Episode 65: Winter Traditions

It’s December! Let’s talk about our traditions during this season. Plan to be intentional about winter learning and form or continue traditions that can make a lifelong impact for all of you. We share some ideas and give our tips on how to ensure your favorite parts of the season actually happen. In our Coop Q & A, we answer the question, “When should winter break start?”

Watch

Listen

Show Notes

*some of our recommendations may include affiliate links, which means when you order them from Amazon, we will receive a small commission.

Scoop on the Coop

It’s Nutcracker Season for Jessica and her family, and Mandi shares her Christmas decoration day tradition.

Importance of Traditions

“Embracing family customs or personal rituals can be a powerful grounding force and a reminder that in an evolving world, some things are constant.” - from Psychology Today.

We talk a lot about traditions on our podcast. Check out these podcast episodes for more traditions and ideas:

Fall Traditions (episode 15)
Thankful Traditions & Ideas (episode 22)
Giving Traditions and Ideas (episode 23)
Spring Traditions (episode 34)
Summer Traditions (episode 41)
Schooling Traditions are important too - like The First Day of School (episode 6)

For more seasonal ideas, check out our seasonal resources page with a whole host of ideas!

Tradition Tips

With Family

Find something that’s special for everyone in your family so that they all want to participate in it.
Pick activities that do not make the season feel hectic or obligatory.
Make sure it’s the right time of year

With Friends

Go watch the Nutcracker ballet. There are many youth theaters who put on the Nutcracker annually, so check out your local community theaters.
Try a homeschool Christmas Day with a favorite homeschool family and friends. Keeping it small helps you to be able to do small group setting ideas. We love using Gatherround Christmas Unit Study. Last year we used Year 1, and this year we are utilizing their Year 2.
Host a pajama movie night with a friend (for every holiday season).
Share a gingerbread decorating day with another family as a school day. You can learn technique and gain ideas through YouTube videos.
Start a mother-daughter tradition with another mother-daughter combo. This tradition can last a lifetime.
Galentine’s Day is our favorite way to share love and gifts with our Coop Group moms. Learn more about that here and on our “Mom Friends” podcast episode 27.

For Yourself

Get yourself a special treat every year. You do not need to wait until Christmas to treat yourself!
Watch a favorite movie with a glass of your favorite drink or while wrapping presents.
Have fun planning or making and being intentional about a creative gift from Santa or Mrs. Claus.
Enjoy fun after Christmas sales with just you.
Early January, after everyone returns to school, this is a great time to enjoy amusement parks still decorated for Christmas but almost empty.

3 Ways to Make Sure your Winter Traditions Happen

Creating Traditions: Ask your spouse, your children, and yourself: “What did you love doing during winter last year?” How can you make their answers happen for this next year. Repeat what they loved.
Schedule: Plan your winter calendar in August, September, or early October. Early planning ensures that you have set apart dates for what truly matters to you and your family.
Reflect: Put a date on the calendar sometime at the end of February to reflect on what worked and didn’t work this past year. What changes should you make for next year? Did you over plan or did you not plan enough? Write that in your planner for next fall so that you can use what you learned in planning the following year.

Coop Q & A

When does winter break start? Whenever you want! We talk about what we do, but you will feel a natural break that is unique for you and your children.

The Coop Homeschool is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. See Disclosure Page for more information.