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We generally homeschool through the year (see this blog) in order to avoid the slog back up the hill of stopping and then starting again. We find it easier to ease up a bit at different times of the year rather than completely stopping and then starting again.
As strange as that sounds, it is actually easier to do! Like leaving a car engine on idle and running the radio on fun music rather than turning the whole car off and reigniting the engine!
One exception to this is Christmas! At least a week before Christmas, sometimes two, that’s just it… We have too many Christmas parties to go to, too many gifts to wrap (and the schoolroom has become Official Elf Headquarters and is off limits to kids, anyway!), and too many fun things to do! Not that school isn’t fun, but math stops being able to compute when everyone is excited for Santa to come. I see that eyebrow raise – Don’t judge me, lol. We use the idiom of Santa to mean anonymous Christmas giving and always give adults in the family stocking from Santa (meaning gifts from all the family with silly tags), too.
At any rate, there’s always a natural spot in the Christmas getting-ready-days that just calls us to a halt and that’s okay!
It’s Not Just About Christmas: Common Reasons for Homeschool Breaks
There may be another reason besides Christmas you’ve had to stop. Maybe another holiday, a vacation, illness, business travel that you had to bring the kids, or just a general slowdown of the machine that you need to get revvin’ again!
The reason doesn’t matter. What matters is that you took the break you needed, and now you’re wondering how to restart your homeschool routine without feeling like you’re starting from scratch or dragging everyone kicking and screaming back to the table.
Whether you’re restarting homeschool after Christmas, recovering from a family illness, returning from an extended vacation, or simply getting your homeschool momentum back after a busy season, these strategies will help you transition smoothly.
The Homeschool Restart Challenge: Why Getting Back to School Feels So Hard
Let’s talk about why restarting homeschool after a break feels so difficult. During your time off, everyone has:
- Gotten used to a different rhythm and routine
- Discovered new interests and hobbies
- Enjoyed the freedom of unstructured time
- Maybe stayed up later and slept in longer
- Gotten accustomed to saying “not today” to structured learning
And you, dear homeschool parent, have probably enjoyed not having to have Teacher Mode activated “on” every single day. You’ve had time to read that book, finish those projects, or simply get things done around the house without thinking about lesson plans.
So when it’s time to restart, there’s a natural resistance – from everyone, including you! My goal here is to help getting started again to not only be more fun for your kids but less of a hassle for you, too!
4 Tried and True Ways to Get Homeschool Happening Again
No matter what the reason for your homeschool break, here are four tried and true ways to get Things Happening again!
1. Set a Day (And Let Your Kids Have Input on When to Start)
Ask your kids when they’d like to get started. I’ll bet they actually do want to start up again, mine always have, but may appreciate getting to give their input and also have a little warning on when to start. That can make things run more smoothly!
Don’t just spring it on them the night before. Give at least 3-4 days of mental preparation time. Mark it on the calendar together so everyone can mentally prepare and talk about what they’re looking forward to learning.
This gives everyone a chance to adjust their expectations and wind down any break activities. You might even let them choose which subject they’d like to start with or what time of day feels right to begin.
2. Do Something Fun First! Play IS Serious Learning
You as the parent aren’t necessarily super excited to explain math equations again after the break, either. You get it, too. How about mixing it up with a fun science kit that’s been hiding out in the closet for a few months?
“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.” -Fred Rogers
This quote from Mr. Rogers himself reminds us of something crucial: when we start homeschool after a break with something playful and hands-on, we’re not “wasting time” or “avoiding real work.” We’re actually engaging in the most natural and effective form of learning for children.
So don’t feel guilty about pulling out those fun science kits or art projects. You’re not procrastinating – you’re teaching! I promise! Starting with play-based learning helps ease everyone back into the homeschool mindset without the pressure and resistance that can come with jumping straight into worksheets and textbooks.
Here are some ideas for fun homeschool restart activities:
Square Bubble Kit – My kids loved making square bubbles! This naturally leads into discussions about surface tension, geometry, and why bubbles are typically round. It’s hands-on, visual, and gets everyone excited about science again without feeling like “school.”
Detective Science Kit – Who wouldn’t want to use a fingerprinting and detective kit for schooltime?! And,it is certainly full of powerful learning opportunities!
