This Christmas in our homeschool, I have plans to do a mix of things, but I’m definitely trying to keep it simple. The season is busy enough as it is, and I don’t want to add too much. As homeschoolers, we have the flexibility to slow down, and I plan to do just that.

I’m a sucker for a fun craft or recipe though, so I’ll throw that in every once in a while for fun.

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Simplifying the Work Load

This year we have been doing unit studies focused on science and history, and while it has been so wonderful, I am looking forward to taking a break and resting. I very much enjoy putting them together, but I know that a short break will allow me to re-charge and refresh my mind for after Christmas.

We do plan to continue our morning time, but it will look a lot different. I have an advent study planned (more on that later) and when we finish that I plan to just use our morning time to read Christmas stories together.

Each school day we will focus on Math and Language Arts and take a break from all other subjects. Simplifying our schedule like this will help me to slow down for the season, but it also allows more flexibility if I DO want to add in some extra craft/recipe to try out.

Advent Study – A Savior Is Born

For the past couple of years, we have used Truth in the Tinsel for Christmas. We’ve loved it, but I was ready for something new. Lyndsey from Driven by Grace has many bible studies, but this year she came out with a brand new Christmas study that I was so excited about for a couple reasons.

First, there are only seven lessons. I love this. As much as I would like to do something for 24 days as we countdown for Christmas, I’ve realized that we never get to all 24 days. By using this shorter unit, I’m not under pressure to do something every single day of December.

We started it the week of Thanksgiving (just because!) and the lessons were wonderful stretched out into multiple days. I’m just so pleased with how we will be able to make it work with our schedule.

Second, I’m obsessed with the fact that with each lesson comes an adult bible study that goes along with it. This is something I’ve always wanted, and it’s the first time I’ve seen anything like it. So, in preparation to discuss the scripture with the kids, I have the opportunity to dig deeper myself.

Lastly, each of the seven lessons comes with a craft or recipe to go along with it, but there’s absolutely no pressure to do it. So, it will be nice to have some more ideas that go right along with what we are studying in scripture.

Advent Wreath Devotional

Last year I bought an advent wreath for our house. It was kind of an on-the-whim purchase, but I wanted one for the kids. I grew up in a Christian school, and I remember going to chapel and lighting the candles, and sometimes our classrooms even had them. I wanted my children to experience and understand it too.

The problem is – I can’t really explain it in depth. I’m embarrassed to admit it. For over thirty years I’ve watched each candle lit during the weeks before Christmas, and to this day I can’t remember which one is which.

Some friends of ours wrote a simple family devotion for each week of advent that is going to be perfect alongside our wreath. I feel a little relieved to light the candles this year with a scripture-based explanation instead of my usual (quite poor) attempt at describing their purpose to my children.

Christmas Books

When all else fails, read books! Isn’t that a saying? It should be. We’ve got quite the collection of Christmas picture books at our house, and I plan to take advantage of all the snuggly read aloud sessions.

I have a few ideas up my sleeve of some simple crafts/activities to go along with a few of the books, and I’ll be sharing that in a separate blog post.

I literally mean a few. I don’t like to overwhelm our schedule so these “book + activity” ideas will mostly be for a day that needs a little something extra.

Merry Christmas!

What are your plans this season? Do you set new goals and change it up or do you stick with your routine?

As we all prepare for the season, I encourage you to find ways to keep things simple in your own home. As we countdown to the birth of Jesus, I pray we can do it with peace in our hearts and joy in our homes.

Blessings to you and your family this Christmas Season!