Tag Archive for: holidays

Rachel Hodis

Balancing Screen Time and Family Time Over the Holidays

Balancing screen time and family time over the holidays

In today’s digital world, screens on phones, tablets, computers, and TVs can easily take over quality time and sometimes leave families feeling disconnected despite being “together.” Learn how to strike a healthy balance between enjoying technology and nurturing meaningful family time over the holidays.

1. Set Clear Expectations Early

Start by discussing screen use with the whole family before the holidays get busy. Decide when screens are allowed and when they aren’t.

Simple rules like “one movie per night” or “screen-free mornings” are easy for everyone to follow. By setting boundaries and establishing rules, every family member knows what to expect. This can also help reduce conflict.

2. Create Screen-Free Zones and Times

Choose specific areas or moments to be device-free. Some ideas include:

  • Mealtimes
  • Board game or puzzle sessions
  • Family walks or outdoor activities

These pockets of screen-free time encourage conversation and connection. Everyone is more likely to be engaged, and these moments can create memories that will last beyond the holidays.

3. Make Technology Part of Togetherness

Screens can enhance family time if used intentionally. Consider activities like watching a holiday movie together, playing multi-player video games, or following a baking video to make a holiday treat. The key is to use screens to connect, not distract.

4. Encourage Active and Creative Play

Balance screen use with engaging, hands-on activities like crafting holiday cards, baking or cooking together, walking, biking, storytelling, reading, or playing music together.

5. Lead by Example

Children model what they see. If adults are mindful about screen use, kids are more likely to follow suit. Put phones away during meals or family projects, keep notifications silent, and show excitement for non-digital activities.

Finding the Right Balance

The holidays are an opportunity to reconnect, slow down, and embrace the simple joy of being together. With intentional planning, families can embrace both technology and togetherness.

 

 

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Rachel Hodis

Holiday Art Projects for All Ages

Holiday art projects for all ages.

The holiday season is a wonderful time to get creative and enjoy some quality moments with family, and these art projects are a fun way to do just that! Whether you’re a parent looking for engaging activities to do at home or a student seeking a creative outlet, our holiday art projects will inspire fun, learning, and festive cheer.

Fun and Easy Holiday Art Ideas for Everyone

1. Festive Greeting Cards

Design your own holiday cards to send to friends and family. Use colored paper, markers, stamps, or even collage materials like magazine cutouts and glitter. This simple project can add a personal touch to holiday cards.

2. DIY Ornaments

Create ornaments using salt dough, paper, or recycled materials. You can paint, decorate, and personalize each one, making your tree or home truly unique.

3. Winter Nature Art

Take a walk outside to collect leaves, pine cones, and twigs. Use these natural elements to create wreaths, mobiles, or textured collages. It’s a great way to connect with nature and practice observation skills.

4. Paper Snowflakes and Stars

Learn the art of paper folding and cutting to make beautiful snowflakes or stars. This project is fun for all ages and great for decorating windows and walls.

5. Holiday Storybook Illustrations

For older kids and teens, illustrate a holiday story or poem. Combine writing and drawing to create a unique keepsake or gift.

6. Cultural Art Traditions

Explore and create art inspired by different holiday traditions, like Diwali rangoli designs, Hanukkah menorah drawings, or Kwanzaa symbols. This promotes learning and fosters cultural appreciation in a fun and interactive way.

7. Gift Wrapping Creativity

Turn gift wrapping into an art project by decorating plain paper with stamps, handprints, or hand-drawn designs. Plus, personalized wrapping adds a special touch to gifts.

Tips for Enjoying Holiday Art Together

  • Set up a dedicated art space: Having a clutter-free, comfortable spot encourages creativity.
  • Gather materials ahead of time: Basic supplies like paper, glue, scissors, and paints go a long way.
  • Celebrate all skill levels: Focus on fun and effort, not perfection.
  • Make it a family tradition: Choose a project to do every year and watch creativity grow over time.

Want to Explore Art Further?

Call us at (626) 227-1149 or submit a contact form today to learn more about art lessons with our expert art instructor.

 

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Rachel Hodis

Jumpstart Your Musical Growth Over Break

Jumpstart your musical growth over break.

Breaks, whether summer vacation, winter holidays, or a long weekend, are the perfect opportunity to refocus on the things that bring you joy outside of school. If making music is one of them, a little intentional practice during your time off can lead to huge progress. With fewer deadlines, lighter schedules, and a refreshed mind, you can use this period to reignite motivation and build habits that will last long after break ends.

