November marks the start of a flurry of school breaks and holiday gatherings, and that can mean headaches before happenings, along with hearing “I’m bored” one too many times. This year, plan to leverage your child’s innate curiosity and desire to be useful to keep them learning at home.
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Every interaction presents an opportunity for social-emotional growth, so start here. Take each of the following qualities that make up the word “character” (courtesy, honesty, appreciation, respect, action, commitment, teamwork, encouragement, responsibility) and focus on strengthening one trait over several days throughout the month or one to two per day for one week. You can reinforce the behaviors you want to see more often with specific praise. For example, “I noticed that you rinsed your dishes and put them in the dishwasher. Thank you for being responsible.”
Consistently notice the things your kiddo is doing well and call them out. Be enthusiastic but in a natural way, and your child will glow inside and out. When complimenting, be mindful of doing so at a ratio of at least 4:1—that is, deliver positive feedback at least four times more frequently than corrective feedback or redirection.
Your child is your best resource for family-friendly meal planning, holiday hosting, and lively entertainment. Use the following ideas (or your own) to keep academics engaged and happy and apply essential life skills to learn and grow even during school breaks.
LISTENING & SPEAKING SKILLS
The week of November 20 has been dubbed “Better Conversations Week” and “National Game & Puzzles Week.” Start the week with some fun conversation starters during a family game night. Begin a puzzle to return to throughout the week. Keep conversation simple and light. Listen to connect rather than share your perspective or provide guidance.
WRITING APPLICATIONS
Hand your kiddo some stationery and something fun to write with, and ask them to help you menu plan. Next comes the shopping list; dictate it to give your child practice writing and spelling. They’ll feel a sense of accomplishment when finished. For more writing practice, encourage young ones to write and illustrate a story about their perfect day; older ones can do some reflective writing from a writing prompt, such as “Describe something (funny) that happened the last time your family got together for a celebration.” Then, both can write and illustrate a thank you note to a loved one. For more ideas, search online for “writing prompts.”
While dishes are cooking, sit together to read and discuss or listen to your child read and share. Encourage your child to continue writing. Ask them to write a new end to a story, describe the sights and aromas from their kitchen experiences, or free-write about how they’re feeling.
MAKING MATH REAL
Math is easy to incorporate into almost any at-home activity. I suggest letting your child choose a recipe from a select group you’ve chosen. ‘Tweens will get practice with fractions as they double or triple recipes and seek confirmation that they calculated correctly. Ask a younger child to take out the measuring cups you need and help you mix the ingredients. If able, give your child the job of counting out plates, bowls, glasses, utensils, and napkins and setting the table with a sibling or friend during a break from another activity.
READING COMPREHENSION
Have some picture books for the little ones, and ask your child to walk you through a favorite or new story. Casually review story elements such as the setting, characters, and what’s happening in the beginning, middle, and end. Write together interactively. Your child could illustrate their favorite part and then dictate to you. Observing you write their words will bring meaning to the writing and give your child something special to read.
P.E. & SCIENCE
Later, get outside for some exercise, fresh air, and sun! Water plants. Find snails, worms, and ladybugs. Talk about their role in the environment and what they need to survive. Leave home for a walk, jog, or bike ride together. Throw the Frisbee. Toss a ball. Get a group together for healthy competition in soccer or another sport.
VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS
Last, call on the artists in your family, which would be anyone interested in creating something. Whether you’re hosting a large get-together or your family meal, your child can design homemade place cards or revisit the menu and design one for each place setting. Some might also like to make table centerpieces and napkin holders. Provide a container of goods you already have, such as paper towels, toilet paper rolls, and container caps. Your child can color, paint, or cover with colored tissue paper and glue for a stained-glass effect. If that’s too much to handle independently, make Play-Doh together or have an older sibling take this on. Then, let your children unleash their creativity to send every guest home with a one-of-a-kind party favor.
Does your child love to perform? Ask them to practice singing a favorite song, write and perform a skit, or compose and something else for after-dinner entertainment.
The possibilities for learning, fun, and quality time during this season are as numerous as your collective ideas—and what you can find online to complement them. Make positive memories for you and your crew. If it works out well, repeat. If it doesn’t, debrief and make changes for next month. This time, enlist your kids in the planning. Fun and togetherness are a sweet bonus! After all, your goal is to keep them learning, and there’s no better way to do that than to tap their interests.
WENDY J. ROSENTHAL is a writer, credentialed educator and tutor, and solopreneur of a boutique marketing company. She is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid and is the parent of two teen boys. She and her children reside in Salinas with their rescue pup Sherman.