Literacy & Mathematics

English

Keep the Magic of Reading Alive This Holiday Season!

Looking for simple and fun ways to nurture your child’s love of reading over the break? Try these festive literacy ideas the whole family can enjoy.

1. Pair books with day trips Before visiting a museum, landmark, or special exhibition, read books or explore websites together to help plan your adventure. It builds excitement and enriches the experience.

2. Create a holiday reading list Head to the library and choose a stack of books your child would love to read during the holidays. Display the list somewhere visible—like the fridge—and offer small rewards as each title gets checked off.

3. Make ‘DEAR’ time fun time DEAR stands for Drop Everything and Read! Call it out spontaneously and have everyone stop what they’re doing to read for a few minutes. Treat it as a fun family tradition.

4. Read to relatives Encourage your child to share their growing reading skills with grandparents or relatives by reading them a favourite story. It’s a confidence booster—and a heart-warming way to connect.

5. Follow a recipe together Holiday cooking is a perfect chance for children to read ingredient lists and steps aloud. Afterwards, help them write a menu for guests using rich and descriptive language.

6. Create a family book tree Cut out a large paper tree and decorate it as a family. Title it “My Family Book Tree” and add a leaf with each book completed. Watch your tree—and reading habits—grow!

7. Play literacy games on road trips Travelling? Play games like “I Spy” to build early literacy skills, and don’t forget to pack plenty of books for the journey.

8. Mix things up with jokes and comics A variety of texts helps children become enthusiastic, lifelong readers. Try joke books, riddles and comics—they’re fun, engaging and full of literacy benefits.

Here is a list of recommended Australian picture books for the summer holidays:

Magic Beach by Alison Lester: This classic book perfectly encapsulates the Australian summer experience, where anything can happen at the beach.
Are We There Yet? by Alison Lester: Follow a family's journey in this engaging story as they travel around Australia, a great read for inspiring your own road trip adventures.
Greetings from Sandy Beach by Bob Graham: A charming celebration of summer holidays at the beach with a gentle, humorous tone.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar's Australian Beaches by Eric Carle: A touch-and-feel board book that introduces young readers to Australian beaches and animals.
Wombat Stew by Marcia Vaughan: A funny, classic Australian tale about a dingo who wants to make wombat stew, featuring various Australian animals.
Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French, illustrated by Bruce Whatley: The entertaining adventures of Mothball the Wombat, full of humor and expressive illustrations.
Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox and Judy Horacek: A beloved childhood staple with a simple, repetitive, and engaging story perfect for young children.
The Truck Cat by Deborah Frenkel, illustrated by Danny Snell: The winner of the 2025 Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) Picture Book of the Year award.
Ningaloo: Australia's Wild Wonder by Tim Winton: This book highlights the incredible natural world of the Ningaloo Reef and the importance of caring for our environment.
Dropbear by Philip Bunting: A humorous picture book that was featured in the 2025 summer reading guides and has been popular with readers.
Possum Magic by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas: An iconic and heartwarming Australian story where a grandmother possum makes her grandchild, Hush, invisible to keep her safe. The cure involves a culinary journey around Australia.
Who Sank the Boat? by Pamela Allen: A fun and engaging classic with cumulative text that encourages audience participation as different animals board a small boat and readers guess who causes it to sink.
Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles, illustrated by Rod Clement: The funny story of Edward, an Emu who is tired of being an Emu and tries to be a seal, a lion, and a snake before realising that being himself is the best.
Rules of Summer by Shaun Tan: A unique and visually stunning picture book with minimal text, offering a list of mysterious "rules" (e.g., "Never give your keys to a stranger") and the surreal consequences of breaking them, perfect for imaginative readers.
Bluey: The Beach by the Bluey team: Based on the highly popular Australian TV show, this lift-the-flap board book is a fun and interactive read for young children about a day at the beach.
Perfect by Danny Parker: A winner of the CBCA Book of the Year Award, this story captures the idyllic essence of a perfect summer day shared by three siblings.
There's a Sea in My Bedroom by Margaret Wild, illustrated by Jane Tanner: A beautiful, classic story about a child who longs to be at the sea and a conch shell that brings the ocean right into their room.
Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy, illustrated by Lisa Kennedy: A beautiful and vibrant introduction to Wurundjeri country and the Indigenous concept of a Welcome to Country ceremony, perfect for teaching young readers about Indigenous Australian culture and history.
An Amazing Australian Camping Trip by Jackie Hosking: A great book to read before or during a family camping holiday, full of the excitement and adventures of exploring Australia's nature.
Your Holiday Was the BEST! by Maggie Hutchings: A humorous take on the post-holiday tradition of sharing holiday stories, with one-upmanship and surprising twists.

Best wishes for a joyful Festive Season and a wonderful summer filled with fun, relaxation and plenty of reading!

Mathematics

Supporting Your Child’s Mathematics Learning Over the Summer Holidays

The summer holidays are a wonderful time for rest, play and family connection but they also provide many natural opportunities to continue developing your child’s confidence and skills in Mathematics in fun, low-pressure ways. Keeping maths “alive” over the break helps students retain key concepts and return to school feeling confident and ready to learn.

Make Maths Part of Everyday Life Some of the strongest maths learning happens outside the classroom. You might:

Cook together and talk about measurement, fractions and time.
Go shopping and compare prices, count change or estimate totals.
Tell the time, read timetables or plan travel using maps and distances.
Play board and card games that develop number sense, strategy and problem-solving.

These real-life experiences help children see the purpose and relevance of Mathematics.

Encourage a Positive Mathematical Mindset

Children learn best when they feel confident and supported. Talk positively about maths, celebrate effort rather than just correct answers, and remind your child that mistakes are part of learning. Simple phrases like “Let’s work it out together” or “I love how you tried different strategies” build resilience and confidence.

Keep It Short, Fun and Consistent

Little and often is best. A few minutes of maths-related activity several times a week is far more effective than long, formal practice sessions. Online maths games, puzzles, problem-solving apps and hands-on activities can all help maintain skills while still feeling like play.

Support at Your Child’s Level

Every child progresses at their own pace. Encourage your child to practise skills that are appropriate for their current level, whether that’s counting, basic facts, times tables, fractions or problem solving, while also challenging them just a little.

By weaving Mathematics into everyday activities and keeping learning light, fun and positive, you can play a powerful role in supporting your child’s ongoing growth in Mathematics over the summer break. Most importantly, enjoy the time together and the shared learning moments along the way.