Parents are often concerned that their child spends school vacations either sleeping or staring at a screen. Here are 4 strategies for keeping kids engaged over the winter break!
1. Promote a healthy sleep schedule.
As we’ve said before on our blog, there’s certainly nothing wrong with sleeping in (or staying up late) from time to time! After all, it is winter break – and many kids look forward to a more “lax” schedule. With this in mind, it’s still important for students not to subject themselves to a drastic shift in their sleeping schedule right before returning to school.
For those students who enjoy late nights, we recommend gradually transitioning back into a regular sleeping schedule at least a week before winter break ends. This should give students enough time to become readjusted before they return to school!
For more information, check out 3 Tips to Help Students Get A Good Night’s Sleep!
2. Help plan for assignments.
Perhaps the most common sources of stress over winter break are last-minute assignments. For this reason, we highly recommend parents work with their child to create a personalized “winter break agenda.”
Many students will be tasked with large projects over the holiday vacation – we’ve seen everything – poster boards, scale models, lengthy essays, science projects, and more.
The best way to avoid procrastination? Plan ahead! Check out Tutor Doctor’s tips for creating a holiday schedule that works for your student:
- How to Create a Planner that Works for You
- How to Make the Most of Winter Break
- The Best Way to Balance Study and Fun Over the Holidays
3. Encourage educational screen time.
There’s no getting around it – technology is an essential part of our lives. And as much as we all enjoy scrolling through social media posts and watching funny YouTube videos, it’s important not to go… overboard.
This is especially applicable to students trying to fill their newfound free time over lengthy holiday breaks. Not surprisingly, this scenario is an extremely common concern we frequently hear from parents this time of the year!
Our best recommendation is to set healthy limits on “leisure” screen time and encourage positive screen time. Educational content, documentaries, and even video games can all provide academic benefits to students! For some great suggestions on engaging virtual content, check out the links below:
- Not All Screen Time Is Bad For Your Kids – Here’s Why
- Balancing Your Child’s Screen Time During the Holidays
- Our Top 3 Educational Documentaries for Kids of All Ages
- 5 Great Movies That Bring History to Life
- 4 Awesome (and Educational) YouTube Channels for Elementary and Middle School Students
4. Organize stimulating activities.
Perhaps the best way of encouraging kids to limit screen time is to provide alternative screen-free activities! The holiday break is an excellent time to organize family activities – both in your own home as well as in your community:
We also understand that many parents are busy during the holiday season and may not be able to organize daily activities. Not to worry! We’ve also some some fantastic suggestions for engaging, independent activities your kids will love:
- Fun Winter Break Activities for Kids
- Awesome STEM Gifts to Surprise Your Kids for the Holidays
- Best Christmas Books for Elementary School Students
