As staff and families prepare for summer holidays, a question we are often asked is what learning can parents have their children do over the summer. This is a fair question of course, but the answer is as complex as children are themselves. To distil it into one statement: it depends on your child. All sorts of factors come into play: their interests, their habits, what your family is doing for the summer, goals you and/or your child might have, whether there are ongoing learning targets for your child…the list goes on.
That said, our advice to families is usually based on some underlying principles:
Keep it fun. We all know that we learn best when we enjoy it. Build the learning into games. There are literally hundreds of word games, maths games, map games…that can be played individually or with others. Don’t talk about it being learning; just talk about it being a game.
Use your child’s interests. This connects with keeping it fun. Does your child like reading? Art? Sports? Computers and video games? Learning can be built into just about anything. Drawing can reinforce learning about mathematical concepts of shape. Educational video games can contain lots of learning. Or maybe encourage your child to start some basic level programming.
Make it interactive. Learning is very powerful when done with other people. This is a great time to have quality time with your child.
Keep up the reading. If your child likes to read, fantastic; just make sure there are plenty of reading materials at the right level (an easy, comfortable level). And I don’t think I have ever met a child who doesn’t like to be read to. Reading with or to your child is another great way to spend quality time. It does not have to be in English; many of the higher-level reading comprehension skills will be developed in your child’s native language.
Keep it in the moment. Use what you and your child are doing on the holiday. Are you going on a trip? Get your child to help with the planning, the calculations, the shopping, etc. With your child, maybe keep a trip journal. Make it interactive by making it an online journal or blog that friends and family can read.
Take a break. This is perhaps the most important. Everyone needs a holiday, children especially. School holidays are a time for children to relax, get out and play, maybe see family and friends, do all sorts of things not school-related (and learn all sorts of things incidentally), and come back to school energised and ready for a new school year. So, while you might have your child do some school-type of learning, we suggest keeping it to a minimum.
Primary Curriculum Coordinator – Jim Wilcox