With schools now closed, many families have settled into their holiday routines.
While the well-deserved break from the classroom provides a chance for relaxation, it also comes with an unintended consequence: Holiday brain drain.
Research suggests that learners can lose up to two months of academic progress, particularly in core subjects like Mathematics and reading. The good news is that preventing this learning loss doesn’t require a return to textbooks or extra homework; in fact, holiday learning can be a lot more enjoyable than that.
What is learning loss?
“After two weeks off, many children can struggle to pick up right where they left off,” shared Lerato Mokoena, a Grade VI teacher. “While this break is important for rest and recovery, it’s easy to forget basic skills, even if the child is not conscious of it.”
It’s a challenge many parents face: The transition back to school can feel like a fresh start, but it often requires learners to revisit material they might have forgotten during the break.
Digital tools to enhance holiday learning:
- For families who are tech-savvy or just looking for a bit of screen-time balance, there are plenty of educational apps that make learning both fun and interactive.
- Platforms like Khan Academy Kids and Duolingo offer free lessons in subjects from languages to science and they are designed to hold the attention of even the most distracted child.
- Just 10-15 minutes a day can keep their learning progress on track without the pressure of a full lesson. Children get to engage with the material in ways that are engaging, interactive and most importantly, enjoyable.
Encouraging a growth mindset at home
The most effective way to avoid holiday learning loss is to nurture a growth mindset at home. Instead of focusing on what a child may forget, help them see the holiday break as a chance to explore, discover and grow outside the classroom.
“Engage your child in questions about the world around them ask them how things work, where things come from, or why things happen,” advised an educator “Curiosity is a powerful driver of learning and the holidays offer the perfect opportunity to spark it.” Small activities like writing a diary entry about a trip to the Eswatini International Trade Fair, estimating how many steps it takes to walk to the shop or even budgeting for a day out can all be valuable learning experiences.
Quick tips to beat the brain drain:
- Read together
- Create a reading challenge or pick up books for fun
- Experiment in the kitchen: Baking can teach fractions and following instructions
- Plan a DIY project: Build something or make art to practice problem-solving skills
- Start a mini-family project: Plan a holiday outing or create a budget together
While school doors are closed for now, there’s no reason the learning should stop. With a bit of creativity, every holiday moment can be an opportunity for growth, discovery and fun.
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