What can I do with my Child During the School Holidays?

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 the extended summer 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 students, on average, lose 2 months of reading achievement (Entwisle, Alexander & Olson, 2000).

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The Institute for Public Policy and Research states that a long summer break impedes children's learning. Studies in the US and the UK confirm that extended breaks from studying maths and English lead to declines in children's abilities in both areas.

The temptation may be to continue your child's learning during the holidays. However, it's 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 tutoring options online using specific keywords like 'Tutors, Richmond, Maths GCSE.'
• Explore summer schools and utilise online resources, such as the BBC's CBeebies, CBBC, and Bitesize.

Play Some Quizzes

We appreciate that not all children enjoy quizzes but most do. If your child likes the challenge of answering quiz questions, you have a golden opportunity to combine "business with pleasure"!

We suggest you play the role of quizmaster with your child as the contestant. Select an age-appropriate section of our website and read aloud the questions one at a time, then fill in your child's answer. You will instantly see whether it is right or wrong and you'll be able to discuss the subjects as you go along. Scores for each quiz will automatically be recorded.

If sitting the 11 Plus is on the horizon or a plethora of GCSEs are looming, then time spent in this way might just make the difference between success and failure.  Apart from that, it really can be good fun!

Educational Family Outings

Turn family outings into educational experiences with these ideas:

• Plan a day out as an educational holiday activity in itself.
• Visit art galleries, museums, English Heritage, or National Trust properties for free, educational family outings.
• Explore zoos, safari parks, theme parks, and family festivals for learning opportunities.
• Turn trips and shopping into educational activities by having your child devise their learning projects.

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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 Skype 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. If your child is approaching GCSE exam time, check out our Pass GCSE Exams With Easy Revision article for helpful tips on effective revision.

Curious about something you've never had the chance to explore? Our Knowledge Bank is a valuable educational resource that addresses parents' questions with numerous articles on education and child-raising. Take a look—you might be surprised at what you discover!

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