Learning During School Breaks

As my family spent some quality time together over the recent long weekend, it was clear that we’d all needed some downtime, play, and rest.

No matter what age your kids are, a break from school is great for recharging everyone’s batteries. As their energy builds back up — sometimes very quickly! — kids need an outlet for it. Though it may seem that the last thing on their minds is learning, I’ve found that activities that spark their curiosity (opens in a new window) often lead to reading and the discovery of new and meaningful things. 

With Thanksgiving and winter breaks approaching, extended out-of-school time has been on my mind. Like it might during summer break (opens in a new window), learning can slow down or even stop for many children when schools are closed. Who better to turn to then than an expert in reading and learning outside the classroom — my local children’s librarian, Basheer Kareem!

Basheer is a Youth Services Librarian with Arlington Public Library (opens in a new window). I love getting to chat with him at the Westover branch where he often shares his book recommendations with me or his passion for a particular storytime activity and the enthusiastic reactions of participants. Formerly, he worked as a librarian in the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System and as a librarian at the Applied Technology High School and Secondary Technology School in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

He’s all about helping kids foster a fascination with books. It makes me so happy to welcome Basheer to Book Life to share his ideas for connecting kids to literacy-rich experiences that are great for families whether school is open or closed.

Recharge at the Library by Basheer L. Kareem

For the holidays, everything slows,
Except for kids when schools are closed.
No need to feel stressed.
Your library loves guests.
I promise you’ll never impose!

To some, that may sound like just a silly limerick. But I’m offering it here as an invitation to all parents and caregivers as a great way to keep kids engaged in fun activities that will help keep them learning when school is out. While we all often think of holiday breaks as a time to unwind, kids might get a little restless at home. There are lots of creative ways to answer cries about boredom beyond simply reaching for the remote. And they all start at your library!

Many public libraries offer play-and-learn spaces filled with educational toys and puzzles that are designed to help get young children thinking, moving, and talking. At the Arlington Public Library where I serve as a Youth Services Librarian, we have a playful learning space called Arlingtown (opens in a new window) at each of our eight branch locations. Here, parents and caregivers of preschoolers can participate in a number of fun activities while engaging their little ones in the five early literacy practices (opens in a new window) of talking, writing, reading, playing, and singing.

Public libraries are also the premiere destination for you and your children to enjoy delightful storytime programs that promote literacy through songs, fingerplays, rhymes, and read-alouds. When children come to listen to exciting stories, contemplate fascinating characters, and reply to curious questions about the readings, little do they know that they are expanding their imagination, comprehension, and vocabulary.

Taking your kids to all types of storytimes builds early literacy skills. Programs like my Tunes and Tales Storytime (opens in a new window) use music and singing to help children improve their letter knowledge, phonological awareness, and pronunciation. Participating in programs like our Family Storytime (opens in a new window) can help foster a love of reading in your household, as well as help strengthen your family bonds. By attending various storytime programs at your local library, your children will enter a learning zone unlike anything at school or at home!

They say home is where the heart is. But during the holidays, the library is where the fun is. That’s where you’re likely to discover early elementary book clubs for your beginning readers! Early reader book clubs, such as the Elephant and Piggie Book Club (opens in a new window) offered at my library, help kids in grades K-2 hone their reading skills by practicing in a circle of friends. Such programs also incorporate post-reading questions to build children’s critical thinking skills. But if your child happens to be shy around other kids, then a Paws to Read program might be the perfect fit for them. Paws helps children build confidence in their reading skills by allowing them to practice in front of a friendly, trained dog at the library! Labradors, collies, beagles…no matter the breed, dogs just have a way of making kids want to read.

But one of the best things about going to the library is that you can bring a piece of the fun back home with you! Books abound and your librarian can help you find and check out plenty of fiction and nonfiction titles that appeal to your readers. At my library, we even offer Storytime Kits (opens in a new window) so that you can take home everything you need to hold your own storytime and keep the reading fun going. You can also use great materials like Reading Rockets’ recommended booklists, their Reading Adventure Packs, or the themes at Start with a Book (opens in a new window) to build on resources available at your library and support your family reading activities at home.

Listen, I get it. Having your kids take up reading during their relaxing holiday breaks from school is a herculean task. And the temptation will be there to just let them watch videos for hours on end so that you can conquer the things on your Mount Everest-sized to do list.

So, what is the key to not giving in? I say it is getting out! 

Check your local library’s website frequently to find out about all the fantastic activities and resources they have to offer. You’re sure to discover things like reading challenges, writing competitions, book clubs, author talks, craft classes, art contests, puppet and magic performances, maker space workshops, STEM programs, awesome book recommendations, and much, much more.

So, if you want your children to read,
Without having to beg them and plead,
On holiday breaks,
The library’s great,
I promise they won’t want to leave!

Resources

• Arlington Public Library for Babies and Preschoolers (opens in a new window)
• Arlington Public Library for Elementary Schoolers (opens in a new window)
• Literacy at Home
• Creating Holiday Learning Traditions
• Learning That’s Hands-On Holiday Fun (Pre-K)
• Rediscover Your Public Library
• Book Life: Winter Break Wonders
• Start with a Book: Tune In! A Book-Based Music Adventure (opens in a new window)