Article Text
Families can help students strengthen reading, writing and creative-thinking skills during winter break with 10 activities scheduled from Monday, December 22, 2025, through Friday, January 2, 2026.
The suggested calendar can be adapted around each family’s plans, leaving plenty of time for rest and relaxation.
Reading and real-world learning
Monday, December 22 — Build a cozy reading fort. Use blankets and pillows to create a comfortable space, then gather flashlights, fiction and nonfiction books, and hot cocoa. After everyone reads for at least 20 minutes, discuss the material. The activity builds comprehension, stamina and enthusiasm for reading.
Tuesday, December 23 — Cook from a recipe. Choose a simple favorite, such as cookies or another holiday treat. Ask the student to read the ingredients and directions aloud while measuring and completing each step. This practices vocabulary, measurement and following written instructions.
Wednesday, December 24 — Compare a book with its movie. Find a children’s book with a film or animated adaptation, such as The Grinch or The Polar Express, through a local library or MyOn. Read the book before watching the movie, then talk about their similarities and differences. The exercise develops summarization, comparison and critical thinking.
Thursday, December 25 — Interview a relative. Invite a student to ask a family member about a favorite childhood winter memory, either in person or by video call. The student can prepare questions in advance and take notes during the conversation, practicing listening, speaking and transcription.
Friday, December 26 — Take a winter word walk. During a family walk, encourage students to describe what they see, hear, smell and feel. Words such as “glistening,” “crunchy,” “evergreen,” “slippery,” “bright” and “blustery” can help expand their sensory vocabulary.
Creative writing for the new year
Monday, December 29 — Make a winter acrostic. Write a seasonal word such as “WINTER” or “SNOW” vertically. For each letter, have the student add a word or phrase describing the season. They can illustrate the finished poem and display it at home while practicing poetry, descriptive language and careful word choice.
Tuesday, December 30 — Create a family storytelling chain. Begin with one sentence, such as, “Once upon a time, a silly snowman started to sing.” Each person then contributes one or two sentences. The activity, which also works during long car rides, reinforces listening, speaking, sequencing and storytelling.
Wednesday, December 31 — Write New Year’s resolutions. Help the student list three to five goals for the coming year and explain the reason for each one. The exercise combines self-reflection and goal-setting with spelling, handwriting, and persuasive or explanatory writing.
Thursday, January 1 — Hold a “Book Flood” exchange. Try the Icelandic holiday tradition known as Jólabókaflóð by exchanging new or used books with relatives or neighbors. Participants then spend the rest of the evening quietly reading their new selections, helping build reading stamina and a home library.
Friday, January 2 — Send holiday thank-you notes. Students can write notes recognizing gifts or other acts of kindness. Beginning spellers should sound out words and represent all the sounds they hear using their best handwriting. An adult can add the conventional spelling beneath any word the recipient might not recognize. This final activity practices letter writing, spelling and handwriting.