Schools close for the holidays, but young minds and bodies need to keep busy. The winter holidays can be the perfect time for families to play games that reinforce learning. ABC Life Literacy Canada offers these holiday family-time tips to help the cold days pass quickly—and these activities are so fun that your little ones won’t even realize they are practicing important literacy skills!

• Lights out, talk on: After your bedtime story, turn the lights off and create new endings to the story you just read together.
• Number Walk: As you put on your boots, choose something you want to count during your walk. It could be dogs, trees, stop signs, cars—anything you want! On your walk, count how many you can find.
• Travel the World: Use your library card as your passport to check out books or explore websites on different countries. Learn about their traditions and celebrations.
• Know it All: Together, look online for the meaning of funny words like “collywobbles” and "onomatopoeia." Test your family’s' word power!
• Game On: Start a family board game night and play a different game each week. Family members can take turns reading instructions and game cards as well as keeping score.
• Float in a Boat: Work together to fold a family fleet of origami boats. (Find all the steps in the www.FamilyLiteracyFirst.ca sample module!)

When fun learning activities become part of your family’s holiday time, everyone stays sharp and is ready to ring in the New Year in great spirits. Find more family literacy tips and activities at www.FamilyLiteracyDay.ca.