A Magical Homeschool

Many homeschool families do something special to celebrate the first day of school. Not only does it get kids excited about the new year, but it balances out the back to school excitement about schools outside of the home and helps keep kids happy about homeschooling.

There are all kinds of ways you can mark the first day of the new homeschool year. Some families choose to go somewhere special, such as the zoo or the children’s museums. Others mark the occasion by doing fun things at home, such as baking a cake or setting up a backyard carnival.

Others take part in “Not Back to School” events with other homeschoolers, such as parties or picnics in the park. The Mankato area homeschool association often holds a Not Back to School picnic in the park on the first day of public school in Mankato. The first few years, families were even encouraged to come in their pajamas, to celebrate the fact that homeschoolers get to sleep in and school in their pajamas if they want to!

Other ideas include setting up tents and having a campout in the back yard, doing some really fun science projects or crafts, having an afternoon matinee in the living room, hosting a slumber party with other homeschooling friends, heading to the park, or cooking a fun family feast together.

No matter how you mark the day, just be sure to make it special. Take pictures, talk about the things to look forward to about the new homeschooling year, and make it fun.

It’s easy for kids to get caught up in the back-to-school hype (especially at kindergarten and preschool ages) and a little well-strategized fun will successfully detour any wishes for kids to be a part of that. It’s also is a great reminder of some of the great perks of being a homeschooling family — flexibility, time together and with friends, and a just plain joyful way of life.