5 Educational Activities Over Winter Break

When kids are out of school for their winter break, somehow it can seem that their abilities to learn and retain knowledge is challenged when they are enjoying a break from school. Take the opportunity to stimulate their minds and encourage learning while the kids enjoy some fun activities during their winter break.

Visit Local Historical Sites

My kids enjoy history almost as much as I do so making a visit to a local historical site or historical museum is a treat that offers fun and learning for us. Check around to see what is available in your area then schedule private tours or simple drop-in visits over the winter break. You might be surprised at what interests this will stimulate in your kids.

Make Crafts

Most kids love to make crafts and you can slip some learning in with the fun of crafting easily enough. Perhaps you can find a craft that you saw upon a visit to a historical museum (many such places sell period craft kits). There are a number of holidays in January that lend well to learning crafts -- Presidential crafts, Chinese New Year crafts (which is usually in January or February) and historical crafts would all be good choices.

Combine some science learning with seasonal crafting by making paper snowflakes. Go online with your kids and learn about the science of snow and snowflakes while you cut out and create your own snowflakes.

Cooking

Cooking together is a fun family activity but it is also educational. Learning to follow a recipe and cook simple meals is something that kids need to learn as it will help them in the years to go. Plan some time during winter break to cook together. Try a new recipe or experiment with creating a new recipe. This helps kids learn reading comprehension, how to follow directions, measurements and if you want to take it a step further, do some online reading about the science of cooking - why certain ingredients react certain ways, how heat causes a reaction and the like.

Search for kitchen science projects to work on in addition to the cooking.

Visit the Library

Libraries aren't just about books these days and if you haven't visited your local library recently, make the time during winter break. Many libraries offer educational community programs on a variety of topics (crafts, art, local history, special interests) and your library may be holding some special events during the break. If nothing else, take the opportunity to check out a few good books.

Read

One of the best educational activities that anyone can enjoy is to simply read. Read a favorite book, start a new series, read short stories, read poetry. While visiting your library, help your child choose some great new books to spend time with while on break. Point out a favorite or two from your own childhood but encourage your son or daughter to develop their own tastes and pursue those.