Pros and cons of holiday breaks

Advantages of an extended school holidayThere are some obvious advantages to a vacation that lasts three weeks or longer. Families who live a long distance from relatives are able to travel, sometimes across the ocean, in order to connect with their loved ones.Even if you don’t have family far away, an extended holiday is a great opportunity to travel. From an educational standpoint, a child that is able to experience another culture can gain valuable language, history, and social skills.Some activities are best carried out over an extended holiday. If communities and schools have enrichment programmes during the holiday vacation, then students can participate in activities that would be difficult to do during a regular school term.Disadvantages of an extended school holidayOne of the primary concerns for people who are against a prolonged vacation is because of the “forgetfulness” factor. Critical academic skills need daily repetition and teachers know that parents may not be able to carry out practice at home. This is true for some subjects and age groups; for example students learning to read must practice these skills consistently or the teacher will have to re-teach some of the concepts.The same goes for foreign languages and math facts. Even with a homework packet, some children may not have a home environment that encourages learning.Advantages of a short holidayFrom a financial standpoint, parents typically like a short holiday vacation because of the cost associated with childcare and day camps. With a short vacation, families can celebrate the holiday, have a bit of rest, and return to school before the vacation turns into a stressful experience for working parents.Most work places do not have the same vacation time so low income families must struggle to find child care takers if there is an extended holiday.Disadvantages of a short holidayAdults understand that sometimes it takes a person’s mind a long period of time to wind down. When the vacation starts, it takes a few days for the child to transition to a freer schedule and routine. Once they make the transition, more creative imaginative play can be developed. If the holiday is short, then the child (and the parents) spends most of the vacation either transitioning out of the school routine or transitioning back into it.www.teachthought.com