The holiday season is a much-needed break for students—testing, exams, and report cards are right around the corner, and pressure often begins to build this time of year. A restful holiday can help reduce anxiety and restore energy, but too much downtime can make it harder for students to transition back into learning mode in January.
The key is balance: enough rest to recharge, enough activity to keep minds engaged.
Below are simple, age-specific holiday tips to help students enjoy the break while staying mentally active, confident, and ready for the new year.
Create a Fun, Active Holiday Break
“Fun” during the holidays should involve movement, creativity, and meaningful experiences—not two weeks of TV or video games.
Holiday activities that help students recharge and stay active include:
- Walking as a family to see holiday lights
- Skating or sledding
- Playing in the snow
- Singing carols or doing crafts
- Skiing or winter hiking
- Board games, puzzles, and hands-on projects
Active fun keeps kids mentally alert without feeling like work.
Age-by-Age Holiday Tips Learning
High School Students: Prepare for Exams (Without Burning Out)
For semester students, exams are coming in January, making a light, structured review plan—about two hours of study per day—key for high school students.
A simple strategy:
- Break each subject into small, daily units. For example, if math exams are 30 days away, divide the material into 30 sections—one per day.
- Use a Day Planner. Schedule review sessions and keep track of daily progress.
- Stay current. Once school resumes, ensure current classwork stays up-to-date so review doesn’t pile up.
This approach builds confidence and prevents last-minute cramming.
Grades 1–3: Read, Write, Play
Young learners thrive when reading, imagination, and conversation are woven into family life.
Try:
- Reading together daily
- Playing games that build memory and focus
- Creating a family holiday journal and writing in it each day
- Talking about books, stories, and shows—ask what happened and why
The goal is to keep kids curious, expressive, and engaged.
Grades 4–6: Build Planning Skills and Encourage Reading
This age group benefits greatly from a balance of structure and independence.
Here’s how:
- Use a Day Planner to schedule family activities (feeding pets, outings, decorating, skating).
- Keep a daily journal describing holiday fun and experiences
- Pick up magazines related to your child’s interests—animals, sports, science, history, crafts.
- Continue reading in an enjoyable and low-pressure, yet consistent manner.
These simple habits strengthen writing, organization, and critical thinking.
Grades 7–8: Strengthen Study Skills and Active Thinking
If tests or exams are scheduled for January, use the same light-review plan as high school students.
Focus on:
- Using a planner every day to organize tasks, goals, and activities
- Watching history or nature programs with a discussion afterward
- Following up with library research or online exploration
- Playing strategy board games like chess, Clue, Catan, or Risk
- Planning and reflecting on holiday activities
At this age, students are building study habits that will matter in high school—holiday breaks are a perfect time to practice these skills in a low-pressure way.
Unlock the key to a smooth middle school transition—learn more here.
The Bottom Line: Rest + Activity = January Success
The worst-case scenario is two weeks of inactivity, which can cause students to lose momentum just when they need it most. With a bit of planning and the right mix of fun, activity, and light learning, students return to school refreshed, confident, and mentally engaged.
Ready to Help Your Child Start the New Year Strong?
Oxford Learning can support your child with personalized programs that strengthen skills, build confidence, and foster strong study habits throughout the year, including the holidays. Contact your local centre to get started.
