Winter Break: What to Expect
Students are finishing a busy first semester and preparing to head home for winter break, which spans December 21 through January 19. So, what can you expect?
- Students will be recovering from the physical and mental strains of finals week—don’t be alarmed if your student’s top priority is to sleep.
- Catching up with high school friends may be at the top of your student’s to-do list. This is a healthy response and can affirm his or her ability to maintain long-distance friendships.
- Schedule time with your student to make sure that activities that are important to you aren’t lost in the shuffle.
- Have a conversation with your student about expectations for schedules, housework, and behavior during the month. Decide whether all of the original rules of the house still apply, and also consider some extra flexibility to take into account their newfound independence and autonomy.
- Discuss first-semester academic performance with your student. As a reminder, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) stipulates that students maintain formal control over their educational records, including their final semester grades. Parents may not review the record unless their student grants approval in writing. The best way to find out about your student’s final grades is to ask your student. (See the related article in this issue on grades.)
- Some students may consider leaving the university after a difficult semester. Parents can play a key role with such a critical decision by helping the student evaluate his or her options while deciding whether staying or moving on is the right decision.
- Don’t be surprised to hear your son or daughter refer to Madison as “home” or discuss viewpoints or values that may be unfamiliar.
By opening the lines of communication and creating clear expectations, you will make your son or daughter’s return home from UW–Madison the enjoyable and rewarding experience it should be.
What Students Say About Winter Break
Students taking a break from studying use cafeteria trays to sled down Observatory Hill.
“It took me a while to adjust to the fact that my parents had not been at college with me and that some of the changes and habits that I developed, even minor ones, were a surprise. Likewise, my parents needed to consider that I had been more independent in the past few months than ever before. This is the perfect opportunity to talk about everyone’s expectations!”
— Courtney
“I did not bring enough warm clothes home for winter break. Make sure to bring lots home!”
— Christie
“I realized for the first time over winter break how my relationship with my sister had changed ... I was no longer her dorky little brother. Once we started seeing each other less frequently, we became closer and appreciated each other more. We still like to share stories, and I’m still surprised by the similarities between my sister’s college experience and my own!”
— Andrew
“I would definitely recommend working at least a little bit, if possible. I was happy to be away from my busy school schedule for about the first week of winter break, but after that sitting on my couch got pretty boring. I picked up a few shifts at my old job and it was a good way to see people and make some money.”
— Megan
“Make sure you set goals for yourself during break. Don’t be too lazy and sleep all the time because that makes the transition back to classes in January harder. Make an effort to have at least one thing to do each day, whether it’s working, having lunch with a friend, or doing an errand.”
— Suzie
“Bring your movie collection and some books so you don’t get bored.”
— Michael