With summer break right around the corner, both you and your kids will get plenty of rest. You will be able to take a break from waking up at 6 am. And your kids will take a break from rushing to school half asleep. They will be able to take a break from studying, homework, and exams. But many mums wonder; is that a good thing? Should my kids do some studying during school break? Or should they use this time to take some time off and recharge for the new school year?
Is studying during summer break a good idea?
Completely shutting off any skill weakens it. Not studying for a while can cripple certain academic skills. That is something many academic experts agree on. And we do not want that as our kids put in a lot of effort in building up those skills. In addition, neglecting those skills can make going back to school harder.
Surely, kids need time to rest, to play, and to have fun. But the best thing is to find a balance between all of these and preparing for the new academic year. Therefore, we gathered up some tips to help you do so while keeping summer break fun and enjoyable.
How to keep kids’ academic skills in shape during summer vacation?
1| Set a reading schedule.
Many studies show that there are three basic academic skills that every student should acquire. Which are reading, writing, and math. Therefore, it is our job as mums to help our kids build and practice these skills. We can do so by including them in their summer schedules – but without overdoing it. For instance, assign one hour daily for reading. You can either read for them, with them, or simply grab your own book and be by their side. Also, try having conversations about what they read later. This will encourage them to read more and share that with you.
2| Encourage them to practice writing.
In addition, it is important for us to encourage our kids to practice their writing skills. During summer break, they will have the freedom to write about whatever they want. Be it stories, poetry, or diaries. Start by getting them new notebooks and pens. And reinforce practicing this skill through rewards after doing so.
Furthermore, ask your kid if you can read what they wrote. Here, you can help correct both their spelling and grammar. But make sure to use reinforcing and supportive approaches to keep encouraging them.
3| Unleash the little math genius.
Assigning a half hour every day for math will do wonders for your child. Practicing math does not always need a sit down and a notebook. Sometimes you can practice it while doing bonding activities with your children, like cooking for example.
Your kids can count how many apples they need to make a pie. Or calculate the shopping lists total price. They can also help you measure incidents and do some math equations while doing so.
4| Make science interesting.
Hold on – you do not need any science books for this. You can easily make science interesting by doing science experiments at home. You can make a baking soda and vinegar volcano, watch stars and planets. And you can plant seeds and watch them grow into plants. These practical approaches are sometimes more educational than the theoretical ones.
5| Boost their social skills.
Finally, boosting your child’s social skills is very important. Not only for school, but for themselves as well. Signing kids up for summer clubs and group activities can contribute a lot to practicing social skills and perfecting them.
Check out fun educational toys that are great for studying during summer break!
