Homeschool Vacation - To Continue or Not to Continue

Public and private schools take several weeks off of school for a Christmas Vacation - and a few weeks after that they'll have a MidWinter Break, Spring Break, Summer Break and so on... As a homeschooler, should you let your children take this time off of school as well? There are two ways to look at it, and they are both a personal preference.

One way to think of normal school vacations is to acknowledge all of the work that you and your sons have been putting in for the past 4 months (or more) and to allow yourselves to take a break. It is good to have time off occasionally to allow your children (and yourself) some rest. Breaks are also a great time to let your children read books they'd enjoy, for reading aloud classics to them, for them to pursue activities that interest them.

Breaks are also a great time to let your sons play - don't underestimate the importance of play for children. Especially for boys! They need time for physical activity every day. If you live in an area that receives snow, let them spend some extended time playing outside in it. Before you know it, it'll be spring and they'll have to wait another 9 months for snow - so let them enjoy it while it's here.

Another way to think of normal school vacations is to press on. Sure, maybe you will take an extra day off here and there for shopping or baking or making homemade Christmas gifts... but other than that, you continue to do your regular schoolwork with your children.

If you subscribe to this philosophy, it will give you the flexibility to take a day off in the spring when it first gets warm, or to take a mental health day occasionally when you or your boys need one. This option also allows you to take family vacations during the off-season when most children are stuck in school... giving you cheaper rates as well as less crowded vacation destinations!

To continue or not to continue? It's up to you how you handle schoolwork during the Christmas season and during traditional summer vacations. The flexibility of homeschooling is an awesome gift. Whichever philosophy you hold, be sure to enjoy each and every season with your sons! We should never feel compelled to take off every school break - nor should we feel that we can never take a break. Like most of life, we need to be sure to stay in balance in this area.