As the school days grow shorter and children prepare for the winter break, many kids’ attention spans start to drift. As parents, there are ways to help keep your little learners excited about writing and reading, even when their brains are already in vacation mode. By scheduling time for learning activities and a few creative ideas to keep it fun, this time outside the classroom can still be full of reading and writing growth.
Winter Warm-Up
Keep their skills sharp this season by creating a winter break work routine. You can make a calendar and keep it somewhere everyone can see, and include a learning activity or small assignment to complete daily. These can be as simple as 30 minutes of reading or journaling, or you can add enriching field trips to local museums or the library. Schedules help kids stay on track and ensure everything they have learned stays fresh.
Real Life Practice
Words are all around us in everyday life, so your children can get practice by helping with household errands or activities. Spend time preparing meals together, and have them read the grocery list and cooking instructions. This will introduce them to new words and give them practice in following directions, an essential skill in the classroom. You can also have them write holiday cards or thank-you notes. It’s a practical way to get more writing experience and helps drive home the importance of gratitude.
Bring Books on the Road
If you’re going on a family vacation or day trip over the break, bring books along for the ride. One of the best options is an audiobook. You can pick out a story as a group, and the kids will enjoy listening to the actors read the parts while they listen along. This is a great way to enjoy storytelling together and gives them an example of what animated reading out loud sounds like.
Just because school is out for the winter, it doesn’t mean there has to be a deep freeze on your children’s reading and writing progress. By setting time aside for learning and keeping things fun, your little learners will see storytime as another perk of the holiday break.
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