JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Winter break is here for students across Northeast Florida. While the holidays are a time to relax, education experts say too much downtime can lead to learning loss — even during short breaks.
Researchers call it the “winter slide.” Studies show students can lose ground in subjects like math and spelling when they’re away from structured learning for one to two weeks. That can make it harder to catch up when classes resume.
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“You definitely want to stay as engaged as possible because you’re definitely going to have some milestone testing when you come back,” said Twilla Washington, Director of Case Management for Communities In Schools of Jacksonville.
The nonprofit works with students who face barriers to success.
Washington says parents don’t need to spend a lot to keep kids learning.
Simple activities can make a big difference.
Ideas include:
- Playing board games
- Reading recipes together
- Following instructions for a game
Younger children are especially at risk because they’re still building foundational skills in reading and math.
Educational research shows that after two or more weeks away from structured learning, students often experience measurable declines in reading fluency and math problem-solving.
“The closer you get to coming back to that routine of school starting back, you should start winding it down those last two or three nights,” Washington added.