Cold and flu season comes to everyone eventually, even homeschool families. Moms rarely get a day off, but sometimes sick days are necessary for both you and the kids. So what do you do when it’s time for a homeschool sick day? As with anything else in life, having a plan in mind can help when the time comes. Here are some tips to help you survive the homeschool sick days.
Homeschool Sick Days
If you need to take a homeschool sick day once in a while, it’s not the end of the world. That doesn’t mean the kids will “get behind” or stop learning!
Some homeschool families do sick day “make-up” work on the weekend or on what would usually be a holiday vacation time. Others homeschool year-round so they can take a planned week off every month or a few weeks off every six weeks or some variation. This allows for time off built into the schedule so there’s no pressure when you need a sick day.
If need be, remember that half days count, too! If someone isn’t feeling well in the morning, try a later start. If you hit an afternoon slump due to allergies or headache, just end your studies a little earlier on those days when you need to.
When you’re just dealing with a minor cold, you can cut back to just one or two subjects for the day so you don’t get worn out. Remember that part of learning is life skills, which means knowing how to listen to what your body needs and getting some rest when you’re not feeling well.
Some homeschool moms have a backup plan that includes getting a friend or family member to help out when they’re sick. Do you have someone who could take over your lesson plans if you’re not well enough for an extended time?
Learning Never Really Stops
There are still learning activities you can do when the family is feeling under the weather. If Mom is sick, there are independent learning activities to consider. If the illness has hit the whole family, here is a list of things that can be educational even while recuperating:
- Reading in bed
- Watching educational documentaries together as a family (Don’t forget about Amazon Prime and Netflix!)
- Doing Mad Libs
- Listening to audiobooks
- Educational games on the couch or in bed
- Making lapbooks
- Coloring
Don’t forget resting and snuggling!
Remember, you don’t have to replicate school at home. Take the time you need when you need it. That’s one of the advantages of homeschooling in the first place!
Starting Back Up after Homeschool Sick Days
One of my best tips for starting back up after homeschool school days is this:
Just like when you were sick, you needed soup. So now that you’re well, you need a different diet until you boot up to 100 percent. I would do two subjects like math and maybe reading. Then call it a day as you rest more and get the house in shape. Do that for a few days, then fold in another subject. It’s almost like starting a new year. Ease into it.
Also, never underestimate the value of books, games, and hands-on learning. Apps and computer games can be learning supplements when you’re not up to par yet.
You can also use an educational movie or documentary that directly ties into whatever you’re learning. It can supplement your unit study and spark rich discussions. Map work is another great thing to try as you gain strength after an illness.
Some Perspective on Homeschool Sick Days
We all know that it’s tough on the family when mom gets sick, but when you’re also the teacher it can make things even more complicated. If the flu or a cold strikes the whole family at once, don’t worry about taking some needed time off. A little bit of planning ahead and lots of TLC can help you get through those homeschool sick days! Look at these other tips for sick days:
- Homeschool History Teaching Ancient Civilizations Using Netflix
- How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress
- 7 Educational Movies for Kids About Westward Expansion
- 35 Hands-on Geography Activities to do in 15 Minutes or Less
Hugs and love ya,
