Keeping Students Learning During the Holiday Break With Games

As the Christmas holiday break approaches, teachers face a familiar challenge: how do you help students hold onto learning without assigning “busy work” they’ll dread?

Between travel, family celebrations, and much-needed rest, students aren’t often eager to crack open a packet of worksheets. But they will happily play a quick game—especially one that feels rewarding, social, and low-pressure.

Game-based learning offers a powerful way to keep skills sharp over the holidays while still giving students the fun, restorative break they deserve.

Why Learning Loss Happens Over Long Breaks

Extended breaks can create noticeable dips in retention—especially for vocabulary, math fluency, and content-heavy subjects like science or social studies. Research on summer learning loss shows that students can lose up to two months of previously learned math skills during extended breaks, and achievement gaps can widen significantly when students lack access to learning opportunities outside of school (Munro, 2023).

Why it happens:

• Students go days or weeks without retrieval practice
• Memory pathways weaken when concepts aren’t revisited
• Traditional “review packets” don’t motivate consistent practice
• Families want rest, not more paperwork

But the good news is that even short bursts of retrieval practice can dramatically reduce learning loss. According to cognitive psychology, engaging with content for as little as 5–10 minutes every couple of days helps reinforce memory and strengthen recall.

That’s where game-based learning shines.

Want to create a holiday review game in under 2 minutes? Try BrainFusion free—no credit card required.

How Games Make Holiday Learning Feel Like Play

Games naturally encourage repetition, challenge, and intrinsic motivation—three ingredients essential for long-term retention. Research shows that game-based learning has moderate to large positive effects on cognitive outcomes, social engagement, emotional development, and student motivation (Alotaibi, 2024).

1. Low-Stakes Practice Reduces Stress

Students can play without the pressure of grades, which fosters persistence and curiosity.

2. Immediate Feedback Strengthens Memory

Game-based platforms return right/wrong responses instantly, reinforcing correct information and correcting misconceptions before they settle in.

3. Short Play Sessions Fit Easily Into Family Routines

A 5-minute review as students ride in the car, wait for dinner, or relax at home keeps learning alive without adding stress.

4. Competition and Progress Loops Keep Students Engaged

Leaderboards, points, streaks, and levels trigger motivation centers in the brain—especially helpful for students who struggle with traditional assignments.

These game-based learning benefits are supported by research demonstrating improved learning outcomes and student engagement when educational content is delivered through interactive, game-like experiences (MDPI, 2023).

Practical Ways to Use Games Over the Christmas Holiday Break

Using games to prevent learning loss during extended breaks is a recognized strategy supported by educational research (Connections Academy, 2024). Here are teacher-approved strategies that make learning over break simple, enjoyable, and effective.

1. Send Home a “Holiday Review Game Pack”

Instead of a packet of worksheets, send a short set of digital games your class can play anytime over break.

What to include:

• 1–3 quick review games for core skills
• A note to families encouraging short, fun play sessions
• Optional challenges (e.g., “Complete 3 rounds of Ninja Fruit Frenzy this week!”)

Using a platform like BrainFusion Games makes this easy—create a single question set and let students play it across multiple game modes.

2. Create Daily or Weekly Mini Challenges

Students love challenges they can complete quickly.

Try:

• “12 Days of Learning” — one short game per day
• Winter Break Bingo — each square is a quick learning task or game
• Weekly leaderboard shout-outs shared in your LMS or classroom newsletter

These simple challenges give students a sense of achievement and continuous progress.

3. Make It Social With Family-Friendly Games

Many families enjoy activities that bring everyone together.

Design games that invite participation:

• Vocabulary or trivia students can play with parents
• Math challenges where siblings compete
• Science or history “holiday quests”

BrainFusion's no-login join codes make it easy for family members to jump in—no accounts, no setup.

4. Turn Review Content Into Holiday-Themed Games

A little seasonal flair goes a long way.

Try prompts like:

• “Create a winter adventure review game for 5th-grade fractions”
• “Holiday-themed vocabulary practice for ELA”
• “Christmas trivia mixed with chemistry review”

Small touches—snowy backgrounds, holiday icons, festive wording—make practice feel fresh and fun.

5. Use Game Analytics to Start January Strong

When students return, use question-level data to see:

• Which concepts stuck
• Where students struggled
• Who needs reteaching or enrichment

Platforms like BrainFusion give teachers insight into missed questions and performance trends—helping you plan the first week back with confidence.

Best Practices for Holiday Learning Games

Do:

• Keep activities short
• Use multiple game modes to maintain interest
• Provide clear but low-pressure expectations
• Celebrate participation, not perfection

Avoid:

• ❌ Assigning too much (students won't complete it)
• ❌ Grading holiday activities
• ❌ Assuming families will set up accounts or new apps

A Ready-to-Use Holiday Break Plan

Here’s a simple structure you can copy:

Before break:

1. Create a BrainFusion game set from your recent unit
2. Add 1–2 alternate modes (e.g., Quiz Quest + Ninja Fruit Frenzy)
3. Share links or join codes with families

During break:

• Optional mini challenge prompts (“Play one game this week!”)

After break:

• Use analytics to guide warmup activities and reteaching plans

Keep Learning Light, Fun, and Flexible This Holiday Season

Holiday breaks should recharge students—not overwhelm them. Game-based learning offers that perfect balance of fun and skill reinforcement, helping students return in January confident and ready.

With BrainFusion, you can turn any topic into an engaging game in minutes—perfect for low-stress holiday learning.