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Friday Lessons with Uncle Jay
IT is lovely to spend time with your child but you might be wondering how to keep them occupied during the long school holidays.
There are plenty of learning and leisure activities that are both educational and fun during school holidays!
Do they bring you joy or dread? Spending quality time together is lovely, but you might be wondering how to keep your child engaged and stimulated — especially during this December break!
So, what can you do with your child during the school holidays?
This guide outlines both educational and enjoyable school holiday activities for children.
Impact of school holidays on education
If children neglect their learning, they can fall behind.
During the school holidays, your child could experience a setback in Maths equivalent to 2.6 months of progress.
Evidence shows that low-income learners, on average, lose two months of reading achievement.
The temptation may be to continue your child’s learning during the holidays.
However, it is crucial to strike the right balance between learning, relaxation, and fun, as too much academic focus may lead to resentment.
How to facilitate learning during school holidays
To prevent learning setbacks, consider engaging your child in educational activities during the school holidays.
Here are some ideas:
Encourage reading by visiting the local library, allowing your child to choose books that interest them. Have them write reading lists or book reviews.
Use the holidays for homework, revision, and addressing challenging subjects.
Explore summer schools and utilise online resources.
Educational family outings
Turn family outings into educational experiences with these ideas:
Plan a day out as an educational holiday activity in itself.
Visit places of interest
Turn trips and shopping into educational activities by having your child devise their learning projects.
Organised activities for children
When the holidays seem endless, consider enrolling your child in organised activities:
Explore sports activities at the local leisure centre, including swimming, football, dancing, and more.
Check out community and youth centres for holiday activities.
Consider joining local cubs/scouts/brownies/guides groups.
Explore school holiday clubs, summer camps, and theatre projects for a variety of experiences.
Home-based activities
For days spent at home, keep children entertained with these ideas:
Encourage making gifts or trinket boxes, following online instructions.
Involve children in cooking or food preparation, baking treats to share with relatives and neighbours.
Sort through old photographs, create scrapbooks, and watch home movies for a trip down memory lane.
Create a family tree, visit relatives, and record interesting stories with illustrations or photographs.
Facilitate virtual connections with friends through WhatsApp or phone calls.
Encourage outdoor activities like den building, treasure hunts, and family film days.
Have children maintain a ‘school holiday diary’ to document their experiences.
So, what can you do with your child during the school holidays?
Plenty—both educational and fun! Whether your children spend time working, playing, or exploring independently, school holidays offer opportunities for fun, learning, and trying new things.
These breaks are a chance to keep children’s minds active, preparing them for their return to school.
Online Reporter