8 tips to keep the kids engaged during winter break

Encourage kids to read every day. Encourage reading on their devices by asking them to find out about current events, research holiday traditions, or take a deeper dive into their favorite hobbies. Introduce family favorites related to the holidays. Encourage family to give books as gifts.

Involve them in after the holiday shopping. Teach children the importance of a budget and how to stick to it. How do sale prices affect the budget? Let them help with online shopping to sharpen those research and computer skills.

Keep kids active and introduce the idea of “earning” screen time. Exercising daily and getting outdoors when the weather allows will help to keep them off the electronics.

Ask them to find a fun activity you can all do together, like visiting the aquarium or a museum.

Encourage healthy eating habits. ‘Tis the season of sweets – maintaining a healthy and balanced diet with occasional treats will help kids stay healthy during a time when many treats are offered and the regular meal routines may be off.

Write “thank you” notes to friends and family. Keep writing and spelling skills fresh and check something off the to-do list at the same time.

Engage children in cooking and baking. Measuring and following a recipe is great practice for both math and time management skills and kids are more likely to try new things if they’ve been involved in the cooking or baking.

Don’t forget to get some rest. Set students up for success upon returning to school by imposing a regular bedtime/sleep schedule the last few days of vacation.

And, if you need to get out of the house, check our Winter Break Guide with all kinds of fun activities.