Turning toward Winter: Learning with the Seasons
Welcome to the Unschooling Mom2Mom Podcast, where I bring you 10-minute unschooling pep talks to show you how unschooling really does work. I’m
Sue Patterson, and my three unschooled kids are all in their 30s now. I have so much to share with you - what worked and what didn’t, and how you can individualize it for your kids an your family.
The shownotes have more resource links, if you want more support from me - I’m happy to help you!
Winter Solstice
Today, as the sun sets on the shortest day of the year, let’s take a moment to reflect. The Winter Solstice reminds us that even in the darkest days, there is beauty, change, and the promise of light.
As unschoolers, this seasonal rhythm can be a powerful scaffold for learning—a way to anchor curiosity and discovery in the natural flow of life.
Let’s talk about how you can use winter as a framework for your children’s learning and how my 71-page Winter Unschooling Guide can help you spark creativity and confidence along the way.
Seasons as Scaffolding
There’s something magical about the seasons, isn’t there? They’re like nature’s way of offering us a curriculum—one that doesn’t come in a textbook but is rich with lessons nonetheless. Winter invites us to slow down, to cozy up, and to explore in different ways. The cold and quiet might initially feel limiting, but really, it’s an opportunity to shift gears and embrace a new rhythm.
For unschoolers, seasons can become a natural structure for learning. Instead of relying on artificial divisions like grade levels or subjects, we can lean into what’s happening in the world around us.
What better way to learn than by observing and participating in the cycles of nature?
Acknowledging the Fear
Now, I know that some of you might still feel a little anxious.
Maybe you’re wondering,
“How do I know they’re learning enough? How do I make sure we’re covering everything?”
These fears are so normal, especially if you’re just beginning your unschooling journey.
That’s why I created the Winter Unschooling Guide.
It’s not just a list of activities; it’s a way to show yourself that learning is happening organically, even when you’re not following a rigid curriculum. Sometimes breaking things down into subjects can be helpful, not because we think life fits neatly into those boxes, but because it can be reassuring to see how much your kids are exploring and discovering.
For example, your child building a snow fort? That’s engineering.
Baking cookies? Chemistry and math.
Watching how the snow reflects the moonlight? Physics and art.
It’s all there when you look at it through a different lens.
Highlights from the Winter Unschooling Guide
The
Winter Unschooling Guide is packed with ideas to inspire you and your kids. In addition to looking at winter holidays, we’ll also look at so many activities that fall naturally into categories like It’s divided into categories like math, language arts, science, history, art. And so many of the activities overlap - because that’s what happens in real life. When kids are noticing frost crystals on the windows or experimenting with freezing and thawing different liquids. They’re learning Science.
They dip into social studies when they learn how other cultures have celebrations in the winter months. Learning the history or even the cultural anthropology showing how human connect with the seasons. The Winter Guide gives examples of subjects for 15 different holidays!
Kids learn about language arts by reading myths or legends. And since tonight is the Winter Solstice, maybe you could talk about Norse tales of Yule or Native American stories about the sun. It’s fascinating how cultures interpret celestial events.
When we’re measuring daylight/darkness changes, we’re learning math.
If you talk about the Earth rotation from and then back toward the sun, they’re learning science.
Playing with shadows is both science and art - perfect for this time of year and tying in with nature.
If you’re feeling like you’re running out of ideas to keep things interesting, this Winter Guide is what you need! It’s not that you need to add a bunch more items to your list! You don’t need that! But it’s about noticing what they’re already doing - and SEEING from a different perspective. A different lens. Seeing that the learning is there - without a bunch of worksheets and lesson plans.
And by skipping that, you have the time to notice the curiosity and lean toward the connection. Learning doesn’t have to be forced at all - it can be fostered and nurtured instead.
Turning Toward Winter
As we mark the Winter Solstice, see this as a time of possibility. Just like the sun will begin its slow return, perhaps this season is calling you to turn toward something new in your family’s learning journey.
Instead of resisting the natural flow, lean into it. Let winter guide you to cozy mornings with books and blankets, afternoons of experimenting in the kitchen, and evenings reflecting by the fire or candles. Let it remind you that slowing down doesn’t mean stopping; it means making room for deeper connections and discoveries.
What Next....
If you’re looking for ideas, inspiration, or just a way to organize your thoughts around this season, the
Winter Unschooling Guide is here to help. You don’t have to have all the answers, and you don’t have to do it alone. Let this guide be a tool to help you see the learning that’s already happening all around you.
You can grab your copy by visiting the Unschooling Mom2Mom website. I’ll put a lnk in the notes.
And if you’re already feeling inspired by the solstice, start small: light a candle tonight with your kids. Talk about the sun’s return. Let that tiny flame symbolize the light of learning and curiosity that lives within each of us. Make some hand shadow puppets with flashlights - make it fun!
Thanks for joining me tonight. Remember, this isn’t just about educating your kids; you’re creating a life of wonder and connection with them. And what better season to lean into that than winter?
Until next time, stay curious and warm. Happy Unschooling and Happy Winter Solstice!
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