Downtime
There is a prevalent old myth about homeschoolers: we’re weird, we don’t know how to socialize with others, and we spend vast amounts of time alone. Just typing it out makes me laugh.
This may have been true for pockets of homeschooling families decades ago, when home education was still a novelty and community resources were next to zero. But any modern-day homeschooler can tell you, opportunities abound for homeschooled children.
From cooperatives to playdates, book clubs to scouts groups, city sports to volunteer activities, and the myriad of classes offered online and in-person by science centers, nature centers, art museums, libraries, and more, it’s more likely today for homeschool families to feel overscheduled than it is for them to feel isolated.
And it’s precisely for this reason that regardless of the whys or how of your homeschooling approach, incorporating downtime is essential for both you and your children.
What is Downtime?
Downtime is time intentionally left open, unscheduled, and unstructured for the purpose of winding down and relaxing.
If it’s your downtime, sit back and enjoy a cup of tea, listen to a chapter of your current audio book, or just put your feet up and BREATHE.
If it’s downtime for your child, they can do all of the above as well as whatever else they like to do when they don’t have anything they have to do. My 10-yr-old likes to spend his down time making weapons out of cardboard and duct tape. My 8-yr-old parks himself on the couch and reeeeads. My 12-yr-old likes to draw cartoons and phone his friends. And my 6-yr-old likes to grab his bike and ride around the neighborhood.
Benefits of Downtime
Downtime allows both the brain and body a chance to rest and recharge.
Downtime has been shown to replenish the brain’s attention and primes it for better productivity and creativity. When our minds are allowed to wander, our brains revisit experiences, replay conversations, and process new information, building new connections and neural pathways along the way.
For young children especially, downtime allows more opportunity for unstructured free-play, which boosts creativity, imagination, and social development.
One of the benefits I’ve enjoyed most from downtime is the increased opportunity for family time. With less days dedicated to doing “stuff”, I have more time to actually hang out with my kids and get to know them.
Incorporating Downtime into Your Homeschool Routine
There are two ways to start getting more downtime in your life (I like to do both!). Nether one are particularly difficult to do but if you’re used to always being on the go, it may take some scaling back and vigilance in protecting your downtime.
Enjoy a bit of downtime every day.
See where you can dedicate downtime for your family every day. Maybe it’s 30 minutes after breakfast. Or the hour before bedtime begins. Maybe you set a rule that it’s free-time every day after 5pm.
Dedicate downtime days each week.
You can also dedicate entire days of the week that are intentionally left open and unscheduled. It kind of serves the same purpose as the weekend does for those working Monday-Friday. Days OFF from classes, meetups, cooperatives, and all the other stuff so your family can simply wind down, relax and enjoy each other’s company.