To your child, winter break may seem like the perfect opportunity to spend all day doing nothing but watching TV. They are most likely not going to want to do homework during their break from school. However, as a parent you may not be happy about your kid doing nothing but passively watching a screen for hours on end.
This holiday season, try to get your child’s brain engaged for even just a few hours a day. Of course, they are most likely not going to want to outright do homework when they could be watching Netflix during times they are usually in a classroom. Here are some fun ways you can incorporate educational activities for every subject into your holiday festivities.
“Wintery” math educational activities
Make your holiday shopping educational by teaching your kids how to make a budget and how to count change. Have them estimate how much your purchase will count, and then count out the change you receive.
You can even take care of decorations and practice math skills by making snowflakes! Take the opportunity to make this classic craft to let your kids learn a little more about symmetry.
Science-related educational activities
Turn your holiday baking into a science lesson! Have your kids practice good scientific methods by measuring everything precisely and making sure they follow the steps accurately. Another yummy science lesson is making this apple cider we found by Emma Vanstone on Science-Sparks.com, which allows for a lesson on filters.
Or, if you want to do a real science experiment, have your kids do a seasonal experiment on why pinecones open, which we found on lemonlimeadventures.com.
Language arts holiday activities
Have your kids keep a journal over the winter break. You don’t have to read their journals if they don’t want you to, as long as they spend about 15 minutes a day exercising the creative part of their brain. Or, they could spend the break writing a winter-themed story. Tie in some artistic skills too by having them illustrate what they’ve written.
Social studies activities for the holidays
With a break from school, this is the perfect time to take your kids to a museum to learn a little bit of local history. If you are in B.C., take a look at the Burnaby Village Museum, the Helmcken House next to the Royal BC Museum, or the Okanagan Heritage Museum, depending on where you live. Or, check out something new on the list of BC museums.
You can also encourage your kids to give back to your community by doing some volunteer work over the holidays. Donate to your local food bank or spend an afternoon volunteering your time together at a soup kitchen. This way, you can help give your kids a sense of appreciation for their community.
Active living during the holidays
And of course, winter break is the perfect time to get active! Exercise has been proven to reduce stress, stimulate the brain, and increase creativity. Take this time to have your kids do classic outdoor winter activities like skating and sledding. Their brains will need a break after a long four months of school, and this is a much more beneficial way to do so than crashing in front of the TV. Their brains will thank them!
Hopefully this gave you some ideas of how to help your kids enjoy their break through winter-related educational activities. Happy Holidays!