This can be added to a unit study of Sherlock stories! Depending on your kids’ ages, Jim Weiss has Sherlock stories for kids on Audible or CD that don’t have anything too scary! Combine the detective kit with the audiobook, and suddenly you have an integrated unit study covering science, literature, logic, and critical thinking – all through play and investigation.
Snap Circuits – Snap Circuit kits never disappoint! We have too many of these but they are all super fun. They’re perfect for visual and kinesthetic learners, and they make electricity and circuits tangible. Even older kids who think they’re “too old” for kits get pulled into building increasingly complex projects. They are as complex or as simple as you want them to be!
Crystal Growing Kits – We did the mermaid kit instead of this hedgehog one but really need one… Magic mermaid crystals in rainbow colors? Yes, please! The patience required to watch crystals grow also teaches delayed gratification and scientific observation skills – serious learning disguised as magical fun.
Other fun first-day-back ideas that embrace playful learning:
- Start a new read-aloud book that you’ve been intending to start
- Take a nature walk and start a nature journal
- Do an art project together using new supplies
- Watch an educational documentary with popcorn
- Have a family game day with strategy games
- Build something together – Legos, Magna-Tiles, or cardboard creations
The goal is to remind everyone that learning is inherently interesting and enjoyable.
Once you’ve rekindled that spark through play and hands-on exploration, transitioning back to regular subjects feels less like a chore and more like a natural continuation of that curiosity.
3. Ease Into It (You Don’t Need to Do Everything on Day One)
Don’t think you have to do every subject with every kid on the day you’ve decided is Back to School Day. Only two subjects but back in the ring again? I’d call that a win!
Here’s your permission slip: You don’t have to do every subject with every kid on your first day back to homeschool.
Seriously. Give yourself grace here when restarting your homeschool routine.
What easing back into homeschool might look like:
- Day 1: Just do math and reading – that’s it!
- Day 2: Add in one more subject, maybe science.
- Day 3: Add another subject like history.
- Day 4: Include writing or language arts.
- By Day 5: Tada! You’re back to your full homeschool schedule!
Consider starting with favorite subjects first. If your youngest loves science but dreads grammar, start the week with the thing he or she loves. Build positive momentum and enthusiasm before tackling the harder subjects that require more mental energy.
Shorter lessons are perfectly okay too. Maybe you typically do 45-minute homeschool lessons. For the first week back after your break, try 20-30 minutes. Quality over quantity, especially when you’re rebuilding homeschool habits and routines. It’s okay to start slow and get back into the groove.
You are the ruler of this homeschool planet that you’ve created.
You make the rules; if you want rules! No feeling guilty allowed!
Remember: homeschooling is a marathon, not a sprint. The tortoise always wins, and consistency (even imperfect consistency) beats intensity every time. If feel like you’re behind where your goals are for your homeschool, you’re going to catch up if you stick with it.
4. Try Something New (Make This Restart Feel Fresh)
Any Christmas presents that can “present” a new challenge? Did your child receive a new art kit or perhaps a new musical instrument? We got our son a lap harp one year – we got him new sheet music, everything from The Beatles to Beethoven! Explore a new skill and incorporate that into your school day.
New tools and materials can reignite homeschool excitement:
When you add something new to your homeschool routine after a break, it signals to everyone that this isn’t just “back to the same old thing.” It’s a fresh start with new possibilities.
- A new art kit can launch an art appreciation unit study
- A new musical instrument can become part of your daily homeschool rhythm
- A new building set can tie into engineering, architecture, or physics lessons
- A new craft kit can connect to history or cultural studies you’re covering
- A new board game can teach strategy, math, probability, or history
Explore a new skill together and make it part of your homeschool day. This serves multiple purposes when restarting after a break:
- It gives kids something fresh and exciting to look forward to
- It counts as legitimate learning (especially if you can tie it to standards you’re covering)
- It breaks up the routine in a positive way after time off
- It respects their growing interests and autonomy
- It creates positive associations with “going back to school”
The key is making your homeschool restart feel dynamic and exciting rather than stagnant and repetitive. When kids have something new to look forward to, the transition back to learning feels less like a chore and more like an adventure.
Additional Tips for a Smooth Homeschool Restart After Your Break
Review and Refresh Before Moving Forward
One mistake I see homeschool parents make after a break is trying to pick up exactly where they left off, as if no time has passed. But brains need a little warm-up after time away from structured learning!
