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You are here: Home / Homeschool / Fifteen Ideas for a “Mental Health” Day

Fifteen Ideas for a “Mental Health” Day

December 28, 2010 By Kris Bales · Disclosure: This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. {I may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.}

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I used to know a girl whose mom would let her take up to three “mental health” days per year.  The girl could take the day off from school, with a written excuse from mom, if she needed a break.  There were stipulations, like she couldn’t have any major assignments due or be missing a test, but if it were just a pretty ordinary school day, she could take off.

I think we all need days like that sometimes — whether it’s us or our kids — but doing so can often leave Mom feeling guilty. So, I’d like to suggest some productive-but-not-text-book-related ideas for those days when everyone could just use a break:

  1. Watch a documentary.  (science, history, nature study)
  2. Watch The Magic School Bus.  (science)
  3. Go outside and play.  (P.E.)
  4. Clean house.  (life skills, cooperation, problem solving)
  5. Bake together.  (home economics, math, reading, following direction)
  6. Plan next week’s menu.  (home economics, health/nutrition)
  7. Take your menu and go grocery shopping.  (economics, comparison shopping, personal finance)
  8. Go on a nature walk.  (science, nature study, art)
  9. Paint, make collages, sculpt with clay, make crafts. (art)
  10. Cuddle up in bed and read together.  (reading)
  11. Build with Lego’s, Kinex, Lincoln Logs, blocks. (spatial reasoning)
  12. Write a letter to a relative or friend.  (writing, reading, spelling)
  13. Build a sugar cube tower 5 feet high — yes, I saw that on The Biggest Loser. (spatial reasoning, problem-solving skills)
  14. Spin the globe, select a random country, and look it up on the Internet or in an Encyclopedia. (geography, research skills, reading)
  15. If they’re old enough, let the kids cook the day’s meals. (home economics, life skills, health, and nutrition)

What ideas would you include for a guilt-free break from your regular studies?

Kris is the sweet-tea-drinking, classically eclectic, slightly Charlotte Mason mom to her three Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers and the woman who refused to be Eclipsed by obesity any longer.

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Filed Under: Family Time, Homeschool

About Kris Bales

Kris Bales is the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest voice that founded Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She and her husband are parents of three amazing homeschool grads. Kris has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. She also seems intent on becoming the crazy cat lady long before she's old and alone.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carletta says

    December 28, 2010 at 8:08 am

    For me, a true mental health day would involve letting the kids do their own thing. They are learning 365 days a year, even when there aren’t any activities planned, so taking a beak 3 times a year, once a month or even once a week should involve no guilt whatsoever – especially at younger ages.

    Reply
  2. Kara says

    December 28, 2010 at 10:20 am

    I’ve done many of these on those days we just need a break. Sometimes with the grocery list we divide it up into the food groups for a nutrition lesson. We play store to practice math, etc. Great list!

    Reply
  3. Joy says

    December 28, 2010 at 11:24 am

    Love the suggestions! I think I could use a few of those Mental Health days throughout the year! LOL Thanks for joining in on the Hip Homeschool Hop!

    Reply
  4. Amy Morgan says

    December 28, 2010 at 11:52 am

    Great suggestions.

    That is the best part of homeschooling. Even when you are not “teaching” you are teaching some of the most important things.

    Have a wonderful day and God Bless!

    Reply
  5. Samantha says

    December 29, 2010 at 12:11 pm

    Field trips, field trips, field trips! A great mental health day can be spent at the local science center or zoo (our two favorite destinations). Or, the day can just be pure fun like a day out bowling and an inexpensive lunch out. Sometimes just getting out of the house is needed to recharge!

    Samantha

    Reply
  6. Dee says

    December 29, 2010 at 9:39 pm

    Love this list! Going to have to put some of these into practice in our homeschool!!

    Reply
  7. Jimmie says

    December 29, 2010 at 11:33 pm

    Only 3? 🙂 I think we do more than that. But that’s the beauty of homeschooling.

    Reply
  8. Natalie says

    September 10, 2011 at 3:11 am

    Next year we won’t be homeschooling my eldest, but I am concerned it will be tough for him. I think scheduling a day off now and then for him, especially with ideas like this, could be just what we all need to help the transition along.

    Thanks!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Tweets that mention Fifteen Ideas for a “Mental Health” Day (New Blog Post) -- Topsy.com says:
    December 28, 2010 at 9:23 am

    […] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kela Nellums, Homeschool Classroom. Homeschool Classroom said: Fifteen Ideas for a “Mental Health” Day http://goo.gl/fb/oXLOs (New Blog Post) […]

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  2. Sunday Link Roundup For January 2 says:
    January 2, 2011 at 7:07 am

    […] Fifteen Ideas For A Mental Health Day […]

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