Ensuring Continuous Education for Kids During Summer Breaks

Revamped Take:

Catch up on some quality time with your kiddo during their summer vacation from private school. Here's a fun fact - Kids can potentially lose up to 40% of what they've learned over the summer break! Fear not, buddy, as there's a boatload of enjoyable ways to help your child steer clear of this dreaded 'summer learning loss.' Buckle up and let's ride along!

Just How Much Learning Should My Child Embrace This Summer?

We aren't suggesting you turn the summer into an educational boot camp and forget about fun! Instead, we recommend setting aside about an hour filled with entertainment, and replace this hour with educational activities sprinkled throughout the day in manageable chunks.

The amount of learning you encourage your child to embrace this summer relies on a couple of factors, mainly their age, stage, and enthusiasm for learning. You know what makes your child tick better than anyone, so you're in the driver's seat to judge when your child has had their fill of learning and needs some down time. Aim for around 10-40 minutes per task and give 'em a pat on the back when they've done an awesome job!

Got Any Hacks To Keep My Child Learning This Summer?

Here are a few of our favorite ways to keep your child's educational journey going strong!

Let the Reading Adventure Continue!

Not only will keeping your child's reading up maintain their reading skills when they head back to school, but it can also offer them a chance to unwind. Set some reading goals for your child this summer, so they've got something to aim for without putting too much pressure on. Aim for a minimum of 20 minutes per day, but adjust based on their ability and interest.

If you're planning to watch a movie based on a book, why not catch up on the book with your kiddo beforehand? Or, check out some intriguing weekly magazine subscriptions to get them hooked on something that piques their interest!

Write On, Partner!

Reading and writing go together like peanut butter and jelly, so it's crucial to keep up your child's writing practice this summer, too. A fantastic way to encourage them to write is to have them keep a summer journal! Not only will this help maintain their writing skills, but it'll also foster introspection and make for a cool keepsake in the future.

Some other methods to keep up their writing practice could include:

Writing postcards to friends and family
Crafting a holiday scrapbook
Handwriting practice

Keep Math Skills Sharp!

Understanding math is vital for supporting your child's mental agility. Keeping up with your child's math learning doesn't have to feel like a chore! Why not try these fun ideas:

Count their holiday or pocket money: Help them count their pocket money in a variety of coins to keep things interesting.
Card or board games: This is a brilliant way to spark their problem-solving skills and make math feel like a blast!
Let them lend a hand in the kitchen: Teach them to weigh and measure ingredients for cooking, and explore the differences between ounces, kilograms, and so on.

Putting a little effort into math games can help keep them engaged!

Speak and Listen

Encouraging spoken communication with your child will help them better understand social situations and expand their vocabulary. Try sitting down at the end of each day to chat about their experiences. Be sure to give them your undivided attention when they speak, and encourage them to return the favor.

If you want to keep things engaging, try some storytelling games, like 'what if' scenarios, to supercharge their imagination.

Foster Independence

The summer holidays are a fantastic opportunity to help your child learn how to stand on their own two feet. Sometimes doing things for them is easier and more convenient, but they're growing up, and the summer break is a perfect time to work on their independence.

Start by giving them one small task to help them grasp how to follow instructions, then slowly add more tasks.

Some other great ways to encourage independence in young children are:

Allow them to choose their outfits for the day (this can help them feel more confident in decision-making).
Have them help out with chores like cooking or tidying.
Delegate simple, manageable chores like putting away their toys when they're done playing with them.
Encourage free play: Unstructured play is great for fostering creativity and problem-solving skills in children, and it also provides you with some well-deserved downtime.

Tips for Helping Kids Learn at Home

Here are some tips to help you guide your kids' learning during the summer.

Make Learning Enjoyable!

No matter what the subject, make sure your lessons are as fun and entertaining as possible! If you're working on reading, why not have them act out the lines they've read? If you're focusing on math, try baking together, or give some fun summer garden craft ideas a whirl!

Educational Outings

Everyone needs a break every now and then, but that doesn't mean you need to stop learning!

The summer holidays can seem endless now, but they'll be over before you know it. We can't wait to hear about all the ways your children have continued their classroom learning when we welcome them back in September! If you've been considering private education for your child, don't hesitate to contact their Director of Admissions & Marketing, Rachel Elliott, at 01395 280335 or email rachel.elliott@our school's website.

Engage in learning activities that promote personal growth and self-development, such as reading, writing, and math, during the summer break to help avoid the 'summer learning loss.' To make learning enjoyable, try turning reading into an acting performance, using real-life situations while focusing on math, or engaging in educational outings like museum visits or nature walks.