School may be out for winter break, but students will need more than a diet of television and video games to stay sharp over the two-week holiday, said Roxanne Owens, an assistant professor of education at DePaul University. "Kids are happier when there is something that they are involved in during the holiday," said Owens. AIf all they end up doing for two weeks is watching television, they will not move ahead." Below are a few of Owens’ suggestions for the holiday break:

--Visit museums or public libraries. Many museums have displays for the holidays which will expose children to different cultures and beliefs. A visit to the library will give children the opportunity to do recreational reading. Kids get to give their brains a rest while still using brain cells.

--Let children help with the sending of holiday greeting cards. This allows them to see the practical side of writing. Most often the only people who see children’s writing are their teachers, and then only in a classroom setting.

--Have kids keep a journal or scrapbook detailing their holiday activities. Encourage the use of pictures and drawings, and involve the entire family. At the end of the holiday season the child has a complete record of how the holidays were spent.

"If you keep children active and learning while school’s out they get a chance to explore education outside the classroom, and learn to incorporate what they learn in school into their everyday life."

Owens can be reached at 773-325-4329.Programs