Episode 131

Thinking about summer and how you might recharge as a homeschooling parent? Here are 10 ways to step away from homeschooling this summer.

Summer is a great time to mix things up a bit and take a break from formal lessons.

I’m often asked by homeschooling parents if they should keep the lessons going in the summertime.

I know it’s tempting! Especially when we feel like we haven’t finished it ALL, whatever that means! And I think we all feel that way a bit when we see the end of the homeschooling year on the horizon.

But here’s the honest truth: we all benefit from a break in order to refresh, recharge, and reset.

As parents, and especially as homeschooling parents, taking a break is essential to our mental health and overall well-being.

10 Ways to Step Away from Homeschooling This Summer

So with summertime just around the corner, I have 10 ways to step away from homeschooling this summer for you.

Whether you have a few minutes, a few hours, or days to fill, these tips will help you feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to embrace the next homeschooling year with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

#1: Establish a Simple Daily Rhythm

Even though I encourage you to take a break from formal lessons, that doesn’t mean ignoring rhythm.

A simple daily summer rhythm with several touch points throughout the day is a great starting point and also leaves room for improvisation.

Perhaps the morning is a time for gardening or house projects, after lunch you read together, later afternoon is quiet work or alone time for Mom, and the evening is for walking the dog.

You might choose one day a week for a library day, or swimming at the pool, walks in the woods, or meeting up with friends.

Sure, your rhythm will be different in the summertime. Just don’t forget about it all together!

If you want more help with this, check out Episode #34: Create a Simple Summer Rhythm.

#2: Take a Solo Vacation

Whether it’s a weekend getaway or a week-long trip, taking time away from your daily routine can be the ultimate reset. You might choose to go solo or with your partner or a good friend.

Choose a destination that offers activities you enjoy and allows you to relax while also replenishing your mind, body, and spirit.

Getaways are truly a wonderful way to recharge. Even just an overnight can help you rediscover your spark.

#3: Plan Professional Development for YOU

Take an online class to prepare you for your upcoming homeschooling year.

Consider coming to the Taproot Teacher Training for homeschoolers!

As both a weekend retreat and professional development, Taproot is sure to fill your cup as a homeschooling parent!

This is a gathering that I host the first weekend in August every year, full of hands-on workshops in the grades and lively arts, presented by experienced homeschoolers.

Taproot is a like a personal retreat, homeschool training, and summer camp all rolled into one. Plus, I’d love to meet you in person!😉

#4: Schedule a Spa Day

Treat yourself to a spa day. Seriously, you deserve it!

Get a massage, facial, or any other treatment that makes you feel pampered and refreshed. Disconnect from your phone and enjoy some me-time.

You might also want to incorporate mindfulness into your daily routine over the summer.

Simply find a beautiful spot in your home where you can sit, practice deep breathing, and focus on the present.

You can also try guided meditation or yoga to help you relax and de-stress. These are like mini-spa days that you can weave into your daily life.

#5: Connect with Friends

Reconnect with your friends and plan a fun activity together. Spending time with people who make you happy can boost your mood and recharge your batteries.

You can go for a hike, have a picnic, or even take a cooking class or something fun.

Plan some time for you to connect with your adult friends, and also some time for you and your kiddos to connect with homeschooling or neighborhood friends. You might plan to gather for weekly meetups with other families for Friday hikes, weekly park days, or beach days.

#6: Get Outside and Explore Nature

Outdoor adventures can be so much fun whether it’s exploring new parks, hiking trails, or nature preserves.

Children learn so much about local wildlife, the environment, and the importance of conservation from spending time outside. This is experiential learning at its best. The experience of awe and wonder is the beginning of the study of science.

One of my family’s favorite summertime outdoor activities is creek walking. You can even pack a picnic and make a day of it! And one of my summer mantras is to eat as many meals outside as often as possible.

#7: Take a Learning Vacation as a Family

Planning a learning vacation can be a great way to refresh your homeschooling mindset and provide an opportunity for the whole family to explore new subjects and experiences.

Ideas for destinations include national parks, museums, and historical sites.

Even day trips can be enriching and memorable so find some good “one tank trips” near you.

#8: Focus on Life Skills

Use the summer months to teach your children practical life skills, such as cooking, gardening, woodworking, or basic home repairs.

These skills will not only be useful throughout their lives but will also give them a sense of accomplishment and confidence.

Find out what your children are interested in and help them explore different subjects and find new passions.

Summer is the perfect time to experiment with new learning activities that your children are interested in or that are new to them.

I have a great online experience to recommend ~ the #LifeSkillsNow summer camp, organized by Katie Kimball at Kids Cook Real Foods. It’s a totally no-charge camp, June 12-16, to help all your kids, ages 5-18 (plus workshops for parents), to build important life skills. From auto maintenance to writing thank you notes, growing a pizza garden to tips for staying focused, there are over 80 workshops to choose from!

#9: Send Your Kids Off on Adventures

Whether it’s with Dad or the grandparents, kids love having their own adventures like going to a baseball game with Dad, an outdoor performance with a grandparent, or mini-golf with neighborhood buddies.

If you don’t have grandparents around, consider doing a trade with another family where you each have time with all the kids and also some time at home without your kiddos!

#10: Do Something You Don’t Feel Like You Have Time For

Perhaps it’s reading a novel or learning a new hobby yourself. Whatever you feel like you’d love to pursue but don’t have time for during the homeschooling year, plan to do more of THAT in the summer.

For years, I had this funny rule for myself that I wasn’t allowed to read fiction during the homeschool year. But in the summer, I could read all the novels I wanted! It felt so freeing and so much like summer when I had a good book in my hand.

If you want some suggestions, check out Summer Reading for Homeschool Families.

Summer is also a great time to learn something new just for YOU. Have you wanted to learn to play the ukulele? Take up cross stitch again? Take a dance class? Find something that sparks your creativity and passion so you can fill yourself up from the inside out.

The Promise of a Memorable, Refreshing Summer

All of these ideas are great opportunities to incorporate hands-on learning while making new discoveries outside of our regular homeschool routines.

I hope these encourage you to think of new ways to mix things up a bit, bond as a family, generate some fresh energy, and create lasting memories.

For more reading to inspire you this summer, you’ll also like 108 Ways to Have Fun at Home This Summer.

Here’s to a great summer!☀️🏖️😎

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