Winter break is right around the corner and it’s time to start planning! All children (and teachers!) are excited to have some downtime to spend with friends and family. Here are some helpful tips to keep your child’s mind active and sharp and have a productive winter break.
Create a new experience
The holiday season is one for traditions but it can also be a time to create new experiences for your family. From light displays to holiday performances VisitMaryland.org has a wide verity of events that can start a new family tradition.
Make holiday cards
Spread some holiday cheer by making holiday cards for friends and family. You can make a day of it and go to the craft store to get supplies to make the cards extra festive and creative. This is a great way for students to put their writing skills to good use. Don’t forget to have your child write thank you notes after the holidays are over as well.
Volunteer
During the holiday season, there are so many opportunities to volunteer – and spread some holiday cheer! Soup kitchens and animal shelters are always looking for people to volunteer their time. Another way to volunteer could be to adopt a family. The United Way has many different ways of giving back to your community during the holiday season.
Reflect
This downtime is a great opportunity to sit down with your child to reflect on all of the accomplishments they have made during the first semester of school. Think back to the beginning of the school year and make concrete examples of what they have learned and why it was important. Have your child reflect back on what they did well, the challenges they faced and what they can improve on. This can have a positive impact on your child’s learning and confidence!
Set goals
Once your child has reflected on their first semester, have them write down goals for the second semester. The goals can be academic and/or personal. Think of specific and attainable goals that your child can reach by the end of the school year. Remind them that reaching their goals requires action, so brainstorm some ideas to help your child reach their goal. Throughout the second semester, check in with your child to see how they are doing! If you need some help with goal setting, contact us today!
How will you help your kids have a productive winter break?
Natalie Mangrum is the founder and CEO of Maryland Teacher Tutors. She is a reading specialist with a bachelors in elementary education and masters in education. As a parent to two young adults, and prior teacher, Natalie knows all too well the benefits of one-on-one tutoring and coaching for students. Her mission is to ensure that every aspect of MTT is done in a spirit of excellence! She enjoys alleviating the concerns of parents so they can breathe easy knowing their children are in good hands!
