Today, I’d like to chat about our family’s favorite holiday homeschool resources!
I promise, with a teensy bit of planning, you can have a relaxing and educational holiday experience. These resources and ideas are not over-the-top. In fact, many – like our beloved Nutcracker Breakfast- do not cost a dime!
When you’re finished reading, I’d love for you to leave a comment with your family’s favorite holiday homeschool resources!
The Best Holiday Homeschool Resources for Creative Fun!
Before we get started, I wanted to mention a holiday blogger thing…
Do you love our site? Do you appreciate the resources we share? Well, did you know you can support My Little Poppies without spending any extra this holiday season? If you shop through our affiliate links, you don’t spend any extra but we get a teeny-weeny bit of cash and that helps to keep the site and podcast up and running.
Read more here:
Simple Traditions
The holiday season can be a time of joy and it can be a time of stress. I don’t know about you guys, but I like to enjoy the holiday season because I absolutely adore childhood magic and I know it’s only here for a blink.
The thing is, our kids don’t remember the stress. They remember the moments.
I have the perfect example for you…
Several years ago, I woke up with a killer migraine. Instead of doing all the fun holiday things I had planned, I told the kids they could choose their favorite cereal, spread a blanket on the family room floor, and watch The Nutcracker.
Meanwhile, I popped some migraine meds and hid under a blanket on the couch.
Well, do you know what? The following year, when discussing holiday plans, the kids asked me if they could have another Nutcracker Breakfast. At first, I could not even remember what they were talking about!
I had chalked it up to a bad day and parenting fail, but to them, it was a favorite holiday memory.
We’ve had a Nutcracker Breakfast every single year since.
My point is this: It doesn’t have to be perfect, or over-the-top, to be memorable. Want to check out this year’s new super-simple tradition? Read more here:
Simplify Your Homeschool this Holiday Season with Hyggeschooling… and saying no!
If you are looking for ways to cut down on the stress this holiday season, I invite you to listen to one of our most popular episodes. In this episode, Kara and I chat about hyggeschooling. After the hyggeschooling challenge we hosted last year, our homeschool has never been the same!
Listen to the Hyggeschooling episode here:
You don’t have to do all the things. Learn to say “no” this holiday season!
The holidays are here, sisters, and if like us, you’re feeling just a *tiny* bit overwhelmed, join us for this replay episode with the fantastic Melissa Camara Wilkins.
Melissa is a mama of six, a writer, homeschooler and Cait + Kara’s very favorite resource for living simply and authentically.
Listen as Melissa shares two questions she asks her family each season to bring joy instead of busyness, and as Melissa, Cait and Kara each share their favorite simple holiday traditions.
Listen to the episode here:
The Best Christmas Books for Your Homeschool
We looooove Christmas books!
You can check out our favorites here:
Holiday Homeschool Resources from The Waldock Way
The Waldock Way is one of our family’s go-to sites for engaging and affordable homeschool unit studies. From geography to survivalism to biographies and more, The Waldock Way is a wonderful homeschool resource… and they also offer holiday-themed resources!
Holiday Fun Around the World is a fun way to learn about over thirty different holidays, celebrations, and festivals around the world. This unit study would make a fun addition to your holiday homeschool routine and it’s appropriate for all ages.
Art-Themed Holiday Homeschool Resources
My kids have always enjoyed art and so we LOVE artsy homeschool resources. I have two awesome ideas for you this holiday season: Art History Kids and You ARE An Artist Chalk Pastel!
Holiday Homeschool Resource: Art History Kids
Every year, Art History Kids offers art appreciation holiday fun.
The Nutcracker Art Experience is a festive week of art activities (and mini-lessons) for your children and teens. You can sign up for FREE right here.
Every year, in early December, you’ll receive a new pre-recorded daily video to connect the story of The Nutcracker with some amazing figures from art history. Your kids will learn more about the art of Edgar Degas, Yayoi Kusama, Vincent van Gogh, Romare Bearden, Salvador Dali, and more.
Then, they’ll be invited to create some fun Nutcracker-themed projects inspired by these artists’ paintings and sculptures! Art History Kids will bring the beautiful music, dance, and art of The Nutcracker into your home this holiday season!
