What Can Parents Do with Their Kids Over the Holiday Break?

-Ms. Lynsey Fleck, Instructional Coach 

Keeping Learning Going Over Break
While the holiday break is wonderful and all of the relaxing is great, having a few ideas for structured activities can be really helpful in breaking up the days.  This week we are sharing some ideas for fun activities you can do at home to keep your children’s skills fresh while they are away from school.

Making 10 Card Game
This game is played with two decks of cards.  Make sure all face cards are taken out of each deck so that there are only aces (ones) through 10s in each deck.  Start by giving each player one deck of cards.  Have each player lay out the top four cards out, in a row, with both players rows side by side.  Players take turns finding combinations of 2, 3, or 4 cards that can be put together to make 10.  Once one player makes a combination, he/she keeps the cards used.  Both players replace the removed cards in their row from their decks after a combination is made and taken by a player.  Players continue to alternate and take turns until they’ve played all cards.  At that point, each player counts his/her cards.  The person with the most cards is the winner.

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Divide and Sort
This can be done while decorating cookies, gingerbread houses, or doing other holiday activities.  Choose a variety of decorating candy items (gumdrops, nonpareils, M&Ms, etc.)  Ask your child to count out a given total of each item (Example: 20).  Then have him/her split the total equally into several bowls, containers, or piles (Example: Put equal amounts in each of the 4 containers).  This provides a great opportunity to practice both counting and splitting items into equal groups.

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Read Aloud Stories
One of the simplest ways to keep your child’s literacy skills fresh is to read aloud to him/her, have him/her read to you, or have older siblings read to younger siblings for 10-15 minutes each day.  This little bit of daily practice will help your child come back to school fresh and ready to pick up with literacy learning where he/she left off.

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Thank-You Letters
Oftentimes children receive gifts from friends and family members during the holidays.  A great way to practice writing skills, as well as gratitude, is to have your children write thank you notes or letters to those from whom they receive gifts.  The length of the note or letter can vary; younger children can simply copy the words “Thank you” from a written sample you give them, or just sign their names, and older children can write a few sentences and practice signing their names in cursive.