Keeping Up With School Routines While on Break

Spring break is coming up quickly. When students are on breaks, they tend to back slide in their routines. Families spend more time together and stay up later. Kids have more time to play and lounge around the house too. This can reek havoc on a parents sanity and on the child’s typical schedule.

I don’t know about you, but my work schedule stays the same while my kids are on break. This makes it easier for me to keep up with their morning and evening schedule. My kids love to stay up late on nights when they know they don’t have school. Instead of letting them stay up late, we have started to let them have a sleepover in each other’s room and have some screen time before bed but they still need to be in bed on time. Bedtime stays the same on week nights because they still have to get up in the mornings for care while I am at work. By changing the rule slightly but keeping up with the everyday schedule, it is easier to keep them on track for when school starts again and they feel like it is still special.

When hanging around the house more and having more time to play, things can get pretty messy. Set a timer for twenty minutes (adjust time according to the size of the mess) before the kiddos get ready for bed to have them put their toys and books away. This way, their space does not become out of control.

Homework routines are hard to bring back so instead of reintroducing it to your child’s daily routine, why not keep it. Part of our everyday lineup while the kids are in school is homework and reading. While homework is not sent home during spring break, there are ways to keep up with it. Practice math facts for ten minutes a day. They can do math pages or practice math Flashcards that are on their level. Make flash cards of sight words, past spelling words, and vocabulary to keep them in practice. Kids should also read at least 20 minutes each day. This way your child keeps up uo on their typical schedule while also getting the practice they need to continue to succeed during school.

Some fun ways to keep them invested in their education is taking them to the library to pick their own books. The dollar store has workbooks with math and literacy pages. Find a few on your child’s level then let them pick which book they like best. At the end of each day, have your child write a sentence or more telling something fun they did each day. This helps them practice their penmanship while crating a small memory journal from their time off.

Keeping up on routine can get tricky while kids are on a break from school. These ideas will help prevent back slide while also helping parents keep their sanity through routine. Good luck to you and happy spring break.

-Ms. Blair
Health & Wellness Coordinator
Lead Preschool Teacher