The Nutcracker Experience begins in early December, but sign up early because there is always a pre-party!
Holiday Homeschool Resource: You ARE An Artist Chalk Pastel
We love the ‘Christmas Extravaganza’ Chalk Pastel Christmas Art Course.
Christmas Extravaganza Course includes the following video tutorials:
- Away in a Manger
- Winter Fun
- Gingerbread Man and Holly
- Christmas Angel
- What’s Under Your Christmas Tree?
- Christmas Ornaments
- Nutcracker
- Christmas Tree
- Christmas Lights
- Clara and the Tree
- Sugar Plum Fairy
- Chinese Tea Dance
- Mouse King
All video art courses from ChalkPastel.com include the following:
- In each lesson, Nana leads through the process, step-by-step.
- Techniques encourage both new artists and challenge more advanced ones
- Independent learning for older students
- FAQs
- Glossary of art techniques
- Option to join You ARE an Artist Facebook group for sharing artwork and asking questions.
The wonderful fun thing about chalk pastels is that you do not need any artistic ability. They are easy to use and non-intimidating.
If you love chalk pastels, you should know that there is also a membership site.
You can read more about the Christmas Extravaganza and how we use chalk pastels in our homeschool here:
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Music-Themed Holiday Homeschool Resources
Have you heard of SQUILT? Developed by Mary Prather of Homegrown Learners, SQUILT stands for Super Quiet UnInterrupted Listening Time.
SQUILT is an easy-to-use music education program. You do not need to have a music background. The only thing you need to do is to have internet access and the desire to learn alongside your children.
There are currently two volumes of SQUILT Christmas Carols. Each volume contains five lessons. Each lesson includes in-depth coverage of one Christmas Carol. Your children will learn about the history behind the carol and will listen to several versions. As they do, they will discuss dynamics, rhythm, tempo, and instrumentation. Notebooking pages and supplemental activities are included as well.
We have also enjoyed Mary’s Nutcracker Unit Study. And the best part? You can use it in tandem with Chalk Pastels!
You can read more about SQUILT’s holiday offerings here:
Pin-It Maps: An Awesome Way to Track Santa!
Pin It Maps is a company run by a homeschool mama named Sara. Like many homeschool parents, Sara was interested in finding high-quality affordable educational materials that could be used across curriculums and for a wide range of ages and learning styles.
Sara created Pin It Maps, and I’m so glad she did! Pin It Maps provides beautiful, hands-on, Montessori-inspired pinnable maps. Through hands-on exploration, students quickly learn geography. Each set of maps comes with flags for pinning, large-scale maps for pinning, and a set of control maps. The control maps allow for self-monitoring and correcting, and the maps can be used again and again.
Pin It Maps have become an important part of our Christmas Eve routine. We love to combine Pin It Maps, Google Earth, books, and games. You can read more about Pin It Maps here:
Holiday Gameschooling
I love to slow down and play more during the holiday season!
Check out our family’s favorite Christmas and wintery games here:
- The Best Christmas Games {Holiday Gameschooling}
- Winter Gameschooling: The Coziest Games for Your Homeschool
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Our favorite holiday specials…
Shhh! Don’t tell anyone, but I let my kids watch holiday specials before Thanksgiving:
Holiday “Grinchy” Play-Doh
You won’t want to miss our super-simple, super-fun Grinchy Dough! Grab your recipe here:
Elf on the Shelf Alternatives
If you are looking for alternatives to the Elf on the Shelf, look no further:
The Most Amazing- and Educational- Stocking Stuffers
I am a stocking stuffer nut. I absolutely love them, but I am also super picky because I want stockings to be affordable, memorable, and educational!
Want to see our favorite stocking stuffer of all time? It’s this handy little pocket microscope, and it is perfect for stealth learning!
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Check out our favorite educational stocking stuffers, organized by academic subject and category here:
The Gift that Keeps on Giving: Monthly Homeschool Subscriptions
Without a doubt, our hands-down favorite monthly subscription is CuriosityStream. At just $2.99 per month, this service packs an amazing educational punch – it’s such an amazing value!
But, I do have other favorites…
