Your kids are home from school for their holiday break and they couldn’t be more excited. Maybe you’re excited too (because now you don’t have to wake up as early) but are still worried that they will forget everything they learned so far this year.
We spoke with Nancy Buyle, School Safety/Student Assistance Consultant for the Macomb Intermediate School District who gave us some great tips for parents in Macomb County to implement.
How to keep your kids motivated during holiday break
“I think one of the first things to realize about motivation is that ‘motivation grows by doing,’ meaning doing small things or breaking down a project into steps and starting with one thing will produce the momentum to do more,” says Buyle. “A lot of people procrastinate and say they are waiting to get motivated. They will be waiting a long time because motivation builds by doing.”
It may seem like a good idea to let your kids sleep in over break and do nothing all day, but in reality, you may be doing more harm than helping them.
“I think one of the most important things parents can do to set up success for their children is to create routines and get organized,” she says.
This can look different for various ages, so we have broken down some ideas for parents to try with their children by grade.
Give your preschooler some winter break responsibilities
Just because your child is in preschool, does not mean that they shouldn’t be given some type of responsibility at home.
“Parents can involve preschoolers in everyday chores,” says Buyle. “If you need to get the dishes done, or any housework, involve the children as much as you can. We are intrinsically built to be of service to others so when a child can feel as if their assistance is needed and appreciated, they will be more motivated to continue to be a helper.”
Another easy way to make your preschoolers feel needed is to do crafts with them.
“Help them make a card for a family member and then encourage them to ‘read’ or tell the person about it,” she says.
Follow the interests of your elementary or middle school child
“Parents should think of activities they can do as a family such as game nights or cooking or baking a dish,” says Buyle. “If the child seems uninterested and unmotivated, parents can just start doing an activity they’re interested in.”
This may just depend on your child as well. If you have a child that seems to be shyer, you may have a hard time getting them out of their comfort zone. Start with a small activity and work your way up to the bigger ones.
“If you are in a position to let your children plan a friend night, that may help them get motivated,” she says. “Also, you can have them be the chef and you could have a restaurant style meal as a family. This is fun and it provides an opportunity for children to be of service in a fun way to others and that grows motivation.”
If you have multiple-grade children (including a middle schooler and elementary schooler), you may be able to have the older sibling create a game or activity for the younger child to do.
“Middle school students are finding their own unique style and often have very creative ways to show us who they are becoming,” says Buyle. “They may really like to express themselves through creating a board game they have to teach someone else.”
You could do something similar with high schoolers such as creating a game or you can bump it up a notch like having them plan an escape room or mystery dinner.
“They could create the clues and run the night,” she explains. “This is a way to learn and not realize you are learning. They are building their critical thinking skills as well.”
These types of activities help keep learning active through breaks because it builds their critical thinking skills like logic, analysis, planning, etc.
Give your high school-aged kid a unique task or challenge
“If you have teenagers that drive, asking them to ‘do you a favor’ and run an errand for you is a good way to get them feeling like they are needed and part of the family,” says Buyle.
How to create a smooth transition back to school after winter break
Once the break is over, your children will have to get back in the habit of waking up early and being back in school for 7-plus hours a day. In order to create a smooth transition, parents should keep an open line of communication with their children’s teachers.
“Help your children understand that you and their teacher are partners with them in their learning,” says Buyle.
If your child has an assignment to complete during the break, reach out to teachers as soon as possible with any questions. Try not to wait until the last minute before school is about to begin.
Also, it does help if you have a homework space in your house for your children.
“Having a designated space to do homework that is clutter-free will help keep the mind sharp and focused on the work that needs to be done,” she explains. “Also, doing homework at the same time every day, eating family dinner at around the same time and creating a bedtime routine will help the brain settle down for some productive and regenerative sleep. And remember to limit the screen time for kids of all ages! Our brains need some down time.”
For more information on living and learning in Macomb County, visit Make Macomb Your Home. Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s A Family Guide to Macomb County.
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