Our Homeschool Slows Down in the Winter (On Purpose)

Winter homeschooling looks different for us, and I’ve finally stopped trying to make it look like any other season.

When the weather turns colder and the days feel shorter, everything naturally shifts inward. We spend more time inside, and I don’t fight that anymore. Instead of pushing outdoor lessons or trying to keep the same rhythm we have in warmer months, we lean into what actually works right now — more books, more inside learning, and slower days.

This is the season where we sit together more. We read more. Lessons happen at the table, on the couch, or wherever everyone feels comfortable and focused. There’s less bouncing between activities and more settling in. And honestly, things feel calmer because of it.

We’re still doing lessons — just in a way that matches the season we’re in. Winter isn’t the time for rushing through material or piling on extras. It’s a time to slow down, focus on the basics, and let learning happen without pressure. If something feels heavy or forced, we pause it. If a lesson takes longer, that’s okay too.

I used to feel guilty about not doing as much outside learning during the winter months. Like we should be out there more, doing more hands-on things, keeping everything the same year-round. But winter has taught me that homeschooling doesn’t have to look the same in every season to be effective.

Some seasons are expansive and busy. Others are quieter and more inward. Winter just happens to be one of those quieter seasons for us — and that doesn’t mean learning is lacking. It just means it looks different.

If your homeschool feels slower right now, if your days are quieter, or if you’re questioning whether you’re doing enough, let this be your reminder: you’re not behind. You’re adjusting. And that’s exactly what homeschooling allows us to do.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is stop pushing against the season we’re in and start working with it instead.