How to Spot a Homeschooler on Summer Vacation
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Introducing How to Spot a Homeschooler on Summer Vacation
If you read my series, How to Spot a Homeschooler, you know I like to observe and discuss some of the fun and funny ways homeschoolers stand out–for both good and…errr… ‘eccentric’ reasons. I’ve written about How to Spot a Homeschooler by How We Say Hello, How to Spot a Homeschooler by Things We Have in Our Houses, How to Spot a Homeschooler by Our Friendships and so much more!
The point of this series isn’t to stereotype but to look at you (fellow homeschooling people) across the internet, give you a little wink, and laugh together at some of the things we may have in common. We are diverse, yet connected. So, friends: I see you. I get you. We are a proud, “weird” tribe and we’re loving it (most days, right?) Today, we’re going to talk about how to spot a homeschooler on summer break!
Of all the seasons, summer highlights some of the weird and wonderful aspects of homeschoolers the most! This may sound odd to some. After all, summer is the season when public school kids and homeschooled kids have the most similar schedules, right? The playing field is sort of leveled, in that way. At the very least, no one is going to give you suspicious glares for having your children with you at the grocery store in the middle of the day. You’d think, given that, it would be our season to “blend.” In some ways, maybe that’s true!
But if you homeschool, you may have also observed that homeschool summer vacations are diverse, yet distinctive, creatures. Despite the fact that homeschooler families do summer break in all kinds of different ways, there are some undeniable similarities that still manage to emerge. Today, we’re going to talk about some of those similarities as we discuss: How to Spot a Homeschooler on Summer Vacation!
1. “What is Summer Vacation Again?”
One of the main ways how to spot a homeschooler on summer vacation is that they’re not actually on summer vacation (or don’t even know such a thing exists!) Most homeschool families that I know continue some degree of schooling throughout the summer months. Many take a more student-led approach through the summer (more on that later); some keep up with a bit of daily math practice and reading. Others do the same amount of school during the summer as the rest of the year, with occasional breaks for travel plans.
To non-homeschooling families, and especially to public school kids, I know this seems bizarre, even like some horrific, cruel and unusual punishment. However, to homeschool families, it just means things like:
- Being able to take more breaks throughout the year and/or longer breaks from formal schooling over the holidays!
- Slightly more structured summer days (in which school only takes a couple of hours, not all day), which yields better attitudes! (This is a big reason to keep doing some school at my house).
- Not losing ground on academic foundation subjects like reading, writing, and math.
Many people don’t realize that homeschooling through the summer (aka year-round homeschooling) doesn’t mean spending all day at a desk. It means things like: half an hour of daily math review, participating in your library’s summer reading challenge, writing a novel, doing science experiments outside, and going on exciting field trips! But since non-homeschooling people don’t know that, you can still enjoy the look of horror when you reply to the question, “Are you enjoying your summer vacation?” with “Yes, we are having a great summer, but we actually school year round!” Homeschoolers spotted.
2. Boycotters of Boredom
One of the rules of my homeschooling household is that we don’t use or accept the words, “I’m bored,” as an excuse or as a demand to have entertainment provided. If I’m being 100% honest, “bored” is just not something we say!
You need something to do? Check to see that you’ve done the things you have to do (school, clean up room, etc.). If those things are done, find something creative that you get to do: build a fort, draw a picture, listen to a book, play with a sibling, or mess around with those toys you got last Christmas. There are always things to do!
Interestingly, I have discovered that this philosophy, which seems uncommon in our world that is focused on constant stimulation and entertainment, is shared by many of my homeschooling friends! It’s not that we pretend boredom doesn’t exist, it’s that we don’t feed it or cater to it. Instead, we practice transforming boredom into opportunities for play and creativity. “Being bored” (even if you don’t call it that), is an opportunity to get to decide how to fill your free time! It feels like a throwback to a couple of decades ago, when it was deemed more socially okay for kids to just make their own fun.
From my observations, homeschooling kids get a lot of practice figuring out creative ways to fill unplanned time. Thus, they often get really good at knowing how to fill that sort of time. Homeschoolers just don’t really “do” bored, as much as other children who are used to having days, afternoons, and evenings constantly full and planned for them.