Revisit Your Goals

Before picking up your instrument, take a moment to reflect. What skills do you want to improve? What songs have been on your “someday” list? Setting a couple of clear goals gives your practice sessions purpose and direction.

Create a Mini Practice Plan

You don’t need to spend hours each day on your instrument. In fact, short, focused sessions can be incredibly effective. Try:

  • 10 minutes of warm-ups
  • 10 minutes of technique work
  • 10 minutes on a song you love

Consistency matters far more than duration, and this simple structure keeps practice fun and manageable while you’re on break.

Explore Something New

Breaks are a great time to experiment. Learn a new genre, try improvising, or pick up a new piece that challenges you in a fresh way. Exploring creatively keeps you inspired and can remind you why you love music.

Listen With Intention

Growth doesn’t only happen while practicing. Listening to great musicians (really listening, not just half listening while doing other things) sharpens your musical instincts. Pay attention to tone, articulation, and expression. Let yourself be inspired by artists who make you want to play more.

Reflect on Your Progress

Keep track of what you accomplish during your break. Noticing improvement builds confidence and helps you return to your regular routine with momentum.

If you’re excited to keep growing and want structured guidance, personalized support, and expert instruction, Hodis Learning & Music would love to help. Call us at (626) 227-1149 or submit a contact form to learn more about our private lessons and find the perfect instructor.

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Rachel Hodis

Holiday Home Learning

Holiday Home Learning

The holidays are a wonderful time to slow down, reconnect, and sprinkle a little extra fun into home learning.

Below are a few festive lesson ideas that blend education with the magic of the holiday season, in a way that honors a variety of beliefs and celebrations.

Multi-Faith Holiday Traditions Exploration (All Ages)

Pick 3–5 winter holidays celebrated around the world, such as Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Las Posadas, or Lunar New Year.

  • Research Together: Create a simple “Holiday Facts” sheet for each tradition with key info like origins, symbols, foods, and ways people celebrate.
  • Create a Mini Museum: Display drawings, crafts, or photos related to each holiday.
  • Discussion Prompt: What traditions from each holiday are familiar? What’s new or surprising?

This activity builds cultural literacy and can be tied to social studies and geography.

Holiday Storytelling & Creative Writing

Read seasonal stories from multiple faith backgrounds: Hanukkah tales, Nativity stories, folktales about winter, etc.

  • Younger Kids: Draw scenes from the stories.
  • Older Students: Write a short story imagining a celebration from the point of view of a person in another country or faith tradition.
  • Family Twist: Create a “Holiday Story Book” compiling everyone’s creative work.

This activity promotes literacy, builds writing skills, creativity, and fosters empathy.

STEM: Holiday Lights & Circuits

Use LED lights, a battery, and copper tape to make a simple circuit card themed to any holiday symbol like a star, candle, tree, lantern, or unity symbol.

Activities

  • Build a basic paper circuit and watch your creation light up.
  • Discuss the science behind electricity and energy transfer.
  • Expand the challenge for older students with switches or parallel circuits.

This activity is a practical application of engineering principles and builds problem-solving and fine motor skills.

Holiday Kitchen Chemistry

Every holiday has a dish at the center of celebration, whether it’s latkes, gingerbread, tamales, mooncakes, sufganiyot, or harvest fruits.

  • Baking Experiments: Compare how baking powder vs. baking soda affects cookies.
  • Cultural Cooking: Choose a recipe tied to the holiday your family celebrates, or explore one from another tradition.
  • Math Tie-In: Have kids double or halve the recipe for fraction practice.

In this activity, students apply chemistry and math lessons in a practical setting. They also learn cultural appreciation and valuable life skills.

Winter Nature Study

Bundle up and head outdoors for seasonal science activities, such as:

  • Identifying winter birds or trees.
  • Observing seasonal patterns: snow crystals, frost, shorter days.
  • Creating a nature journal with sketches and reflections.

Optional Add-On: Connect the observations to holidays tied to light and seasonal cycles, like Winter Solstice.

The activities can tie into earth science, biology, and build observation and reflection skills, as well as promote environmental awareness.

Final Thoughts

The holiday season is naturally rich with stories, science, faith, food, and creativity. It’s a perfect time to bring education to life in relevant ways.

If you’re interested in learning more about homeschooling, let’s get in touch! Call us at (626) 227-1149 or submit a contact form on our website.

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