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🎄 What We’re Using This Christmas (Amazon Favorites)
Here are a few things we’re loving and actually using this Christmas season:
🎄Kids’ Christmas Activity Book (Amazon)🎄Christmas Playdough Kit (Amazon)🎄Christmas Book Set (Amazon)🎄Easy Gingerbread House Kit (Amazon)🎄Washable Christmas Stampers (Amazon)🎄Christmas Fun Game (Amazon)🎄Kids’ Christmas Craft Set (Amazon)If you're anything like me, December always feels magical… and overwhelming at the exact same time. The lights are twinkling, the kids are buzzing with excitement, and suddenly homeschool lessons take twice as long because everyone’s distracted (including me!).
For a long time, I used to push through December like it was any other month—same expectations, same schedule, same pressure. And honestly? I spent more time feeling guilty than actually enjoying the holidays with my kids.
But a few years ago, everything changed. I realized that December did not need to look like September or October. It didn’t even need to look like “normal school.” What my kids needed (and I needed) was a slow, gentle learning month that honored the season instead of fighting against it.
So today, I’m sharing the exact low-stress December homeschooling plan that helped me stay consistent without burning out, kept the kids learning without worksheets scattered all over the house, and made room for joy, connection, and rest.
If December always feels chaotic in your homeschool… this plan is about to feel like a deep exhale.
Let’s make December feel doable—and honestly, even delightful.
Why December Homeschooling Feels So Hard (And Why It’s Not Your Fault)
Before we jump into the plan, I want to reassure you:
You’re not failing. December is just different.
Here’s why:
1. Kids are excited and overstimulated.
Holiday events, treats, sugar, parties, the changing routines—kids' nervous systems are running on full speed.
2. You’re busy, too.
Shopping, cooking, decorating, budgeting, cleaning, hosting, wrapping… parents carry the season.
3. Disruptions break routines.
Co-op breaks, canceled activities, travel, family visits—it all shifts the rhythm.
4. Your mental load goes up.
Planning Christmas, managing expectations, juggling emotions (yours and everyone else’s)… it’s a lot.
5. The pressure to “make December magical.”
Pinterest and Instagram are not helping.
So instead of pretending December is a normal academic month, shift the plan so learning fits naturally into the season.
When December learning adapts to real life, everything feels lighter—and surprisingly effective.
The Low-Stress December Homeschool Plan
This plan has four parts:
-
Simplify (cut the extras)
-
Shift (change how you teach)
-
Seasonal Learning (holiday-inspired academics)
-
Connection + Calm (nourish the home atmosphere)
Use this as-is or customize it to your family’s needs.
Think of it as a “December reset button” for your homeschool.
1. Simplify: Do a 50% Lesson Load
Yes—50%.
Most kids can maintain (and sometimes even grow academically) with a truly lightweight month.
Here’s what this looks like in real life:
Pick your core, drop the rest.
Choose 1–2 non-negotiables per day—not per subject.
For example:
Or:
-
Read-aloud + journaling
-
Done.
Or:
-
Holiday unit study
-
Independent reading
-
Done.
That’s it.
Not 6 subjects. Not a full schedule.
When you cut the load in half, the whole house exhales. Kids stop resisting. You stop stressing. And December becomes doable.
2. Shift: Change How You Teach (Light, Cozy, Flexible)
December learning works best when it feels different from the rest of the year.
Here are the shifts that make all the difference:
Cozy Learning Instead of Desk Learning
Think:
-
blankets
-
cocoa
-
soft music
-
twinkle lights
-
the couch
A cozy environment makes kids more open and calm.
Move to Morning-Only School
The earlier you do your core learning, the more flexible your afternoons become for:
-
baking
-
crafts
-
errands
-
outings
-
playdates
-
holiday activities
Aim for 60–90 minutes max each morning.
Use More Read-Alouds
Read-alouds = low prep, highly educational, seasonally magical.
Choose Christmas or winter-themed books and let the stories carry the month.
Let Them Learn Through Life
Baking is math.
Decorating is fine motor.
Writing cards is language arts.
Budgeting gifts is financial literacy.
Crafting is art.
Volunteering is character development.
December gives you built-in learning—use it.
More Independent Work, Less Parent-Led Work
Kids thrive when they feel capable.
December is the perfect month to give them independence.
Ideas:
-
Winter copywork
-
Quiet reading time
-
Simple project-based learning
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Audiobook + coloring
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Holiday-themed math pages
-
Educational games
-
Khan Academy or online learning time
This gives you breathing room while keeping learning moving.
3. Seasonal Learning: Holiday-Themed Academics (Still Counts as School!)
This is where December homeschooling gets fun. Instead of fighting the holiday season, you blend school into it.
Below are plenty of low-stress ideas that naturally incorporate academics.
December Reading + Language Arts Ideas
1. Christmas/Winter Read-Aloud Studies
Pick one holiday or winter book for the month and build light learning around it:
Try:
Follow with:
So simple, but so effective.
2. Christmas Writing Prompts
Use cozy topics:
-
“Write a letter to your future self next December.”
-
“Describe your perfect winter day.”
-
“If you could invent a new holiday tradition, what would it be?”
-
“Write a thank-you letter to someone who helped you this year.”
Writing + emotional development = win-win.
3. Holiday Copywork
Copy:
Copywork is quick but builds spelling, handwriting, and grammar awareness.
