Fun and Easy Tips to Keep Kids Learning during the Holiday Season

"Children definitely deserve a break from school during the holidays, but there are also many great ways to keep their minds active while enjoying quality family time," said Dominique Ciccarelli, Ed.M., education spokesperson for Kumon North America. "Incorporating a few educational activities into your holiday break will encourage learning and promote screen-free entertainment."

With a little creativity, the holiday season can be both educational and memorable with these simple activities:

• The holidays are a time for baking. From pumpkin pies to sugar cookies, measuring is a great way to practice fractions, while mixing helps children learn about the chemistry of baking. 
• Incorporate meteorology fun by having your children research how many times it has snowed on Christmas in the past 10 years. They can collect data on temperature, precipitation and snowfall.
• Have your children help in the creation of your holiday menu by finding recipes in a cookbook. They can practice their math skills comparing prices of different brands of ingredients at the grocery store.
• Make the most of holiday travel by turning car rides into an opportunity to practice letters and numbers. You can look for license plates from different states or count the number of blue, silver or black cars.
• Stash the schoolbooks and read for fun. Pick out some holiday-themed books and mix-up your nightly reading routine by reading by the fire place, your Christmas tree or make a nice cozy pillow fort. If you're traveling, take some audiobooks to keep the children engaged in the car.
• Build math and measuring skills into wrapping presents by asking your children to measure the gifts with a tape measure or ruler to determine how much wrapping paper is needed.
• Explore your family heritage by creating a family tree. Many families spend the holiday season with extended family so it's a great opportunity to encourage your children to take an interest into learning more about their heritage by interviewing grandparents and listening to family stories.

To further encourage continuous learning during the holidays, Kumon is offering free registration at participating learning centers from November 1-30. Practicing academic skills year-round is recommended to keep skills sharp and make the transition back to school after the New Year a smooth one.

About Kumon Math & Reading Centers:
Kumon is an after-school math and reading enrichment program that unlocks the potential of children, so they can achieve more on their own. As a comprehensive program, Kumon serves children in preschool through high school. The learning method uses an individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading skills. Through daily practice and mastery of materials, students increase confidence, improve concentration, and develop better study skills. Kumon has over four million students enrolled at nearly 25,000 learning centers in 50 countries and regions.

SOURCE Kumon North America, Inc.