It’s The Holidays: But Don’t Let Your Kid’s Brain Go On Vacation | Top 5 Tips for Keeping Kids Thinking During the Holiday Break

They’ve spent the first semester of school learning a world of new concepts and skills. But, 21 days out of the classroom can be a setback for some kids. Jan Van Blarcum, founder of Creative Tutors, says there are fun activities for families that will keep kids actively learning while they enjoy a break from the traditional classroom setting.

 Here’s the short list of fun activities for the winter break.

• Read for pleasure. Encourage your child to spend 45 minutes reading each day. Fifteen minutes alone and 30 minutes with a parent or grandparent. Ideas/Visuals: Best-selling books, popular magazines, like Sports Illustrated and Tiger Beat.
• Practice multiplication. Or addition and subtraction, if the child is younger. All math is done more efficiently when these facts are committed to memory — and it takes practice. Ideas/Visuals: Math card games, dice games, math quiz web sites.
• Write in a journal. Buy a cool journal and suggest your child write about his holiday break, as well as any goals, dreams, fantasies or problems he or she may have. Drawing is another great way to express feelings in a journal. Ideas/Visuals: A journal and pen.
• Play educational games. Turn off the TV and have fun with words and numbers. Ideas/Visuals: Word search books, crossword puzzles, Scrabble, card games, Sudoku, Rubix Cube.
• Slow down and enjoy life. Decide what events are really important — and skip the rest. Stay home and re-group as a family. Talk about your hopes and plans for 2010. Play board games, snuggle by the fireplace, and tell stories from the past.