This break will be very different for many of us. With social distancing highly recommended, our family festivities have been interrupted to ensure safety. This is a difficult reality for everyone in our families, but it doesn’t mean your break from school needs to be any less special. In fact- as difficult as this year has been, there is always room for gratitude and thanksgiving. For many parents, quarantine has brought us closer to our families in new and unexpected ways.
The beginning of the year, or what Ann calls: the “tea party phase,” is coming to a close. With it’s end comes break. Break is an important part of The Antioch School year. As the children settle in at home they’ll be absorbing all they’ve learned so far this year in their groups. Settle into break this holiday season; bring your family together with these ten creative child-led activities:
1. Write and perform a family play, or musical: Theatrical and imaginary play are important aspects of play based learning at The Antioch School. What better time than break to be involved in this kind of play as a family? Try letting your children direct this project. That means parents take a back seat, or a supporting role. Let your children develop the plot, setting, and the characters. Letting your children direct the play means there are no right or wrong ways for them to use props. They have full license to be authentic and creative. Adults act as a facilitator. Once your child has written the play, perform it as a family. Try filming it. Send it to your family, wherever they are!
2.Make holiday masks: Our children have all shown tremendous dedication to safety as well as personal responsibility by wearing masks everyday. This activity is a creative way to mix up the masks. Masks at home don’t need to be functional, they just have to cover our noses and mouths. Try cutting out paper plates to make interestingly shaped masks you can decorate. Gluing them onto popsicle sticks or straws will complete the functionality and creative design.
3. Collect family recipes over the phone and make a family cookbook: Families around the country are being asked to socially distance this year, which means cooking together might not be an option. So, we’re all looking for creative ways to stay connected. Come together with your family over food in a new way this year by calling them to collect their favorite recipes. Encourage your child to write down the recipe, and draw on the pages. Collect all of your favorite recipes from grandma and grandpa, aunts and uncles, then compile the pages into a book. This can be a great reference for future holidays, and a great keepsake for the family.
4. Exploration hike: Bundle up in layers of warm clothes and explore the trails at Glen Helen. The wind is starting to bite as it gets colder outside, but The Antioch School children love being outdoors no matter the weather! Listen to the sounds of the birds, the leaves rustling under your feet. Look up at the trees. How tall are they? Ask questions about what you see. Going out for an exploration hike is a healthy and fun way to engage with the natural world this holiday.
5.Gratitude list: This year has been difficult for so many reasons, but there is always something, or someone, to be grateful for. This year, sit down with your children and write a gratitude list outlining who and what you're thankful for. Read them out loud to one another. Say why, too.
6.Random act of kindness: Empathy and caring are two foundational principles of The Antioch School’s philosophy. This holiday season try preparing your family’s favorite dish with your child. Cooking with your family is a meaningful way to connect around food, and it’s great for skill sharing, too. When the meal is ready, explain that the dish was made to be shared with your neighbors. Then, drop the dish off at a local community kitchen.
7. Your Year-write a memoir with your child: Ask your child what they’ve done in school this year that they’re proud of. Ask them what they’re looking forward to after break and what their year has been like. This holiday season try journaling with your child about your year. Write until you start to draw, then illustrate your memoir. This year is a memorable one for a myriad of reasons, and this project will be an interesting one to revisit in the years to come.
8. Make a Map: Sit down with your family and draw a map. This could be a map of anywhere. It could be a map of where you live, or you could draw a map of the important places in your lives, or of the inside of your body. Cartography is the study of maps. Play around with cartography this winter by making a map with your child. Show them to each other and talk about your inspirations.
- Wonder about winter animals: Animals operate differently in the cold than they do in warmer weather. On your hike, or from the warmth of your home, pick a few animals to ask questions about. Where are they living right now? How are they staying warm? How do they eat? Everyone can pick their own animal. Write down your questions and read them aloud. Then, discuss your thoughts.
10.Neighborhood cleanliness walk: What better way to get into the holiday spirit than helping to keep your community clean. Taking a cleanliness walk with your family is an important and actionable way to show caring and respect for your home. The lesson will reverberate with your children, encouraging them to recognize the importance of keeping shared spaces clean. It will also demonstrate to them the benefits of service and environmentalism.
