Pull out craft supplies like clay or watercolors. Make it seem fun! Fill a basket with your kids’ favorite books.When your kids see you doing something quietly (for pleasure) they will be more likely to get into it. Pick up a book, your journal, knitting, lie on the couch and close your eyes. Have your kids help create the space and choose where they would like to spend their quiet time.This can be as simple as a pile of pillows on the floor. Space is important- Make sure there are cozy places in your home to sit, dream, read, and draw.I break our no-tech rule here since we’ve been going without tech all day and everyone needs to zone out. A mid-day break in the hotel room is important when we are traveling overseas or going strong at amusement parks.A quiet walk around the block or to a park can settle nerves and offer downtime. Quietly reading books together helps everyone transition to sleep. Bedtime routines are extra important when vacationing with younger children.While quiet time on vacation can get a little tricky, we’ve found a few things to be really helpful. We’ll also get grumpy kids if they watch screens the 12 hours it takes to get to Grandma’s or have unlimited screen time once we get there. The last thing any of us want on vacation is a grumpy family! I’ve learned if we go go go, that’s just what we’ll get. I am sometimes on my computer writing during my quiet time but if a child wants to write on the computer they know I will happily make an exception as long as they are just writing.) On Vacation Downtime (I will admit this rule is for kids only. When their limit is reached, there are of course hundreds of things they can do (which I sometimes have to remind them of…) and one of those things is to find a cozy place and do something quiet. Our kids have a certain number of hours they can get on their various screens. In our home, downtime means no screen time. While I don’t have set times for home downtime like I might in our homeschool day, it seems to naturally occur when screens go off. School breaks, vacations, even weekends, these times need quiet time too. It should be pleasurable and relaxing not stressful. Just make sure there are books your children can and want to read. Independent reading time and quiet time go hand in hand. Homeschool downtime can also do double duty. Despite many a misconception about homeschoolers being unsocial, the homeschoolers I know and raise are VERY social and their days are often filled to the brim with activities. Homeschool downtime of course also serves the learner. Like good bread, it helps me sandwich all the attention and time I’m spending with my homeschoolers gently so I can be present with them. I take mine before and after our learning time. It can be a lot to be around your kids all day long.
Homeschool parents don’t get a planning period or lunch without kids. For my husband, quiet time happens when all of us are asleep and often include scary movies or music, and for me, downtime is time alone with my thoughts, book, or journal. For my children, it might involve an audiobook, playing Legos, or getting out craft supplies. Our whole family functions much better when we have time dedicated to slowing down, unplugging, and quiet.ĭowntime looks and sounds different for each person. A decade worth of practice later, naptimes way behind us, I continue to seek and need quiet time and my kids continue to need it too.
I believed in multitasking and that if I tried hard enough, I could “get it all done.” Burnout came quickly and along with it came resentment and a slew of other feelings that made the first two years of motherhood extra challenging. When I had my first child, I ignored the advice to rest when he napped or played quietly. Why Your Brain Needs More Downtime, Scientific American Research on naps, meditation, nature walks and the habits of exceptional artists and athletes reveals how mental breaks increase productivity, replenish attention, solidify memories and encourage creativity. I only recommend the resources we love and use. Unless noted, if I am reviewing a product, I have been compensated for my time. If you click through and make a purchase, I earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Disclosure- Links in this post may be affiliate links.
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