A two-week break is given to kids of all ages to be able to enjoy the wonders of winter. This break is like heaven for kids, but as the end of it nears, it reminds them of the time left until summer.
Christmas break gives kids a taste of no school, homework, or responsibilities, making them miss summer all that much more.
The downside to winter break is it makes students wish summer was that much closer.
“Winter break gives me a nice break from monotonous school work, but it does not get me excited for summer because it feels so far away,” Killian said.
Winter break is placed right between the second and third quarter of school to give kids a much needed brain break from school. While this is good for students, it only makes the thought of summer break seemingly farther away.
“I wasn’t doing a whole lot over break,” Leeann Lohf said. “It was pretty laid back and relaxed, and it reminded me of summer when I was able to do nothing and be stress-free.”
Winter break is a time for students to relax and breathe after the stress of the first semester of school. Winter break gives these students a glimpse into what summer holds. Students look forward to being able to relax and have time for themselves without having the worries of schoolwork.
School is one of the main stressors for students, and the ability to relax and unplug helps to reset the mind.
While winter break and summer are two different things, they both give students something to look forward to. Both winter and summer break are very important for a student’s mental, physical, and emotional health.
“I was out of school and able to be around my friends more,” Camille Paterson said.
Being out of school for winter and summer break gives kids the opportunity to spend more time with their friends and family. This creates a positive atmosphere for kids and helps to prepare them mentally and emotionally for the return of school.
Over winter break, the ability to spend time with family is key. On Christmas Eve and Christmas day, families gather to celebrate the magical time of year.
It brings people together and lets everyone unwind and focus on each other.
“I loved opening presents with my family in the morning on Christmas,” Paterson said.
The two weeks students get for winter break help to reset their minds and prepare students for the stress that is to come with the approach of the end of the semester. It allows for a total reset and helps restore a healthy mental outlook so that when students return to school, they are ready to lock into finals.
On the less positive side, having winter break placed right before the weeks leading into finals causes students to forget certain aspects of learning needed for finals over break.
“I think that we should have our finals more like a college where winter break is after because I think that instead of stopping school a few weeks before and forgetting things over break, you could have the break to relax after stressful finals,” Daniel Killian said.
Whether or not people like the placement of winter break differs amongst people. Some people love to take the two weeks as a time to prepare for finals. While others believe the time should be spent after finals as a cool down.
Either way, winter break is used as a gap to try and benefit students mentally as well as allowing time with friends and family.
Winter break also gives students the opportunity to try new things, such as skiing, snowboarding or other winter sports. These hobbies can be extremely beneficial in helping keep students active during their time off. It can also help to teach them the importance of learning new things outside of school.
Summer break can have the same effect on students. The time away from school can be detrimental and cause kids to fall behind, which is why it is important to keep busy. By staying occupied and having new things to do and learn over long periods of time, students are able to be more prepared for a learning environment.
Some great ways to stay active and engaged during summer break can be anything from reading an occasional book to attending a summer camp. Trying new things forces kids to grow, overcome fears, and become more creative.
Summer break begins at a different time, depending on where people live, but it usually lasts two to three months. During this time, kids get a healthier amount of sleep which overall helps better their mental health.
Another positive effect summer has upon students is the time away from screens. Summer is the time of year when kids can enjoy being outside and reconnecting with nature.
This helps force them to get away from phones and technology and get outside.
Being outside, especially in the summer, can greatly benefit kids. The vitamin D that students lack during the winter season can be made up for over summer break.
“I miss not having to stress about school anymore and getting to jump in the lake,” Lohf said.
The hot and humid temperature of summer also forces a high level of hydration. Over summer break, kids are forced to increase their water intake, helping with hydration levels. Children during the winter season often have a lower level of water intake than in summer, and it greatly has to do with how much students are outside.
In the winter, it is hard for kids to find time to go outside. With class taking up most of the day, and then having to spend time on homework after school, it is hard for kids to make the time for going outdoors.
Winter break creates a perfect time for kids to do this. It gives kids the time to enjoy the winter season and play in the snow. Which also helps to distance them from their phones and screens. The time spent outdoors and away from technology helps refresh not only the body but also the mind.
“Christmas break was also nice not to have to stress about school and honestly just a chance to relax and not have to do anything,” Lohf said.
While winter break is a great time to reset and take a breather, it can also be a negative thing for kids. Because some kids do not particularly like the cold weather, it forces them to stay indoors. This leads to an increase in online activity and additional hours spent on social media.
While it isn’t necessarily bad for kids to interact online, if it goes too far, it can negatively impact people’s mental and emotional well-being.
In-person interaction is the most important form of socialization. It can help build character and life skills needed for adulthood.
Summer break helps kids learn to develop unique social skills. These skills will not only be important for the summer but will be used all throughout life.
Another aspect of summer that makes kids excited for school to be out is the ability to apply for summer jobs. Kids heavily rely on their time off during summer to be able to make extra money. It is extremely hard to find time during school to manage a job and be a student, especially if students are unable to drive. It makes having a job during school almost impossible. Summer break makes finding jobs and making money for the year something most kids can rely on.
The downside of summer and winter break is it changes routine. Over the course of the school year, kids develop a daily routine. From the time kids wake up in the morning to the time they go to sleep at night, there is a routine when school is in session. Students should hold themselves accountable for their learning and how they decide to manage their time during school.
Over summer and winter break, these routines are broken, and new habits are formed. Sleeping in late in the mornings and going to bed late at night is what kids do in the summer. This makes it extremely hard for kids to get back into the routine of school days.
“My favorite part of summer is being able to relax,” Killian said. “I just like being able to sleep in until however late I want and not have to worry about any responsibilities.”
Getting back into the routine of school is one of the many things kids dislike about the inevitable approach to the end of summer. The new routines that had been formed over summer break have to be broken.
No more sleeping in or staying up till all hours at night.
Students have to revert back to their old habits and build a new routine for themselves at the beginning of the new school year.
As the new year begins and winter break has passed, students begin to feel the longing for summer once again.
The little taste of no school, homework, or stress sets in, and the need for the three-month break hits like a breath of fresh air.
