As a retired educator, Tanner Bourdon empathizes with parents looking to keep their children focused on their studies. When you combine the countless digital distractions with the various breaks throughout the school year, it can be difficult for kids to keep their educational momentum throughout the school year. Today, Tanner Bourdon will provide a few tips and tricks for parents looking to keep their kids engaged in learning during the holiday break. It’s important to note that the advice of Tanner Bourdon focuses on keeping education fun. The best learning philosophies are ones that create a love of learning that will continue long after a child leaves the classroom.
One of the best things any parent can cultivate in their child is a love of reading. When kids read for fun, they support their cognitive development and improve their language skills. Tanner Bourdon loved reading to his kids when they were little and believes it helped create a stronger bond between him and the children. Tanner Bourdon believes reading to younger kids can help unlock their imagination and creativity. Of course, the subject of the book matters. Parents should do their best to find books that feature topics that are of particular interest to their child. Later in life, kids will find that books cannot only help keep their brains sharp but provide a much-needed break from the stresses of daily life.
The holidays are a time of gathering for friends and family alike. Tanner Bourdon knows this usually means some baking will take place throughout the holiday break. Getting kids involved in baking is a great way to practice math. Those ready for fractions can take their time measuring out butter, milk and other ingredients and get a real-life feel for how fractions are measured correctly. Another great holiday activity is to have the kids help out with thank-you notes. Whether the grandparents went overboard on their gifts, or you just have some teachers in your child’s life who deserve a little extra gratitude, thank-you notes not only teach gratitude but also help kids work on their penmanship, grammar and spelling skills.
One of the most important aspects of keeping a child sharp for their return to school is to maintain their typical bedtime schedule. Sleep is one of the most important parts of brain development for a child. The holidays get busy, and it is easy to fall out of a typical routine. Tanner Bourdon says students who have a bedtime structure in place will allow themselves to fully reach their educational potential.
Finally, Tanner Bourdon recommends that parents seek out educational opportunities in the daily routines of their children. For instance, a lot of road trips occur during the holidays. Kids can pass the time by counting how many cars of a certain color they see or counting the numbers of different states on the license plates they pass. There are countless opportunities to make learning fun. Families that take the time to capitalize on these opportunities put their children in a great spot for future success!
