4 Top Reasons NOT to Homeschool Summer

Whether you’ve been homeschooling for a short time period or you’ve been around the homeschooling block several times over, the matter of whether or not to do homeschool summers can still be a question.

The reason for this is that your children’s needs change and sometimes it makes sense to have school in the summer whereas at other times, you might feel the need to take that time off.

While there are definite benefits to homeschooling year-round, in this post, we’re going to focus on reasons NOT to continue homeschool summertimes.

Many homeschooling families use their summers for what might be called “homeschool lite” mode. Your kids might finish their main curriculum work and move into a mode where you keep up with some of the basic skills in math, grammar, and reading so that don’t lose ground over the summer.  

This often works well for younger kids, but it can become more of a burden than a help. Older kids and teenagers don’t necessarily need the structure and repetition of the basic building blocks. Your choice whether or not to homeschool summer can also depend on if it’s just “too much” on any given year with other family situations you might be dealing with. Your child’s learning style will also have a bearing on these decisions.

4 Reasons NOT to Homeschool Summer

Here are some straightforward why you might not want to homeschool in the summer!

1. Mom Needs a Break

I don’t know about you, but at a certain point, I need to NOT be responsible for so much! Raising kids and keeping a house is a tough job; add homeschooling onto that plate, and it is a recipe for burnout! By the time the nice weather hits, I am looking forward to soaking up the sun and mindlessly reading a book by the pool while the kids swim.

If you need a break, Mama, don’t feel guilty about giving your kids or teens the summer off of school!

2. Kids Want Some Free Time

I am not just talking about quiet afternoons or a schedule-free weekend; I am talking about real time off. A real break from the schedules and notebooks.

Each of your kids will use their time in different ways. You might have one who wants to sleep in, one who wants to be up early to play as many video games as possible, or one who wants to be able to choose what he or she is going to do and at what time.

3. Summer Schedules Bring New Activity Opportunities

Often, during the summer, there are different classes and activities available because other kids are off from school. You’ll definitely want to look into local extracurricular learning opportunities such as art or dance classes, science camps, pottery, and more.

If you are tied to a homeschool summer learning schedule, then there is no time for extra things like this, which could spark interest in your kids in a whole new direction.

4. Time to Regroup for a New Year

The summer months are a great time to get organized, donate or resell homeschool things your kids have outgrown, declutter, and deep clean shelves, carpets, etc.

Store away curricula you may use again and start gathering up things for the coming year. When you don’t take an extended break, it’s easy for things to pile up and you can end up overwhelmed with clutter and disorganization. Having this extra time not only gives you a much needed break but you also have time to wind down from one year and prepare for the coming year.

Whether your family chooses to homeschool year-round or take the summer off, make sure you take the time to think and pray about what works best for your family at this stage in your homeschool journey.