In the UK, we’re nearing the end of the summer school term and already my email inbox and Instagram feed is awash with educational workbooks and programmes that claim to ‘beat the summer slide’.
Can I just stress very clearly that the summer slide is entirely expected and children really need a break from academic work over the summer holidays. There is absolutely no need to recreate school at home during the summer months.
When I was teaching, the start of year levels never matched the results that had been passed on from the previous year. There was always a dip in levels because the children had been relaxing and enjoying the summer.
However, with that being said I don’t recommend that your child spends the six weeks of summer break in front of screens. Here are some ideas to try:
Find a Summer Rhythm
Whilst it can be beneficial to have a complete break from any scheduling, a simple summer rhythm can help keep days focused. It can be wonderful to have the odd pyjama day, but doing absolutely nothing for the entire break can have it’s downsides too.
You might wish to create a regular daily rhythm so the children know what to expect each day, or you might want to theme your days. For example:
Monday: park trip
Tuesday: crafts
Wednesday: day trip
Thursday: baking
Friday: play date
Holding a family meeting at the start of the break is also a good way for everyone in the family to contribute their ideas.
You can find out more about creating a family rhythm (for any season) here:
Embrace Boredom
Whilst we love to have a summer rhythm, this is very different from a regimented hour-by-hour entertainment schedule. Factor in time each day where your child can play uninterrupted.
Hopefully with it being summer, you can get your children to spend plenty of time outside. Making potions with herbs and flowers - whether you have a mud kitchen or not - is a simple way to spend more time outdoors.
To aid independent play time, I find the following resources help:
Arts and crafts materials that are readily available (start collecting some recycling now!)
A good selection of books
Outdoor toys/ resources: e.g. mud kitchen, skipping rope, swing ball set
Blankets and old sheets to make a fort or den
My daughter’s recent school report praised her vivid imagination and story writing skills - I put that down to the fact my children have plenty of time to play independently each day!
Daily Read Aloud Sessions
I’ve always said that if you can only do one thing with your children, then reading is a great choice!
Whilst we typically read aloud at bedtime, recently we have started doing afternoon tea story hour. I usually bake something with the help of the children, then we read aloud from a children’s classic.
On the weekend we visited Oxford and I bought a beautiful full-colour illustrated edition of The Hobbit. We intended to read this over the holidays, taking it in turns to read from the book.
Not only is this a really lovely way to spend time together as a family, but listening to stories helps boost vocabulary and aids comprehension.
However, If you don’t have time to make storytelling an event try podcasts or audiobooks for your children to listen to whilst they play.
Soon I will be launching my brand new blog which will focus on children’s literature and the art of reading aloud. Subscribe to get weekly ideas!
Museums and Special Events
I’m sure you’ve already been targeted by hundreds of ads about school holiday events - I know I have! We try to aim for a mix of paid and free events so that summer holiday spending doesn’t get out of hand.
Museum trips are hugely educational and most are now much better at providing child friendly interactive resources and guides. In the UK at least, free admission to museums means that they are an excellent choice for a budget friendly holiday season.
Museums, stately homes and special events are also a great way to spark new interests that your child might want to peruse further over the course of the holidays.
Embrace Micro Interests
Whilst themes can be fun, over—planning themed activities can make summer feel a little too much like school. Instead, I like to see what sparks my children’s’ interests after day trips.
Recently, my daughter decided to write a Fairy Guidebook after visiting Castle Ashby and completing the fairy trail. The activity inspired her to use the fairy names to create her own guide, complete with pictures and descriptions.
The thing is, this was all driven by her interest and she wanted to write the guide.
I keep the art and craft supplies well stocked during the summer break so that the children can act upon their interests as and when they want to.
Learn a new skill
The summer holidays are the perfect time to learn a brand new skill. From learning crochet to riding a bike without stabilisers, the summer holidays allow you to focus on skills that you might not ordinarily have time for.
Many non-academic skills also compliment academic work anyway. For example, arts and crafts help develop fine motor skills which in turn helps children to improve their handwriting. Physical activities such as riding a bike aid balance and good balance is actually needed in order for children to sit still at school! Learning how to cook or bake helps children understand mathematical skills such as ratios and measurements better.
In Summary…
There are plenty of activities your child can do during the summer holidays that will be of huge benefit to them without having to add worksheets to the list. Taking time out to relax, spend time with family, explore new places and pursue other interests is more than enough!
Coming soon
At the end of this week, I’ll be releasing the ‘6 Weeks of Summer’ guide to members. Find out more about paid subscriptions here: