Homeschool Holidays

Celebrating homeschool holidays is a fun way to teach history and culture, but more importantly, it helps make great memories.

Growing up, my mom and I would make a heart shaped, 3-tier cake every year for Valentine’s Day. She me gave the pan when my oldest was a preschooler, and now I make the cake with my children.

Begin creating your own traditions and rituals. They promote family bonding, help pass along values, and give our children something to look forward to and something to remember.

Keep your holiday celebrations simple and fun. Use inexpensive, easily attainable materials. Holiday projects should not be overwhelming. I sometimes choose activities at a skill level that is slightly lower than my children’s so I can get them started and let them make the project their own.

Here are some Ways to Celebrate Holidays:

• Make homemade decorations to save and use year after year.

• Make gifts to give to family members, neighbors and friends.

• Look for opportunities to serve children, the elderly, and others who are in need.

• Prepare meals centered around a holiday theme.

• Wear traditional holiday colors, or dress in costumes from other cultures or time periods.

• Read stories, memorize poems, tell jokes, sing songs, or watch related documentaries or TV specials.

• Study the people, customs and history of the holiday. Learn about the celebrations of other cultures or ethnic groups.

• Study related science topics. For example, Valentine’s Day is a great time to study the heart. Halloween would be a great time to study night animals.

If your family has chosen not to celebrate certain holidays, provide an alternate activity. Be honest with your children about the reason you don’t participate, but don’t pass judgment on your neighbors.

Last year we decided we would no longer celebrate Halloween. We camped out in the living room and my children forgot about costumes and trick or treating.

Holiday Activities

Here are some Valentine’s Day activities and Easter activities.

In the coming months, I will provide suggestions for Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

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For more pictures of my family’s celebrations, check out my homeschool blog.

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