Day 3: Three Check-In Moments – Keeping Holiday Learning Alive

Rest, play, and gentle curiosity can coexist—sometimes all it takes is a peaceful moment for learning to quietly stay alive during the holidays.

Welcome to Day 3 of our journey. First, take a deep breath and exhale that guilt – you’re doing great. The fact that you’re even thinking about your child’s development during holiday break means you care (a lot!). And the good news: keeping their minds active doesn’t require lengthy workbook sessions or saying no to fun. Today’s “gift” is all about tiny, playful learning moments that we call “check-in” moments. These are short, sweet opportunities to sneak in a bit of practice or curiosity during your regular holiday activities. No pressure, no big time commitment – just a few minutes here and there that keep those mental gears turning.

Why is this important? Because kids do tend to experience a bit of “brain drain” over extended breaks. After a long winter vacation, teachers often notice kids are a little rusty – a phenomenon sometimes nicknamed the “winter melt” or slump. Without regular practice, students may forget some math facts they knew in December, or struggle to get back into reading at the same stamina. Research backs this up: even a few weeks away from learning routines can chip away at skills, especially in subjects like math and reading that thrive on continuous practice. But – and here’s the hopeful part – preventing this slide doesn’t mean turning your home into a classroom. In fact, experts emphasize that “preventing winter melt doesn’t mean filling the break with schoolwork”, and that there are plenty of fun, engaging ways to keep your child’s mind active during downtime. Small things truly make a big difference.

Small Moments, Big Impact: The Power of Little Learning Bursts

Think of today’s strategy as sprinkling learning into everyday life. You’re not scheduling formal lessons; you’re simply seizing natural moments to ask a question, play a quick game, or spark your child’s curiosity. We call them Three Check-In Moments because you can aim for about three little brain engagements each day (morning, afternoon, and evening, for example) – but there’s no magic to the number. The idea is to do a few little things consistently, rather than one big thing rarely. Research on learning actually shows that spacing out practice in short bursts can dramatically improve retention compared to one long study session. In other words, a few minutes of fun learning here and there really do add up.

What do these check-ins look like? They can be as simple as turning daily routines into a game. Driving to the grocery store? That’s a chance for a quick round of “Car Math.” Ask, “I see three reindeer ornaments on that house and two snowmen on the next – how many decorations is that in total?” Your child shouts out “Five!” from the backseat, and you’ve just snuck in a math refresh. Cooking dinner together? Maybe do a vocabulary check-in: “We need a cup of sugar. Do you remember how many cups are in a quart?” or “Stirring the chocolate milk, see how it dissolves – hey, do you know what dissolve means?” If they don’t, a quick, kid-friendly explanation in that moment will stick better than a forced lesson later, because it’s connected to something real (and yummy). Even watching that cartoon on the couch can become a reading check-in: turn on subtitles and encourage your child to read a funny line out loud, or ask them what they think will happen next in the story – predicting is a great comprehension skill. These are tiny interactions – often just 1-2 minutes – but they keep your child’s mind engaged and show them that learning is part of life, not a chore.

Crucially, frame it as play. Kids might groan at the idea of “studying” over break, but if it feels like a game or a personal challenge, they’re in. You know your child best – if they love art, maybe a check-in is drawing and labeling a quick holiday scene (practicing writing and spelling). If they’re into sports, maybe it’s calculating basketball scores or player stats together. Learning can be disguised as anything! And when it is, children often don’t even realize they’re practicing skills. They just feel the joy of your attention and the fun of a little challenge.

Day 3 Resource: “Three Check-In Moments” (Downloadable Guide)

To spark your creativity, download our Day 3 PDF: “Three Check-In Moments.” This handy guide is packed with simple ideas for mini-learning activities you can slip into your holiday routine. Each suggestion in the guide is designed to be brief, playful, and requiring no special materials (you won’t be printing worksheets or anything – just using what’s around you).

Why It Matters Now: When the new semester starts, children who’ve had some mental engagement over break return to school feeling confident instead of lost. They’ll thank you (in their own way) when math review isn’t a struggle and reading doesn’t feel foreign. Plus, keeping the brain active also helps with routine – it gives a gentle structure to long, lazy days so kids aren’t at loose ends.

Finally, remember to celebrate these small efforts. Did your son solve a silly riddle you posed during a car ride? High-five him! Did your daughter use yesterday’s “word of the day” correctly in a sentence? Cheer like she just won a prize. Positive feedback makes these moments rewarding, and your child will internalize that using their brain feels good.

You’ve completed Day 3 of this special series – give yourself and your child a big hug for it. You’ve shown that learning and love can go hand in hand, even during the busiest time of year. Tomorrow, on Day 4, we’ll continue this journey with another heartwarming idea to nurture your child’s growth (and your peace of mind). We won’t spoil the surprise, but it’s something that will add even more joy and connection to your holiday routine. Until then, enjoy those playful check-ins, and we’ll see you tomorrow for the next chapter of our 12-day adventure!

Download Now!

Missed an earlier tip... Find them here: Day 1 | Day 2