Winter break is here and that means your child may be looking forward to enjoying some snow days. Although winter break is an important time for kids to rest and recharge, you can still encourage some academic learning outside of the classroom.
Reading books during winter vacation not only keeps kids engaged during break, but it is a great way to involve the whole family in some fun activities!
“Learning during break does not have to mirror how it happens in the classroom,” says Deimosa Webber-Bey, Director of Information Services & Cultural Insight at Scholastic Inc. “Winter break is an opportunity to reinforce lessons learned at school with real-life applications, and to engage in independent reading and discovery”.
Here are four winter break activities, family games, and expert tips to keep your kids reading and learning during the holidays.
1. Adapt Their Favorite Book Into a Play
Challenge your kids to produce a dramatic play or short movie based on a book they read this year. They can collaborate with siblings, relatives, or friends to select the story, make a script, put together costumes, build a “set,” and practice their lines. At the end of winter break, your little ones can put together an in-person performance or create a video to share with family and friends.
This is not only a great way for kids to exercise their creativity, but it allows them to practice their literacy skills in an exciting and fun way — from fostering a deep understanding of the plot to putting themselves in the shoes of their favorite character. What’s more, this activity will be sure to keep your family entertained while home for the holidays.
Check out these iconic children’s books that inspired popular movie and television adaptations.
2. Let Kids Choose Their Own Books
To keep your kids reading during winter break, make sure that they have access to books that interest them. According to the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report, 89 percent of kids agree that their favorite books are the ones that they picked out themselves. Plus, nearly nine in 10 kids say they are more likely to finish a book that they chose.
Get some fresh air by planning a trip to your local library and visit The Scholastic Store in your rounds of holiday shopping. Show your kids your favorite authors and genres and explain how you decide what to read next. Modeling reading for fun and teaching them how to discover books that they love is a forever gift!
If you are unsure where to start, try introducing your children to books that make them laugh, stories highlighting diverse characters and experiences, and titles that allow kids to explore the world from home.
3. Reorganize the Home Library
Use this extra time during winter break to rearrange your home library with your kids by author, color, title, or subject. This is the perfect opportunity to audit your current collection, revisit classic favorites, uncover new interests, pick out a few books for storytime, and reignite a love of reading in your kids!
While there is no perfect number of books for the home library, the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report reveals that frequent readers have more books in their homes. If your shelves need a restock, check out the best titles of 2022, our book recommendations for all ages, and timeless classics for the whole family. Or visit your local library to infuse your collection with fresh new titles.
4. Family Read-Aloud Time
Winter break is a great time to snuggle up with a cup of hot chocolate and read books together as a family. Before sending your little one to bed, set aside a few minutes for read-aloud time. Your family will love being able to spend quality time together and create special memories that will last a lifetime.
Interest young readers in a seasonal story or share a sweet picture book featuring their favorite characters, such as Clifford and Peppa Pig. For older readers, dive into a longer chapter book to accomplish finishing together during holiday break.
For more fun winter break indoor activities, check out these on-the-go literacy games and explore reading activities for younger kids.
Shop holiday-themed books to read with your kids during winter break below! You can find all books and activities at The Scholastic Store.
