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Spring break is often seen as a time for relaxation and leisure, but it also presents a unique opportunity for high school students to engage in enriching learning experiences. As parents, you can guide your teenager to use this break productively, balancing well-deserved rest with activities that foster growth and learning.

Encouraging your child to participate in educational programs or workshops during spring break can be highly beneficial. Many educational institutions and community centers offer short courses or workshops in a variety of fields, from creative arts to science and technology. These programs provide an avenue for students to explore new interests or deepen existing ones in an immersive, yet time-bound setting.

Volunteering is another valuable way to spend spring break. Engaging in community service not only contributes to personal development but also strengthens college applications. Whether it’s helping at a local charity, participating in environmental clean-up or working with underprivileged groups, these experiences cultivate empathy, responsibility and a sense of community involvement.

For students looking towards college, spring break is also an ideal time for college visits, although depending on the calendar, those colleges might also be on break. Exploring campuses, meeting faculty and interacting with current students can provide insights into college life and help in making informed decisions about future academic paths.

Self-led learning projects are also a great option. Encouraging your teen to start a project, whether it’s learning a new language, starting a blog or building a small invention, promotes self-discipline and initiative. Such projects can spark creativity and might even lead to a new passion or career interest.

Remember, the goal of spring break learning is not to overwhelm your teen but to provide them with opportunities to grow and learn in a relaxed and enjoyable environment. By balancing leisure with constructive activities, spring break can become a time of both rejuvenation and meaningful learning.

About the author
Marc Zawel

As author of Untangling the Ivy League, Marc literally wrote the book on gaining admission to highly selective colleges. He earned a BA from Cornell University – where he met AcceptU’s co-founder – and an MBA from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. At UNC, Marc chaired the admissions advisory board; he has also conducted alumni interviews for Cornell for more than fifteen years.

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