar that you are for winning that round undetected.

Do a fun unit study on a topic your child picks. Let them help plan it out so you don’t have to do all the heavy lifting. This way, they’ll be jumping with excitement about learning.

Bring board games into your routine for a relaxed learning environment, which means more fun and less stress. A few favorites in the Ekvall house are Animal Act, Chutes and Ladders, Battleship, checkers, chess (only for my husband and our oldest because I know nothing of chess), and of course, Hungry Hungry Hippos. Get in that kitchen of yours and make a mess together while cooking or baking. That totally counts as school, and delicious food ALWAYS lifts my spirits, especially if it’s a dessert. Counting, measuring, following a recipe – that’s math, life skills, and fun rolled into one. Don’t forget to let them join the cleanup crew, and squeeze in some habit training by teaching them to be a good steward of their home. You could even model kindness and generosity

by visiting a grandparent and offering up some of that delicious food ya’ll whipped up together. 

Let an older child teach a younger sibling, or have your child teach you. Mix it up and see if they can teach you what they’re learning. A fellow mom in our co-op suggested this to me: Narrate the story all wrong and see if they notice. This has worked well for us since implementing it. My kids love catching me in a blunder, and it boosts confidence in their studies because, hey, even moms mess up sometimes!

When you hit a homeschool rut, remember you can still learn without the usual school books. The trick is to let go and embrace the freedom to switch things up; your books will be waiting for you afterward. As the cold and gloomy months roll in, let’s remember why we jumped into the world of homeschooling to begin with. It’s all about strutting outside the norm while offering our children a delectable feast of knowledge, and soaking up the freedom to explore the world—because who needs a classroom when the whole planet is your playground?

Until we meet again.