Fun Ways to Keep Learning these School Holidays

Understandably, it can be difficult for children to remain motivated and engaged with their learning while on holidays. After all, they’ve just spent the past few months reading, writing, counting and problem-solving, so it’s only fair that they’re ready for their school break when it rolls around. With that said, it’s still extremely important to try to encourage as much learning and productivity as possible during those holiday breaks to avoid that dreaded “brain drain” when your children return to school.

There are plenty of activities and ideas you can implement to ensure your child is keeping their brain active, but also still enjoying their holiday.

Consider these three top ideas:

1. Ditch the Screens

Excessive screen time is the biggest culprit for a still and stagnant brain. Sure, most kids

love nothing more than to sit back and watch their favourite movies or TV shows for hours on end, but it’s likely to do them more harm than good. Not only will your children become increasingly reliant on their screens for entertainment purposes, prolonged exposure to devices can also cause issues with their social and physical health.

It’s unrealistic (and perhaps a little bit unfair) to completely remove screen time from your child’s holiday activities, but you can consider allocating a certain amount of time for screens each day. Additionally, when your child is watching TV, try to encourage them to watch something educational, ensuring their brain remains active and switched on.

2. Continued Reading

The easiest way to encourage continued learning is by reading. Reading is a part of day-to-day life that often goes unnoticed, but can certainly be boosted to improve your child’s skills and knowledge. Encourage your child to read a book of their choice for half an hour each day. You might like to read with them too, or even read your own book at the same time to show some moral support. If your child enjoys educational or interactive books, this is your perfect opportunity to spark a bit of brain power.

3. Get Out of the House

A simple fact of life is that children get bored easily. So why not get out and enjoy some of the amazing local gems we have right at our doorstep. There are a number of free places, such as:

Briars Park
Seawind Gardens
Hastings boardwalk
Various local beaches

Going to these places not only gives you an opportunity to teach your children about nature and the great outdoors, they’re also likely to enjoy the change of scenery and appreciate a change of pace.

Keeping your kids engaged and active during school holidays can be a difficult task, but it’s certainly not impossible. Ask your children to be involved in the decision-making processes too and, as a team, you can create a holiday break that is informative and most importantly, enjoyable for you both.

Don't Forget to Check out your Child's Home Learning Page!

Please click on the link below to visit your child’s Home Learning Page to stay up to date with their learning.

Wellbeing

with Lisa Galvin