In just a few days, kids from all over the Greater Houston area will receive a reprieve from the classroom and head into Spring Break. This is the ideal time for students to exhale and recharge before finishing out the school year.

Teach For America Houston, a local nonprofit organization that works to expand educational opportunities for all children offers a few tips to help students make the most of their Spring Break, so they return refreshed and ready to head into the final stretch.

Take a break from tech. With COVID pushing us all even closer to our technology, it’s important to take a break. Put the laptops and phones away and get outside to enjoy one of Houston’s many free parks, trails, or green spaces, or tap into your creative side with some journaling, drawing, painting, dancing, listening to music, or attending museums on their free admission days.

Get plenty of rest. Good sleep and proper rest are important parts of maintaining physical wellness and ensuring new learning and information can be properly absorbed and internalized once school starts back up again.

Minimize schoolwork. Students are typically in classrooms for eight hours a day, so breaks are important for them to tap into what brings them joy outside of school to support their social and emotional needs. If students receive assignments to complete over break, carve out one day or a specific time each day for them to complete them and leave the rest of the time for them to focus on non-school things.

Take a trip. Work and school routines can keep us insulated from the rest of the world. If time and budget permit, take an overnight or day trip to see the sights outside of Houston. There are several state parks within a short distance from Houston where you can hike, camp, and explore nature (Brazos Bend, Lake Houston, Huntsville, and Galveston to name just a few.)

Play, Relax, Family, Repeat. Leave space for kids and adults to have ample time for play, relaxation, and time with family. This will ensure that social, emotional, and physical wellness needs are being catered to throughout the week.

“The last two and half years have been stressful for everyone, especially parents and students as they continue their school and work routines while navigating the challenges brought on by the pandemic and keeping safety top-of-mind,” said Meghan Jump Humphries, Managing Director of District Impact for Teach For America Houston. “We really encourage families to use the week off from school to decompress for both their physical and mental well-being.”

For more information about Teach For America Houston, visit https://www.teachforamerica.org/where-we-work/houston.