Create a cozy winter homeschool routine for preschoolers with hands-on activities, a winter book list, and weekly baking. Turn your days “stuck” inside, to days full of warmth and fun!

Introduction

Although winter is one of my preferred times of the year, I know that it is a season many dread. The feeling of being “stuck inside” with overly hyped up children sounds less than ideal, but what if you could create a daily routine that creates a cozy feeling, rather than crazy?

A winter homeschool routine doesn’t have to look overly different from your normal homeschool routine, rather, slightly modified to promote the education opportunities and goodness that can be found from inside. But what does this mean and look like? Creating a winter homeschool routine is all about altering your normal outdoor activities with new indoor activities that keep your kiddos engaged and active. I will show you my winter homeschool routine, and give you ideas that you can utilize for your home.

Homeschool & Planning Winter Routine

Create a Daily Schedule

I don’t usually make New Year’s Resolutions, however, when we start school back up, I really want to work on being better at sticking to the homeschool schedule or routine I create. Since the summer is usually jam packed with outdoor activities and play, winter, and this new semester, will be the perfect time to start!

I have created a daily routine (below) that I am really going to try to stick to. Creating a consistent routine will not only help me to stay focused, but will create consistency for my children. Many studies have shown that children who have a daily routine can follow expectations better, are less stressed, more focused, and are able to do tasks more independently. All of these abilities come from the fact that with a routine, children learn what they need to do, and when it needs to be done. With repetition and consistency, child learn what activities are done at certain times in the day, and in a certain order. For example: brush teeth, read a picture book, begin morning music… If this pattern of activities is consistently followed, children will begin to learn the pattern, and know what is expected.

Download my FREE Calendar & Weekly Planner

Winter Indoor Learning Activities

If you keep your original schedule, you can always modify your outdoor activities with the ones below. These activities can help keep your child physically and mentally active during the day. Remember, staying inside doesn’t mean sitting is your child’s only option.

• Sensory Bins (winter themed): sticks (woods), cotton balls (snow), white beans (snow), marshmallows (snow), rice (snow), white sand (snow), sugar cubes (blocked ice), blue colored rice (ice), play animals (forest themed, polar themed, etc.), snowman / gingerbread man cookie cutters, buttons / beads (decorate the inside materials of the gingerbread / snowman cookie cutters), scoops, pinchers, bowls, etc.
• Baking (holiday themed): Baking is a great way to get kids active inside, while still promoting educational learning. I love to discuss 1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1 tablespoon, and 1 teaspoon with my kids. You can see how I do this in my video above, or you can watch it here! I love to bake cookies with my kids. My favorite is chocolate chip cookies. Find the recipe I use below.

Recipes

Soft and Fluffy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Other Recipes

• Indoor Forts: My kids LOVE when I help create a fort for them. The good thing about creating a fort is the creativeness and versatility of it. You can easily change the materials used, and shape of the fort each time you create one. Forts spark such a creative drive in kids. I love to give my kids flashlights, and pretend they are camping or hiding from a wild animal. Our forts are made from bed comforters and our kitchen chairs, but you could use couch cushions, tables, edges of furniture, or whatever you have available.
• Music Time / Dance Parties: Although music time may already be part of your child’s normal schedule, you can always modify the time to be less “routine”. For example, my kids know the songs we sing during our music time, so to add to inside movement we like to dance the YMCA, Macarena, Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, Cupid Shuffle, etc. You would essentially be adding a second music time that focuses on movement. I also like to utilize GoNoodle for an “indoor recess”. They also have videos on YouTube.

Manipulatives & Toys

Educational Manipulative Toys & Activities: In my homeschool room, I love to have different steam or learning “toys” that they can use. This helps to keep their minds and hands busy, while still being educational.

• Build a Flower Garden
• Indoor Trampoline
• Bouncy Animals
• Hopper Balls
• Inflatable Horse Bouncer (set of 2)
• Noah’s Ark
• Magnetic Block Sticks & Tiles
• Magnetic Tiles
• Animal Puzzles
• Instruments
• Mix & Match Magnetic Animals
• Math Bots
• Click Clack Car Track
• Build a Truck

• Crafts (winter themed): If you search “winter crafts for preschoolers” you will find loads of options. Scroll through picture ideas or other blog posts.

Cozy Winter Homeschool Workspace

Enhance the Atmosphere: The last, but most enjoyable part of creating our new winter routine, is creating a cozy winter atmosphere to go with it. Creating “fun change” in your child’s homeschool workspace is a great way to spice up the indoors. Read below for ideas on how to transform your child’s workspace into a cozy winter atmosphere.

CREATE A WINTER WORKSPACE BY ALLOWING YOUR CHILD TO: add holiday decorations, work and read on a blanket, drink hot chocolate or decaf tea while working, turn on and set up battery operated candles, hang their winter crafts near them, play instrumental music (holiday if relevant), use lanterns as lighting, wear pajamas and warm fuzzy socks or slippers, and go outside for as much time as you can before you get started. There is something special about coming in from the cold and snow (or maybe just the cold depending on where you live) and being able to enter into a space of warmth and coziness.