5 Quick Activities to Save a Bad Homeschool Day
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The best way to avoid a bad homeschool day is to plan for it ahead of time. We all have BAD days. The heater quits, the freezer melts, the baby is sick, and so it goes. You can overcome these setbacks by having a plan in place for bad days. In this article, I will share our top 5 activities that help us when we are having a bad homeschool day. I’ll share what to have on hand to be ready for your own bad day, so you will come out looking like a genius to your family.
1. Make Time for Games
Nothing can get your family back on track like a quick game. We keep a pile of mini-games handy for transition times in our school day. Have you ever called the kids for a lesson and found a straggler keeping you all from getting started? Instead of kicking the couch in boredom while they are waiting for their sibling to finish the last few math problems, I toss them a mini-game.
Mini-games are great for several reasons.
One player means fewer arguments. The last thing any homeschool mom needs is a problem solver that creates another problem. Playing alone is a great way to build confidence. Many games, such as our family favorite, Rush Hour, have multiple levels of play within the game.
I can customize from beginner to difficult to fit each child. For my younger kids, I would select a pile of challenge cards and ask them to solve those puzzles while they wait. Also, I look for games that can have an extended lifetime of play. Rush Hour offers extension packs to increase the level of difficulty for your kids as they play.
Some Similar Games To Get You Started
- IQ Circuit Game (8+, click the link for my review)
- IQ Fit (6+)
- Little Red Riding Hood (Preschool)
- Hide and Goat Seek (3+, ordered to play here with grandkids)
- Candy Grams (great Valentine gift)
- Asteroid Escape (8+)
These games are a great choice because they are small, quick to play, and for one player. The bonus for me is that most of these games are intended for travel, so they come with their own case to carry them in.
Games for the Whole Family
When you need a more extended break, you can still build the skill of cooperative play. A game time is a great way to recover from a bad homeschool day. We have favorites, such as Apples to Apples, Into the Forest (which is now discontinued), and Snake Oil. Snake Oil is still a favorite memory among our twenty-year-olds. Our older kids moved on to Catan and Risk, and the oldest loves winning at Monopoly (now everyone else hates it!).
Games can last so much longer than an hour or two of playtime. Playing games helps to build bonds within your family, strengthening ties and creating memories that can help alleviate stress in times of difficulty. You might not feel like playing games, but adding them to your schedule can benefit your whole family.
2. Build Togetherness with Puzzles
One way to get the whole family involved in an activity is with puzzles. We had a season where we put together several Dr. Livingston Anatomy Puzzles as part of our high school curriculum. It led to great conversation time with our teens. The puzzles are connected to create a model of the body systems that spans over seven feet in length. It was a fun project, but NOT for a house with little ones around.
For a younger homeschooling family, I suggest arranging puzzles for various age groups and abilities. We had a wooden box with four small puzzles that the kids loved for years. Young kids like repetition; you would be surprised how many times they will rebuild a puzzle and still be entertained.
Puzzles are a great activity to pull out when you have a meeting or need to create some calm after a bad homeschool day. Having a bad day happens to all of us sometimes, but bringing calm, peace, and fun back into the house is an intentional act that parents must initiate.
3. Hone Skills in the Kitchen
When your homeschool day is taking a turn, you all still have to eat. You can step back and take the opportunity to tune into the kitchen for an alternative teaching experience. The promise of something tasty to eat can entice the most annoyed teen to come and help you with the task. Cooking connects, and as parents, we can use it as a tool in our homeschool.
Cooking is a great way to end a bad homeschool day
Math, science, communication, and reading are happening in the kitchen. Including your child in meal prep and cleanup should start as soon as they can walk, but during difficult times, there is something about doing a task together that helps break down bad attitudes and initiate fresh conversation.
You can make a favorite dish, a special dessert, or let your teen plan a meal and shop for it. Eating together has been one value we have held fast to over the years of homeschooling. We ate dinner around the same table at least five nights a week. Crazy schedules and hectic work habits can make it hard to do this. Still, kids who eat at the dinner table have healthier eating habits, improved communication skills, and higher empathy for others.
Got Teens? Make a TikTok Dinner.
If you don’t know what I am talking about, bless you, you do not have a teen. Those of us with older teens with phones know all about the crazy food combinations and requests that come from TikTok. It can be downright ludicrous at times, but there are some great suggestions out there, and teens are willing to try them out. Don’t miss the opportunity to build fundamental cooking skills with these new foods.
Because of TikTok, my teen son is a champ with the air fryer, and my daughter is a ramen connoisseur. As I see it, they could be learning worse things from the internet. Next time your day is tanking, engage with your kids and cook some of their favorite foods. Plan ahead to have them help you when sports or appointments shorten your homeschool day.
4. Step Away for a Field Trip
There are times in your homeschool when you need a change of pace. We underwent a full-house renovation that required us to relocate for part of the school year. One of the ways we coped was by taking lots of mini-field trips.
You can choose from day trips to local venues, parks, or museums to help you recover from a bad homeschool day. Get out and run around. Choose the location based on your needs—parks to run off extra energy, museums for quiet reflection. Likewise, you can follow your child’s interests and find a location that they will love if they are having a difficult season.
Homeschool isn’t ALL at Home
Mobility and flexibility are among the most significant benefits homeschooling offers your family. Get up and go, because you can! Field Trip Iowa provides resources and ideas for Iowa homeschoolers to find an adventure for the day, the weekend, or the whole week.
We followed a four-day school week for years. This schedule gave us more flexibility in our week for errands, lessons, and field trips. Now, if you are feeling crushed for breathing room, changing your schedule can help you regain your freedom.
5. Easy Access to Craft & Art
In our homeschool, we made space for creativity. When the kids were small, we had a little art table and a cardboard box filled with recycling for projects. I tossed in interesting bits all the time for them to create with. Depending on their age, I added crayons, markers, or washable tempera paint to their supplies.
As our kids got older, I looked for ways to build their personal skills in Arts and Craft projects. We have purchased kits, subscription boxes, and enrolled in online courses. Creativity is a healing agent and a way for kids to express themselves when even they aren’t sure what is going on inside.
Having supplies on hand is a great way to be prepared for a bad homeschool day. Breaking out the diamond art supplies while you read, or letting a child sew a project, can bring focus.
The purpose of this article is two-fold. One, to let you know that bad homeschool days are a part of the package. We all have failures, frustrations, and interruptions. Secondly, having some supplies on hand and a plan goes a long way in helping your family get back on track and learning together faster.
