When the holiday break begins, students can often shift into relaxation mode. This downtime is essential, but it can also be an opportunity for low-pressure learning moments. A short daily activity can help students stay sharp and start January feeling ready for new challenges. Here are twelve simple and effective daily skill boosts that families can weave into the holiday season.
Day 1: Read for Fifteen Minutes
- Why it Works: Consistent reading sessions help maintain vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency, especially during breaks when reading habits often pause. Even small amounts of reading keep the brain engaged and build confidence.
- Examples: A picture book before bed, a chapter of a preferred series, a magazine article about any topic they are interested in, or a graphic novel during a quiet part of the day.
Day 2: Write a Gratitude List
- Why it Works: Writing about gratitude strengthens writing skills, emotional awareness, and reflection. Research has shown that practising gratitude supports resilience and motivation, which can carry over into academic tasks.
- Examples: “Three Things I Loved About Today,” a gratitude jar with slips of paper, or a list of five people they’re thankful for with a reason why.
Day 3: Try a Real-Life Math Moment
- Why it Works: Applying math to real situations helps students understand why it matters and improves number sense. It also keeps math skills fun and active during long breaks.
- Examples: Measuring ingredients while baking, estimating total cost during shopping, comparing sale prices, doubling a recipe, or counting change.
Day 4: Learn a New Vocabulary Word
- Why it Works: Expanding vocabulary helps to strengthen reading comprehension, writing clarity, and self-expression. Learning words in meaningful contexts helps students actually remember them.
- Examples: Open the dictionary and find three words for your child to use in conversation throughout the day, or create a fun sentence or drawing to illustrate the word.
Day 5: Complete a Short Logic Puzzle
- Why it Works: Puzzles exercise problem-solving, pattern recognition, and concentration. They help students practise thinking flexibly and approaching challenges from new angles.
- Examples: Sudoku, crosswords, “Would You Rather?” reasoning questions, riddles, word search, or connecting-the-dots patterns.
Day 6: Organize a Space
- Why it Works: Organization builds executive function skills, which help students plan, prioritize, and work more efficiently. A tidy study space also reduces stress and boosts focus.
- Examples: Cleaning out a backpack, organizing a desk, arranging books by topic, or sorting art supplies into containers.
Day 7: Explore Nature
- Why it Works: Outdoor exploration develops observational skills, scientific thinking, and descriptive language. It also encourages curiosity, which is the core of all learning.
- Examples: Identifying animal tracks in the snow, noticing how leaves or trees have changed in winter, observing cloud shapes, or sketching something found on a walk.
Day 8: Listen to an Educational Podcast or Audiobook
- Why it Works: Listening builds comprehension, vocabulary, and attention span. It also exposes children to new ideas and allows them to learn while relaxing or doing other activities.
- Examples: A children’s science podcast, a mystery-themed audiobook during car rides, or a short story podcast. See our recent blog forrecommendations.
Day 9: Write a Letter or Card
- Why it Works: Letter writing improves sentence structure, organization, and creative writing. It also helps children develop empathy and communication skills.
- Examples: Writing to a grandparent, creating a holiday card for a friend, or making a “thank you” note for a teacher or coach.
Day 10: Try a Creative Challenge
- Why it Works: Creative play builds critical thinking, imagination, and problem-solving. When students create something new, they feel a sense of accomplishment and develop confidence.
- Examples: Writing a short poem, building a LEGO® model that represents something they love, or making a simple craft from household items.
Day 11: Practise a Study Skill
- Why it Works: Low-pressure practise helps students build study habits without stress. It reinforces material they have already learned and helps them start January feeling ready.
- Examples: Reviewing multiplication facts with flashcards, organizing notes from the fall, practising writing a short essay, or teaching a parent something they learned in class.
Day 12: Set One Goal for the New Year
- Why it Works: Setting a simple, achievable goal increases motivation and gives students a sense of direction. Goals help children feel ownership of their learning and build confidence as they make progress.
- Examples: “I will read for ten minutes each day,” “I will ask three questions in class each week,” or “I will keep my binders and desk organized.”
The goal of the “Twelve Days of Learning” is not to fill every moment, but to keep learning fun, positive, and engaging. These small daily boosts help students stay connected to their skills while creating routines that feel manageable and motivating for the whole family.