The summer holidays have arrived for many schoolchildren in the UK and their families. Summer is a great time for educational activities, fun trips and experiences, and relaxation in between busy school years. You might have copious plans of places to go or things to do, or you might have left the planning to the last minute. Regardless, there are many ways to optimise your summer holidays, ensuring that the whole family has a fun, refreshing time and the children are ready for the year ahead.
Make Plans, Be Spontaneous
At the start of the summer holidays, think of what you, your child, and your family want to achieve. Is there a book to read, a place to visit, or a skill to learn? What will make you feel accomplished come September? Try to pick goals that are specific and achievable. Instead of deciding to read more classic books, pick one author or novel. Most importantly, these goals should be enjoyable. Summer is a time for fun—while this fun can be educational, it should still match the interests of you or your child.
Not every moment of your summer needs to be planned out. Make sure you leave room for spontanaiety. A free day can lead to a surprising family trip, or an unscheduled afternoon might prompt someone to pick up a new book or watch a documentary on a new topic. While much of the school year follows a set curriculum, the summer can be a great time to develop new interests and hobbies.
At Home Activities
Whether it’s a rainy day or simply to late to get out of the house, there are plenty of ways to spend a day at home. In the summer, your local library or bookshop is your best friend. Look for books on topics or in genres that are interesting to you or your child—a deep dive into a science or history topic, or into a new book series, is a great way to spend the summer. No matter the book, reading throughout the summer will help readers prepare for the year ahead.
Other activities can be more hands-on, such as crafts, cooking, or playing educational games or toys. Activities such as crafts and cooking can help young children build fine motor skills, exercise creativity, and practice following instructions. In older children, they allow for creative expression, maths practice, and a sense of independence and achievement. Games, including pretending games, board games, and video games, help with logical thinking, creativity, and problem solving.
Adventures Outside the House
Whether it is a planned activity or a spur-of-the-moment event, a day out can be a great way to entertain and educate the whole family. This could be to a museum, park, or another town or region altogether. As you plan the event, think about what will appeal to each participant. Are there different kinds of activities for younger children, teenagers, and adults? Will there be information that caters to everyone’s different interests? Don’t forget to plan some down time, such as a lunch or free time to run around outdoors. This will help keep everyone energised and happy and give you an opportunity for surprise adventures.
Longer trips come with many opportunities for fun and learning. A holiday to another region or country may provide an opportunity to learn a new history, the basics of another language, or elements of another culture, such as food and music. You might notice a difference in climate or geography, or in the art and architecture of a city. You can look up museums and other tourist attractions before you travel, but even without planning educational activities, you can make the most of your trip by helping everyone stay curious and observational.
Relax
You and your child have worked hard this past school year. In order to be fresh and ready for the year ahead, you and your family need time to relax. Sleeping in late, spending time with friends, having long, unstructured evenings…all this helps children to unwind, destress, and recharge for the next school year. Moreover, summer boredom gets them excited for new activities and prompts them to be creative and proactive with their time.
The summer is a great time for building on lessons learned in school, exploring new topics and skills, and developing creativity and independence. It is good to enter the summer with goals and a plan for your family but allow time for spontaneous activities, creative downtime, and boredom. Out of unscheduled time and unplanned events come new lessons and interests that help children grow and prepare not only for the next school year, but for many years beyond.
Prepare for the Year Ahead
Maybe your child needs to catch up on some skills from the previous school year, or maybe they are just excited to get ahead. Regardless, the summer is a great time to prepare for the next school year. For some children, a more formal setting is very helpful. You can look to summer tutoring programmes or organise a study group with friends. You might invest in a workbook targeted towards their age and school year and set goals throughout the summer holiday for lessons learned and skills achieved.
Outside of formal lessons, parents can help their child retain their schooling from the previous year and prepare for the next by encouraging them to practice skills in their everyday activities. A child might research and write up a few paragraphs on a topic in science or history that interests them. Parents might ask comprehension questions about the book their child is reading or the TV series they are watching. Or they might let them use maths skills to plan and budget for a shopping trip or afternoon out with friends. This way, children can keep on top of their school lessons, while learning how to apply them to fun summer activities.
Tutoring Programmes from A Star Tutoring
If you’re using the summer holidays as an opportunity to boost your child’s grades, A Star Tutoring are here to help! We offer tutoring services in a variety of subjects, including maths, english, science and more. Our tutors are highly qualified and experienced in their respective fields, and are committed to helping students succeed. We also offer test preparation services for specialised tests like the 11, 12 and 13+ exams, as well as GCSEs and A-Levels.
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