December is a special homeschool month. We look forward to the coming of Christmas and incorporating our favorite holiday homeschool traditions. It’s also just plain refreshing to take a break from the norm and spice things up a bit.

We don’t toss out all our plans, mostly sticking to the same basic schedule. I do, however, lighten our reading load so we have more time for special activities. 

This month always is a bit of a blur for me. We celebrate three birthdays and our wedding anniversary on top of the usual Christmas Eve/Christmas Day and New Years Eve activities.

By the time I’ve planned out all the details that make these events special for everyone, I often find myself getting a little disgruntled, tired, and lacking in joy (or peace for that matter!).

However, coming back to the same traditions and activities is like returning to a favorite cozy chair; it creates a space for rest. I hope you can carve out moments over the next few weeks, in your homeschool and family life, that will usher in joy, peace and gratitude.

If you struggle to create traditions in your family and homeschool, perhaps you will find some ideas and resources here that inspire you. 

Our Favorite Homeschool Holiday Activities

Jesse Tree

I have a small Christmas tree that we use for our Jesse Tree. I started this advent activity years ago with a devotional Ann Voskamp created. Later, that devotional was turned into Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas. I highly recommend it.

Each day of Advent has a reading, followed by discussion points and family activities. The book has beautiful pictures, and while the readings could feel a little long for the younger set, it does an excellent job of preparing our hearts and thoughts for Christmas.

You could easily incorporate this into Morning Time, read it while the kids have lunch, or as a whole family at dinner.

There are ornaments to accompany the book, or you can make your own like I did. For example, the reading for December 8th is about Jacob’s Ladder, so I crafted a ladder from popsicle sticks. Other items I found ready-made at the craft store. I just added a little hot glue and twine.

The kids love looking through these each year because they’re unique. It might be worth making your own if you’re inspired!

Cookies For the Neighbors

So often we have little connection or interaction with the neighbors living right around us. We started this tradition years ago as a small way to foster community with our neighbors. It’s become one of our favorite traditions. The kids engage in service to others, and practice their baking skills (home economics class!).

We typically bake several kinds of cookies that we then package with a pretty ribbon and card. A few days before Christmas we deliver them as a family, wishing a Merry Christmas and expressing our gratitude for them as our neighbors.

Unfortunately, this year will look a little different due to COVID. Instead of making the cookies ourselves, which might cause some people to hesitate, we will either purchase pre-made, individually wrapped cookies, or create ready-to-bake homemade cookie dough. 

Christmas Books

I love pulling out our favorite holiday stories this time of year. We have a few favorite picture books we own like Cranberry Christmas, Bear Stays Up for Christmas, and Oranges for Frankie. I also love finding great holiday book lists and ordering them from the library. 

Last year, I wrapped 24 picture books individually. Each evening one child unwrapped a book and read it aloud to the family. Unfortunately, I’m not doing that this year because I didn’t plan ahead enough! (I was too busy planning the first Thanksgiving dinner I had to cook this year!) 

Typically, I display the books I’ve ordered in our family room. The kids read them on their own, we include them during Morning Time, or I read aloud at lunch.

Christmas Arts And Crafts

This month, all our art projects will be inspired by the season. My favorite places to find holiday related art projects are Deep Space Sparkle and Art for Kids Hub. The kids made these Thanksgiving pies last week.

Don’t they look delicious?

Last year they made this Folk Art Santa.

This year I’m planning to try these Mola-Inspired Stockings, and this Christmas Car.

Find out more about other ways we include simple and easy art into our homeschool.

Homemade Gifts

Making a handcrafted item is a gift grandparents enjoy and doubles as art class! Simple Christmas tree ornaments made out of clay are a sure winner.

I use this air-dry clay and cookie cutters. Once the shapes are dry, paint them and add some twine. 

Making homemade gifts seems like a long-lost tradition. It feels valuable to have kids learn that things they make with their own hands and creativity can be just as valuable and appreciated as anything store-purchased.

Christmas Movies

When I was quite young, there were always a few Christmas movies on TV I just HAD to make sure I didn’t miss. They were only shown once a year! If I missed it, I would have to wait another whole year! Some of those same movies are now part of our Christmas movie tradition.

Our family room turns into a cozy little haven with the Christmas tree lights and a warm fire burning in the fireplace. This is the best place to curl up for a movie night. Watching our favorite holiday movies together is probably top of my list for favorite homeschool holiday traditions.

Our favorite movies we HAVE to watch at Christmas time every year:

• It’s a Wonderful Life
• The Polar Express
• Charlie Brown Christmas
• Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Bonus: Find movie and book combos. Last year I read Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, and then we watched the classic movie version together. 

Gift Shopping

With our family of 7, there’s a lot of gift shopping that happens in December (not to mention those three birthdays we have too!). This year, we’ll be doing our shopping online.

I love seeing the kids put thought into what will delight their siblings, while practically considering their budgets from money they earned. Take a break from your normal math curriculum and count this budgeting as math! Or, shake things up with some Christmas math worksheets or games.

This year, my husband and I decided to simplify the gifts we’re giving the kids by following the 4 gift rule trend: Something you want, something you need, something to wear and something to read. 

Have you heard of this? It’s been a relief, frankly, and its already made our shopping so much easier.

Morning Time

One of the final ways I incorporate a bit of the season into our homeschool is with our Morning Time curriculum. Our hymn focus includes several traditional carols I want the kids to know. This year, we’ll add Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus to those we’ve previously learned. 

We also finalize the poems/passages we’ve been memorizing for recitation. The kids can perform them for our extended family when we gather for the holidays.

I also try to include a special holiday read-aloud. Last year I read A Christmas Carol. This year we’re reading The Family Under the Bridge.

Enjoy Your Holiday Homeschool Traditions

Whatever your favorite holiday homeschool traditions, the most important thing (besides celebrating Jesus’s birth) is to do what works for your family THIS YEAR, in THIS SEASON of life.

Last year I skipped the Jesse Tree. This year, we’re shopping online to reduce trips/outings.

If you’re already feeling overwhelmed with the season, give yourself permission let some things go.

Be kind to yourself, and be sure to find some time for your own self-care this month as well!