I think that’s why I so often hear my friends with kids in public school say things like, “I just don’t know what to do with them all summer. How do you keep them entertained?” (Spoiler: I don’t!)
Maybe that’s why, in summer, this is how to spot a homeschooler on summer vacation: you might see the neighborhood homeschooled kids out in the yard, building a pirate ship, dressed like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (or some similar, gleeful chaos). In a society where parents are pressured to plan social media-worthy activities and extracurriculars non-stop, letting your kids figure out how to boycott their own boredom looks like a messy, weird, chaotic, glorious throwback to times gone by.
3. We Already Know How to Do Life Together 24/7
As soon as public school lets out, I feel like I hear a bunch of my friends say things about their “kids driving them crazy.” Every time I hear this, I think of how it must take some seriously uncomfortable adjustments to get used to being together (and juggling everything and everyone) on what is supposed to be a fun break. I’m sure this is particularly true if one or both parents have a business or are trying to work from home. As a homeschooling mom with some part-time gigs, I truly get how it must be a struggle to adapt.
However, the discomfort of ‘the summer shift’ isn’t something that I experience…because getting used to doing it all together is not a shift for myself or my children. That’s because homeschoolers are already used to doing life, school, and work together. We have had plenty of time and practice with getting used to each other’s quirks, routines, and dynamics. We’ve honed our skills in doing life together 24/7. We stand out during the summer months because homeschoolers’ summer routines and family dynamics are pretty much the same as the rest of the year!
Kids are already used to managing their own projects, playing with their siblings, or exploring their interests while parents juggle work and household responsibilities. We already collectively understand things like the family hierarchy, how to help mom grocery shop, and what the noise level needs to be during the baby’s nap. All of these necessary parts of the homeschool lifestyle carry over seamlessly into summer.
So, on summer vacation, you can spot homeschooling families not driving each other crazy (and by that I mean to say–at least not any more than usual!)
4. Summer is a Deep Dive into Passion Projects
Remember how we discussed that many homeschoolers “do school” in the summer…but in a very student-led way? In summer, kids have so many cool and unique ways to deep dive into their interests and passion projects.
Art camp. Science camp. Children’s theater productions. Nature programs. Library programs.
There are so many wonderful opportunities! What homeschool family can resist making these a part of their child’s homeschool experience? And that is how we see it, too—as an extension of a child’s interests and as a part of our summer homeschool lineup. (Definitely one way you can spot a homeschool parent is the way we view summer camps).
And sure, homeschooling parents are excited about these kinds of specific, educational opportunities, but so are kids! For homeschoolers, summer break often offers a chance to customize learning even more–to deep dive into their passion projects! Homeschoolers don’t see summer as a break from learning; they see it as an opportunity to learn in a different way. Without the regular school schedule, there’s more freedom to pursue interests deeply and intensely, making summer a time of vibrant, self-directed education.
I think one of the most special things about homeschooling is this fantastic and “weird” view of “school” is shared by both parents and children: all learning is connected to life, and all life is hands-on learning. Homeschoolers view learning as a natural part of their lives and, therefore, find it everywhere. Learning is exciting, and in the summer, they have even more opportunities to customize it to their interests! So, here’s how to spot a homeschooler on summer vacation: You can spot us because we know we’re always learning, and we’re happy about it!
Yearlong schooling, creative boycotts against boredom, and knowing how to go with the flow of togetherness…it’s just a few of the weird and wonderful ways how to spot a homeschooler on summer vacation! However, we know that—while we stick out in some of the same ways—we all do this homeschool thing a little bit differently, too!
What are some traditions or highlights of your homeschoolers’ summer vacation? Are there any ways you could “be spotted” as a homeschooler? Drop a comment and let us know!
Katie Gustafson has been a member of the world of “weird, unsocialized homeschoolers” for a long time–first as an alumnus and now as a homeschooling mom to a fiercely fun little girl! She’s very into anything creative, especially writing, dancing, and painting. She’s also particularly passionate about literature and owns more books than she will probably ever be able to read. However, she reassures herself with the belief that, in the event of a digital apocalypse, she’s cultivating a much-needed physical library for future generations. Katie is happy to contribute articles to Weird Unsocialized Homeschoolers, Hip Homeschool Moms and Sparketh. She also has a personal blog on writewhereuare.com.