10 Ideas for When You Can’t Make the Homeschool Day Happen

Not every day is going to be the day where you check all the boxes off on your list. And that’s ok.

There will be lots of days where the baby slept terribly, the toddler woke up five times, and your middle schooler is giving you that look again. And you just don’t have the gumption to deal. For those days, it’s just fine to change up a few of those boxes on the checklist, enjoy the stage of life you’re in, and remind yourself – and the kids – why you chose to homeschool. If you’re anything like me, perhaps one those reasons is for the flexibility and freedom.

So here’s a short list of ideas I like to keep in my back pocket for those days when I just can’t make the homeschool day happen. Here they are in no particular order.

Go on a field trip

There is little more true than how much many of us have been in our homes over the last couple of years. So if that’s you, and you are itching to get out of the house, think about becoming a bit of a tourist in your own area. Maybe check out a local museum, nature center, or zoo. Most larger cities have a children’s museum or science center. Or see if there are any historical sites in your area and read about the history then go see it in person. Some things may take some advance planning with tickets, and others may be able to be done quickly and at the spur of a moment.

Read aloud

There are so many great books out there! Research shows that reading aloud to your kids is great for their development in so many ways. So once in a while if all you get done in a school day is reading a good book together, it’s a great start in their learning! If you don’t have a book you’re already wanting to start, maybe take a trek to the library and find one. Librarians are great at finding books for you. And don’t be afraid of picture books for any age. Cozy up with a yummy drink or read outside while your kids color. There are so many ways to enjoy a good book and the best way is together!

Play a game together

Speaking of doing things together, may I suggest a game? Cards, a board game, puzzles, the sky is the limit. There are tons of great educational games out there, but it’s not necessary to limit yourself to “educational” games. Monopoly can teach about money and economics. Clue is a great logic and strategy game. Even jigsaw puzzles are great for developing spatial reasoning. My littles have always loved playing Go Fish when we’re working on number recognition. But once again, there’s nothing like just spending a little time with your kids and laughing. Sometimes that’s all you need for a good reset.

Take school to the park

This has always been one of my favorite things to do. Before the pandemic, we would often be found doing school work at Chick-fil-a if it’s too cold for an outdoor park. We’d grab a treat and work, then have plenty of PE time on the playground. And once the indoor playgrounds open again, we’ll be back. But until then, outdoor playgrounds will have to work. We also love taking a blanket outside to our own yard on nice days, and this can be helpful if loading up everyone seems like a little too much.

Watch an educational movie or TV show

I know I may have lost you on this one, but stick with me a second. This is one of the easiest ways to help you out, especially with littles. There are so many educational things out there. I’ve seen entire science curriculums based on The Magic School Bus. There are great websites for children based on science, history and even learning the basics of reading and math. Older kids may enjoy a well-made documentary. Maybe you don’t do screens and that’s ok, but for those who do, this can be a good option for those days when you need a quick solution.

Take the day off

If you woke up on the complete wrong side of the bed and have absolutely no idea how you could possibly do anything remotely school related, it’s ok to give yourself permission to take a day off occasionally! I always try to build in extra days in our schedule each month so I have this flexibility. It’s inevitable that some unforeseen meeting gets scheduled or we need a trip to the doctor. Sometimes toting around clipboards with school pages to these places is just not feasible. So throw yourself some grace, take the day off, and don’t look back! The school work will still be there tomorrow.

Take a nature walk

For some reason this idea often feels to me like it’s too good to be true. Like I have to have all the note-booking tools and trail guides to do this “correctly”. But the truth is, there is no correct way to be outdoors. Just do it! Enjoy the fresh air, look at the sky, listen to the sounds, get some sunshine! You can make this structured with books and worksheets or just enjoy the outdoors together in a more simple way. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Perhaps collect some leaves, berries, seeds or tree bark and try to figure out what plant they are from. Or just talk about the variety in colors of the birds you spot or see who can find a squirrel or other critter first. Every area and every season has some amazing nature to check out. Enjoy that fresh air!

Just do the basics

Do you feel like you really can’t stand to get behind in your math book? Or maybe you keep skipping science (that’s me!) and you really shouldn’t skip it again. It’s ok to not do everything you had planned for the day and just back off to the bare minimum. In some seasons, I have backed off to the very basic subjects like math, reading and writing for a week or two while we got through some crazy things in life like having a fussy newborn, or getting through a move. The books will all still be there ready and waiting when you’re ready to resume your fuller schedule.

Cook or bake something together

This one gets suggested a lot in the homeschooling world. Working in the kitchen is not only great for your relationships, but also great for cultivating future cooks and good eating habits. It can even help with picky eating! You could make a batch of cookies or bread together on an easy saturday and call it school. Or include one of your children in your daily dinner prep. Just consider adding some extra time in for the “help” you’ll receive. All the measuring, following directions, and nutrition information will help with real world application of so many things they may already be learning from books.

Have an art day

Doing art doesn’t have to be fancy, complicated, or messy. But sometimes the best art projects take up the whole day and all the paper towels. Allow yourself to get engrossed in a project and enjoy it! Pull up a YouTube video and learn to do something new alongside your child. If art is not your strength, that’s ok. I know my kids and I get a good laugh at how umm….interesting….some of our projects turn out. That can make such great memories!

Wrap it up

One of the best parts of homeschooling is that it’s yours. It’s your school! You don’t have to do it like the public school or your friend across town. You do it the way God leads you to do it. And some days, that takes a little extra flexibility and creativity. But the goal is to enjoy your kids. If you’re exhausted and frustrated, it won’t likely be a good learning day for anyone. So be kind to yourself and pull out one of these great back up options and enjoy your day together!