What Is Christmas School? (And Why Homeschoolers Love It)

If you've been homeschooling for more than five minutes, you've probably heard someone say they're doing "Christmas school" in December. And if you’ve ever tried to do your regular math and grammar lessons with cinnamon rolls baking, ornaments everywhere, and a kid in a Santa hat—it’s easy to see why.

Christmas school is a cozy, flexible approach to homeschooling in December that focuses on connection, creativity, and holiday-themed learning. It’s not a break from school—it’s a shift in mindset. And for many families, it’s one of the most memorable and meaningful parts of the homeschool year.

In simple terms, Christmas school is when homeschoolers pause their regular curriculum in December and lean into seasonal learning. It’s still educational—but it looks a little different. Instead of lesson plans and test prep, you might find kids:

• Reading holiday books together on the couch

• Making salt dough ornaments or pomander balls

• Writing letters to Santa or thank-you notes to neighbors

• Baking cookies while sneakily learning about measurements and fractions

• Exploring how Christmas is celebrated around the world

• Creating handmade gifts or cards as part of a family service project

Some families do Christmas school for a full month. Others save it for the last two weeks before the holiday. There’s no right or wrong way—it’s just one more example of how homeschooling can flex to fit the season you’re in.

The holiday season is beautiful, but it’s also a lot. Christmas school gives families permission to slow down and focus on what matters most—without feeling like they’re falling behind.

Here’s why it works so well:

It honors the season.

Rather than trying to fight the energy and excitement of December, Christmas school embraces it. You’re not pushing against the current—you’re going with it.

It creates space for traditions.

Making gingerbread houses, reading The Polar Express, doing an Advent calendar, volunteering as a family—these things take time. Christmas school gives you that time without guilt.

It keeps learning joyful.

Kids are still learning—but it doesn’t feel like school in the traditional sense. You’re baking (math + science), crafting (fine motor skills + creativity), reading aloud (literacy), and making memories.

It prevents burnout.

Let’s be honest: everyone’s a little tired by December. Christmas school can be a built-in reset before the new year begins. It lets everyone catch their breath and rekindle their love for learning.

Anything festive, creative, or meaningful that supports learning counts. Really.

Here are some popular activities families include in their homeschool Christmas season:

• Read holiday picture books or chapter books

• Illustrate a scene from a Christmas story

• Compare and contrast the book and movie versions of favorite Christmas tales

• Write letters to Santa

• Create a recipe book of favorite Christmas cookie recipes

• Journal family memories or favorite traditions

• Make ornaments, paper chains, or window stars

• Try online art tutorials like Art for Kids Hub on YouTube Decorate homemade cards and gift wrap

• Bake cookies and double the recipe (math!)

• Make peppermint playdough or candy cane slime

• Learn how yeast works by baking sweet rolls

• Explore Christmas Around the World with a unit study

• Try traditional holiday foods from other countries

• Create flag garlands or festive decorations inspired by global traditions

• Make cards for a nursing home

• Create a “12 Days of Kindness” countdown

• Start a family Christmas memory album

Whether you're doing one of these or all of them, it's all part of the joy of Christmas school.

The magic of Christmas school isn’t in a packed schedule—it’s in slowing down.

Here’s how to keep things stress-free:

• Pick a few things. You don’t need a full unit or a Pinterest board’s worth of crafts. Choose what feels fun or meaningful.

• Be okay with the mess. Glitter happens. Flour ends up everywhere. These are the moments your kids will remember.

• Use what you have. Books on your shelf. Leftover pipe cleaners. Family stories. Christmas school doesn’t have to be fancy to be special.

• Let go of “shoulds.” If a tradition doesn’t work this year, skip it. If you need to take a full break, that’s okay too.

If you want a little extra magic without the extra prep, our Christmas-themed crates make it easy to slide right into Christmas school mode. Families love using:

In the homeschool world, we don’t just teach to standards—we teach to hearts. Christmas school is a beautiful way to live that out. It reminds us that learning can happen while baking cookies, reading by the tree, or crafting side-by-side with the people we love most.

So take a breath. Light a candle. Read one more story. This is learning, too—and it just might be the part your kids remember forever.