When I was about 7, I transferred to a Los Angeles public school “Year-round” schedule. The effect, for my elementary school, was a short summer break (boo), and an extra-long winter break (also, as it turns out, boo).
That year, my parents enrolled me in “winter camp,” which was like summer camp but less fun. It was an El Niño year, and incessant rain had turned the swimming pools an unhealthy shade of green. I honestly don’t remember what we did with most of our days; Perhaps we made too many lanyards and argued with each other.
In an effort to mix things up, the camp organized a whale watching trip for us (Jan Gray whale season in Southern California). But as soon as we got out to sea, a huge storm blew up, battering our boat so hard that every camper except me was thrown off. Lest you think I’m spared: the rain soaked my clothes so much that my pants fell off in front of everyone. We didn’t see any whales.
All of this is to say that winter break can be strange for kids: there are often family visits and holiday celebrations, but it’s also a time when school is out, the weather is bad, and there’s not always much to do. In many places, there’s no longer enough snow for previous winter activities — you can’t really make a snowman out of winter mix. One year, I took my older child on a desperate trek to the dollar store to get out of the house in subfreezing temperatures. Things can get rough.
I have no advice for the short, strange days at the end of the year except to honor them in any way you can. We celebrate Christmas in my family, so my kids will open presents this week, and then probably scatter their pieces liberally around the house. My 2 year old screams, “It’s Halloween!” And then, when corrected, quietly laments, “Halloween is all over.” I get it – I like Christmas well, but I like Halloween.
Whether you’re celebrating or not, remember that these are the darkest days on the calendar, and no matter what happens with the weather or everything else, the days are already getting longer. Get some sleep if you can. Take your kids to see the night sky – Venus is really good This month and is no A drone picks them up if they’re reasonably calm bird watching.
I’ll skip Thursday, January 2nd, but I’ll be back with you on January 9th. Thanks so much to everyone who’s been reading (and sending in questions, podcast recommendations, and stories about babies hibernating in toy nests) these past few months, and I’ll see you in the new year!
what i’m reading
School districts are preparing The Trump administration is bracing for a possible immigration crackdown, holding seminars for families on their legal rights and training staff on how to respond when ICE agents show up at schools.
There is a roundup of 74 Chart that defines education in 2024Epidemic learning losses and children’s smartphone use data.
The upside down beauty has begun Selling mystery balls with toy versions of beauty products inside, perhaps as a means of wooing the desired Sephora tween Demographics
We are contractually allowed to continue reading our Christmas books until December 31st, at which point my husband will put them aside for the next 11 months. My toddler especially enjoys it Choose a pine treeA sweet rhyming story about decorating trees, and How does Santa go down the chimney?Which (spoiler) fails to answer that age-old question.
from my inbox
I get a lot of questions about moving to Australia Ban children from social mediaAnd in the new year, I’ll look at the pros and cons Such prohibitions. As I report on this, I want to hear from you: Have the kids in your life experienced any positive effects from social media? We hear so much about the negative that I am very interested in the flip side. Contact anna.north@vox.com.