December Math Ideas (Festive + Low Prep)
Math does NOT need to be intense in December. Try one or two per day:
1. Baking Math
Kids learn:
-
fractions
-
measurement
-
temperatures
-
doubling/halving recipes
-
time management
This is one of the best December math lessons—simple and delicious.
2. Christmas Budgeting
Give kids a small amount of “gift money” to manage.
They learn:
-
addition/subtraction
-
comparison
-
price checking
-
financial literacy
-
planning ahead
Real-world math always sticks better.
3. Holiday-Themed Math Worksheets
Even 10–15 minutes of themed worksheets keep skills sharp.
Look for:
Kids love them because they don’t feel like typical math.
December Science Ideas
Keep science hands-on and fun.
1. Winter STEM Challenges
Try:
-
build a gumdrop tower
-
create a marshmallow snowman that stands
-
test which type of cookie stays crispy longer
-
dissolve different candy canes and compare results
STEM is the perfect low-stress December science.
2. Nature Walk: Winter Observation
Even if it’s chilly, a 10-minute walk teaches:
-
animal behavior
-
weather changes
-
seasonal patterns
-
temperature measurement
Bring a small journal or take photos.
3. Life Science Through Holiday Plants
Learn about:
-
pine trees
-
poinsettias
-
holly
-
evergreen adaptations
Fun and quick mini lessons.
December Social Studies Ideas
1. Holiday Traditions Around the World
Choose a country per week and learn:
-
how they celebrate
-
special foods
-
cultural values
-
geography
Kids love this because it feels like holiday travel without leaving home.
2. Family Heritage Project
Have your kids interview grandparents or relatives about:
-
old traditions
-
recipes
-
memories
-
meaningful stories
Then turn it into:
This builds connection and history skills.
Arts + Crafts (The Secret to Happy December Homeschool)
Low-stress crafts that double as gifts or décor work beautifully in December because they have purpose.
Try:
Crafting builds fine motor skills, creativity, concentration, and emotional regulation.
Plus—they keep little hands busy while you drink coffee that’s actually still warm.
Field Trips + Experiences (Real Learning!)
December is filled with “school without feeling like school.”
Ideas:
-
Christmas tree farm
-
Local holiday events
-
Library storytime
-
Lights displays
-
Nutcracker ballet (even just the rehearsal!)
-
Community service event
-
Nursing home visits
-
Church events (if applicable)
-
Craft fairs
-
Museums (they’re often quieter in December)
Everything counts as learning when approached intentionally.
Connection + Calm: The Atmosphere Matters Most
The truth is:
Your kids will not remember perfect worksheets. But they will remember how December felt.
Focus on atmosphere more than academics.
Here’s how to ground your home:
Create a Small Morning Tradition
This could be:
-
lighting a candle
-
reading one picture book
-
a special December poem
-
gratitude journaling
-
prayer time
-
cocoa and conversation
A tiny habit anchors the whole day.
Protect Your Evenings
December burnout often comes from overstimulation.
Try:
-
quiet evenings
-
low lighting
-
family movie nights
-
puzzles
-
board games
-
early bedtimes
When you calm the home, your homeschool benefits.
Say No More Often
You do not have to attend every event.
You do not have to do every craft.
You do not need the “perfect” Christmas.
Peaceful December > Pinterest December.
How This Low-Stress Plan Helps Kids Learn Better
Parents sometimes worry:
“Will they fall behind if we slow down?”
Here’s the beautiful truth:
-
Kids learn MORE when they are regulated.
-
Kids retain MORE when learning is meaningful.
-
Kids grow MORE when they feel connected.
-
Kids thrive MORE when routines are gentle.
December isn’t a lost month.
It’s a chance to strengthen emotional well-being, creativity, family connection, curiosity, and real-life skills.
That matters.
It matters deeply.
Sample Weekly December Schedule (So You Can See How Simple It Is)
Here’s a real-life example:
Monday
Tuesday
-
Holiday writing prompt
-
Copywork
-
STEM challenge
-
Nature walk
Wednesday
Thursday
-
Math worksheet
-
Read-aloud
-
Science experiment
-
Free play afternoon
Friday
Done.
Simple, meaningful, low-stress.
Final Thoughts: December Homeschooling Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect—Just Peaceful
If your December has ever felt chaotic, exhausting, or guilt-heavy, please hear this:
You are allowed to slow down.
Your children are allowed to enjoy the season.
Your homeschool is allowed to breathe.
A gentle December isn’t just easier—it’s smarter.
Kids learn through joy, rhythm, connection, and real life.
By simplifying your month, you’re actually supporting their development in a deeper way than you realize.
So here’s to a peaceful, cozy, connected December.
A month where you get to enjoy your kids, not just manage them.
A month filled with meaning, not stress.
You’ve got this.
And your homeschool will be better for it.
If you want even more simple Christmas activities, homeschool printables, or learning ideas to make the season magical, make sure to explore my other posts.
Your support helps me keep creating helpful content for your home and homeschool.
Leave a Comment
How do you handle homeschooling during December?
Do you keep a full schedule, switch to seasonal learning, or take a slow month?
I’d truly love to hear your ideas—leave a comment below!
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Thank you for reading my blog! Stay tuned for more tips, resources, and printable materials to help make your homeschooling experience enjoyable and effective. Check out my store for a variety of educational products and printables to assist you on your homeschooling journey.
Nancy at Cleverly Kindred ❤️
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