10 Ways To Promote Active Learning Over The Holidays

The holiday season is here—time for fun, food, and a little break from routine.

This does not necessarily mean that learning must take a backseat. In fact, the holidays can be a great opportunity to promote active learning and help your child build important skills that will benefit them in the long run.

Active learning doesn’t have to feel like work. It’s about hands-on experiences, creative thinking, and exploring the world in exciting and fresh ways.

Ready to make this holiday season both memorable and full of discovery?

Here are 10 simple and enjoyable ways to weave active learning into your celebrations.

1. Make Reading A Daily Tradition

Books have a magical way of keeping our minds sharp and imaginations alive.

Making reading a daily habit is a great way to encourage learning through storytelling while also spending quality time with your child. It helps spark their imagination, build critical thinking skills, and grow their vocabulary, all while nurturing a love for books and learning.

To make it a habit, set aside a specific time each day—maybe right before bed or during an afternoon break.

If you don’t know which books to get, we suggest reading our two blog posts: “Top 5 Children’s Books That Teach Kindness & Empathy” and “5 Classic Books For Teens.”

2. Engage in Creative Arts and Crafts

Arts and crafts have a way of bringing out creativity and learning all at once.

Why not channel that festive energy into some hands-on projects this holiday season?

Kids can practice fine motor skills, improve focus, and even sneak in some math or science—like measuring ingredients for salt dough or experimenting with colours while painting.

A few good ideas include:

• Making ornaments together using clay or recycled materials.
• Designing holiday cards with unique drawings or hand-lettering.
• Creating a festive garland using paper snowflakes or popcorn strings.

3. Explore Nature and the Outdoors

There’s no better classroom than the great outdoors!

Nature exposes your child to new sights, sounds, and textures that can stimulate their senses.

Take a walk in the park or go on a hike to find different types of plants, trees, animals and insects.

You can also try some nature-based activities such as:

• Create a scavenger hunt for your child to find different objects in nature.
• Bring along a sketchbook and encourage them to draw or paint what they see.
• Playing games like “I Spy” to help with observation skills.

4. Incorporate Educational Games

The holiday season is the perfect time to bring out fun, educational games that engage young minds.

Classic board games like Scrabble can help with spelling and vocabulary. Math lovers? Try games like Monopoly or 24 Game to build their number-crunching skills.

For tech-savvy learners, explore online or app-based games that focus on science, coding, or geography. There are even holiday-themed trivia games to add a festive twist while learning new facts.

The best part?

These games often encourage teamwork, strategy, and a healthy dose of friendly competition—all key elements of active learning while having a blast!

5. Cook Together As A Family

Cooking isn’t just about food—it’s a hands-on way to learn essential skills while creating delicious memories!

From measuring ingredients to following recipes, cooking offers countless opportunities to practice math, reading, and comprehension skills.

Younger children can help with simple tasks like mixing or decorating, while older kids can take charge of reading instructions, measuring, and timing. The kitchen becomes a space for culinary creation, bonding, teamwork, and discovery.

And the reward at the end? Delicious treats to share and enjoy together as a family!

6. Visit Museums and Cultural Sites

South Africa has a rich history and diverse cultures, making it perfect for educational adventures.

Plan a trip to a museum or a cultural site and explore the exhibits and artefacts together. This teaches a child to appreciate and respect different cultures, promotes critical thinking, and encourages curiosity. Plus, many museums offer interactive activities or workshops for children, making the learning experience even better!

To find a museum or cultural site near you, visit this website: South African Museums.

7. Try Science Experiments at Home

If your child is a bit more hands-on and loves science, why not try some experiments at home?

There are countless resources online for simple and safe science experiments that you can do together. From making a volcano erupt with baking soda and vinegar to creating a DIY lava lamp, these activities promote critical thinking and help develop scientific curiosity.

It’s also a great opportunity to teach your child about safety precautions when conducting experiments and the scientific method of trial and error. Plus, it’s a fun way to bond as you explore the wonders of science together!

For some easy experiment ideas, check out our other blog post about 5 Fun Science Experiments For Kids At Home.

8. Discuss Current Events

Discussing news and current events with your child is an excellent way to help them understand the world while also building critical thinking, problem-solving skills, responsibility, and empathy.

Just remember to keep it age-appropriate and ask open-ended questions to encourage critical thinking rather than simply sharing your own opinions.

9. Encourage Creative Writing

Creative writing is when a person uses their imagination to write an original piece of work, such as a short story or poem.

When children write creatively, it helps to develop their language skills, builds confidence, and encourages self-expression.

You can start by giving your child a simple writing prompt, such as “Write a story about a magical adventure” or “Describe your dream vacation.”

Encourage them to use descriptive language and let their imagination run wild!

10. Keep Routine

This activity differs slightly from the others mentioned, but it’s the foundation of managing your child’s time at home.

Creating and keeping a steady routine over the holidays is important for your child’s sense of stability and well-being.

It’s also beneficial for their overall development, as routines help to establish good habits and time management skills.

Final Thoughts

The holidays are an excellent opportunity to spend quality time with your child and engage in activities to help them develop important skills for their future.

But remember, it’s also essential to have downtime and relaxation during this busy season.

So, don’t forget to take breaks and enjoy some quiet moments together as well.