Keep kids engaged through summer

The freedom and fun that the long summer holiday brings is always much anticipated (for us educators as well as the students!). And though that downtime is there to be enjoyed, all too often the holiday months can become a time when learning seems to switch off and many children start to slip down what has been coined by researchers as the ‘summer slide’ (which unfortunately is not actually as fun as it sounds!).

In short, when children end up on this ‘summer slide’ it means that the progress they have achieved during the school year through hard work and effort is at risk of being ‘lost’ in a classic case of ‘use it or lose it’.

Fortunately, however, the ‘summer slide’ is not a foregone conclusion. And there is plenty of simple things that can be done over the break to keep kids engaged.

Here are a few tips to ensure there is a good balance of ‘necessary recharging’ and ‘active engagement’. With these you can keep children up to speed and ready for action at the start of the new school year!

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Keep kids engaged through the summer break

Make a flexible plan

As much as educators love to see learning happening, the home environment shouldn’t become a ‘mini classroom’ over the holidays. If you aim to keep things relaxed yet stimulating you will be surprised at the magic that will follow.

Reading kids rule

Encourage reading in your home at every opportunity. Read to and with your children daily and focus on things they are interested in. If your little (and bigger!) ones love a competition, see if you can get them involved in a Holiday Reading Challenge – set an individual target appropriate to their needs and then celebrate when the goal is achieved!

Visit your local library

Libraries are an amazing community hub which are not only fabulous for discovering new books and authors to expose your children to but they also offer many free activities that children of all ages can become involved in – be sure to check yours out!

Explore your environment

Remember that healthy and active kids learn! Help to limit screen time by encouraging hands-on imaginative and investigative play both indoors and outside – the world around us is so full of awe and wonder!

Go on an adventure

Hop on a train and head into Brisbane City to visit the Museum or Art Gallery for a dose of culture that will inspire and engage children of any age.

Show gratitude

Encourage your child to be grateful for all that they have by keeping their own gratitude journal. (This helps with their writing too!). Can be as simple as three things a day!

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Get creative

Make daily activities like cooking, shopping and household chores fun and learning will be a positive and beneficial side-effect!

By Kelly Mulcahy Primary Learning Leader Unity College, Caloundra West


RELATED:
Fun indoor activities for kids (that will help their literacy too!)
25 ways to ask your kids ‘how was school today?’

LoveAvery early learning toys

By Claire Gilligan
WITH A FIFO HUSBAND WHO WORKS AWAY WEEKS AT A TIME, CLAIRE ENJOYS FINDING FUN, LOCAL THINGS TO DO AND PLACES TO VISIT TO OCCUPY HER AND HER TWO GIRLS' TIME. ORIGINALLY FROM SYDNEY, CLAIRE AND HER FAMILY LOVE ALL THE THINGS THE SUNSHINE COAST HAS TO OFFER AND ENJOY SHOWING IT OFF TO VISITING FAMILY AND FRIENDS. Kids on the Coast is a free family magazine whats on guide for Kids: things to do, school holiday fun and free activities for kids... Fun attractions, family food & travel, kids health & wellbeing, kids parties venues, parenting, pregnancy & babies, guide for parents. Servicing Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and beyond, Kids on the Coast is an online guide for parents with kids things to do with kids, schools and education and lifestyle news located on Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast & Brisbane, QLD.

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