Breaks from the routine are welcomed opportunities to rest and recharge. They can also be a chance to reconnect with our children as there is more time to spend quality time together. Here are 3 ideas for creating a positive experience during this school vacation.
- Engagement: One of the best ways to do this is to limit technology use and actively create opportunities to connect with our kids. This could be as simple as going for a walk together, having dinner as a family, or scheduling family game night. Any positive, targeted attention can strengthen that bond and let children know that they are cared for. It also supports their social emotional development and gives them the tools they need to interact with others as they go about their day. With this basic need fulfilled, kids feel more confident, more stable, and more at ease.
- Reading: Taking time to read with our kids and giving them guidance to read independently, ensures that their brains stay active and that their learning growth doesn’t regress. This is especially true for students in the primary grades as they are actively and continuously acquiring reading skills. To help them maintain their progress, providing as little as 20 minutes of daily independent reading gives them what they need. It can also prove to be a great way to connect with them as we inquire about what they are reading and ask them some question to gauge their comprehension and share common interests.
- Limited Screen Time: While it’s nice during vacation to indulge in some of the activities where there isn’t time during the normal school schedule, it’s important to consider some of the implication of too much screen time for developing brains. By limiting technology use, we can help our children develop socially while also supporting their brain development. Scientific research shows that increased technology use can lead to difficulty sleeping, decreased empathy, and shorter attention spans (Greenfield 2015). This can have a negative effect over time and create imbalance. Recent studies even show that the effect of digital screen time on developing brains is almost exactly the same as the use of narcotics. With neurotransmitters disrupted, it is difficult for the brain to recover and adapt. Over time, this can have a lasting impact on the mental and emotional health of young children.
By mindfully connecting and proactively creating positive experiences with our children, we can guarantee a quality experience over the school break that provides opportunity for bonding that will carry forward long after the vacation is over.
