You may have heard of “summer slide” when those summer months cause kids to lose all that information and knowledge they acquired during the school year. But even shorter breaks can cause education rifts for students, too.
Not to worry. Parents can dampen this effect by making sure kids use their brains over the holidays. The only requirement? Make it fun.
Here are a few ideas to help keep children’s brains busy during holiday breaks:
Study buddies
Whether children pair up with just one friend or an entire crowd, consider making studying a social event. Add some festivity to the affair by serving snacks and desserts.
Around the holidays, parents might even include a themed gift exchange for added appeal.
For kids who are between semesters, there may not be any official studying to do, but kids can keep their minds moving with supplemental learning. For example, if children studied “As I Lay Dying” in school, it could be turned into a movie night, inviting friends over for some drama and popcorn.
Fun learning tools
Consider online learning tools that use creative techniques to engage students.
“Even if it’s not 100 percent related to what your child is studying, fun tools and content can spark new interests,” said David Siminoff, founder and chief creative officer of Shmoop, an online education company.
That could include something like Shmoop’s “Shakespearean Translator” that translates anything someone types into “super authentic Shakespearean English.”
Educational videos
It’s no surprise that kids love television and movies. So why not mimic the experience with educational videos?
Whether it’s a historical documentary or a math-oriented instruction video, the audiovisual format is a great vessel for many learners, especially those on vacation.
Incentivize
For students who need motivation beyond the pursuit of knowledge or the satisfaction of better grades, consider a rewards system.
Offering prizes for books read or lessons completed could be just the encouragement needed to get kids focused on academics over the holidays.
The holiday season is not necessarily a time to be bored by schoolwork. But it’s also no excuse to shut down all brain function.
– StatePoint