Spend a day or two reviewing what you covered before the break. This serves multiple purposes for restarting homeschool:
- It refreshes everyone’s memory and helps prevent frustration
- It identifies any gaps in understanding that need addressing
- It builds confidence (“Oh yeah, I remember this!” vs “Remember this now!”)
- It makes the transition smoother into new material
- It helps you assess where each child truly is after the break
Think of it like stretching before exercise. You wouldn’t jump straight into a sprint without warming up your muscles first! The same goes for academic muscles after a homeschool break.
Reset Your Homeschool Environment
If your homeschool space got taken over during the break (hello, Christmas Elf Gift Wrapping Headquarters taking up residence in the school room!), take time to reset it before diving back in.
Create a fresh homeschool environment:
- Clear away holiday decorations or break clutter
- Restock supplies that ran low before the break
- Reorganize materials so everything’s easy to find
- Maybe add something new to freshen up the space – new posters, a plant, rearranged furniture
- Create a “fresh start” feeling that signals it’s time to get back to learning
A clean, organized homeschool space signals to everyone’s brains that it’s time to get back to business. It also eliminates the frustration of searching for materials or working in a cluttered environment during those crucial first days back.
Adjust Your Homeschool Schedule If Needed
Your pre-break homeschool schedule might not work anymore. Maybe you discovered during the break that your kids are more alert in the afternoon. Maybe your toddler needed a nap at the same time each afternoon. Maybe you realized you were trying to do too many subjects or extracurriculars and need to drop one for now. Or there is an extracurricular no one really liked and you need to stop! No shame in that!
Use the restart as an opportunity to optimize your homeschool routine. Don’t just default back to what you were doing before if it wasn’t working well. This is the perfect time to implement changes you’ve been considering.
Build in Regular Breaks Moving Forward
One reason breaks are so hard when homeschooling is that we make them too rare and then try to cram too much into our “on” times. Consider building smaller, regular breaks into your homeschool year:
- A long weekend every month for family time
- Light weeks around holidays to reduce stress
- Simplified homeschool schedules during particularly busy seasons
- Regular “catch up” or “free exploration” days built into your routine
- Seasonal breaks that give everyone time to recharge
This prevents burnout and makes major breaks less disruptive because you’re already practicing the skill of stopping and starting. Your homeschool becomes more sustainable long-term.
When Restarting Homeschool Feels Impossible
Sometimes the resistance to restarting homeschool is more than just post-break sluggishness. If you’re experiencing major pushback from your kids or feeling overwhelmed yourself, consider:
- Whether your homeschool curriculum is actually a good fit for your family’s learning styles
- If you’re trying to do too much and need to simplify
- Whether your kids need more autonomy and choice in their learning
- If underlying issues (learning challenges, social interaction needs – either too much or too little, family stress) need addressing first
- Whether you need to have a bigger conversation about homeschooling goals and approach
- If burnout is setting in and you need more support
Don’t hesitate to make bigger changes if something isn’t working. Homeschooling’s greatest strength is its flexibility – use it! Sometimes a homeschool restart is the perfect opportunity to pivot and try something completely different.
Can’t put your finger on where to fix things? Schedule a session with me and we will work it out together!
The Bottom Line on Restarting Homeschool After a Break
Restarting homeschool after a break doesn’t have to be miserable. With a little planning, some grace for everyone involved, and a willingness to ease back in rather than diving headfirst, you can make the transition smooth and even enjoyable.
Remember the four key strategies:
- Set a day with your kids’ input so everyone feels prepared
- Do something fun to rebuild enthusiasm – remember, play IS serious learning
- Ease into it with reduced schedules or fewer subjects at first
- Try something new to keep things fresh and exciting
Most importantly, remember why you chose homeschooling in the first place. You have the freedom to make it work for your family, including taking breaks when you need them and restarting on your own terms. You don’t have to follow anyone else’s timeline or expectations.
Now go forth and restart your homeschool with confidence! You’ve got this. And if the first day back is chaotic? That’s okay too. Tomorrow is a new day, and progress is still progress, no matter how small.
What strategies have helped your family restart homeschool after a break? Share in the comments!
Homeschool With Joy 