Homeschool Holidays

at Home Checklist

Use this homeschool holidays checklist to help organize family celebrations.

The Countdown:

• 4 weeks

  _____Send notes/cards--Remembering others makes a holiday meaningful. Encourage the children to create their own cards or just draw colorful pictures. Relatives, friends and especially elderly folks cherish youngsters' handmade efforts. Keep a list of names and addresses and add to it as needed.

• 3-4 weeks

  _____Shop for gifts and non-grocery items, such as decorative napkins.--The time needed for this greatly depends on the holiday. For example, you might begin Christmas shopping two months before he actual holiday. However, for the Fourth of July, you might run this errand the day before--or not at all.

  Watch for sales and coupons.

  _____Bake--Cook ahead and freeze as much as possible. This is a fun part of any celebration which both children and we adults enjoy. If we wait too long, this important activity may get shoved aside.

  _____Plan holiday fun--Find the stories, games, crafts, etc. that you want to share with the children. Include family traditions.

  For example, at Christmas we always read at least several stories about the birth of Christ, make ornaments and try to attend a holiday musical. (Attach or list where to find event information, possible dates, materials needed, etc.)

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• 1-3 weeks

  _____Decorate--Exciting for all! Ask for help as needed.

  _____Plan Special Family Meal. (Enter cookbook page numbers or find recipes and attach.)

  Entree_______________________________________________________

  Sides_______________________Vegetables__________________________

  Desserts________________________________________________________

  Drinks_____________________________Other________________________

• 3 days-1 week

  _____Clean house--Get this out of the way. Notify everyone ahead of time to plan on an hour (or whatever) of group effort. Have assignments written on a chalkboard or slips of paper. Each chore must be completed and crossed off.

  _____Shop for groceries.

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A month or so before each of the homeschool holidays, copy and post this homeschool holidays worksheet. Put it somewhere convenient but inconspicuous, i.e., side of the refrigerator.

Write down items as soon as you think of anything you need.

Don't forget staples: sugar, salt, napkins, etc.

Jot down where to locate the recipes and activities. If possible, staple them to this master list. If the instructions are in books, make copies and attach them. Having all the information in the same place to simplify the whole process.

Use the back for further notes.

If time permits, invite another child or two to do the baking or crafts. At Christmas time each year, friends of ours have a girls' party to make gingerbread houses. The get-together is a highlight of the season.

Planning is the key to holiday fun. Enlist the family to offer ideas and help as much as possible.

Support Group: Party Checklist

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