It is the third week in February – a week when many families across the country have what’s called a winter holiday – a week off from school! While many wonder why a break is needed when kids just returned six weeks ago following the December holiday season, some of us look forward to celebrating winter weather with our children (and/or with our loved ones) – either by getting away from it – or immersing ourselves in it! It’s a time for adventure and different kinds of lessons: traversing ice-covered paths like this one in Southwest Harbor, Maine – or skating across a nearby pond. The ice brings alive animated fantasies like Frozen – helping children (and adults) realize that ice castles are actually possible! It’s a chance to witness small wonders like a beautiful brook flowing in the midst of a frozen mountain.
Living on the East Coast, I have always celebrated the cold weather and especially the snow. Growing up in southern California, the seasons varied from moderate temperatures to hot.
So I am someone who wanted to immerse my family in the winter – rather than escape to warmer destinations as some. Regardless of where you spend your February break – at the beach with Grandma or in the snow-covered mountains – the time together is invaluable.
Family vacations can play a big part in children’s memories. An older friend told me once that though his kids didn’t seem to even enjoy the road trips they used to regularly take, …