Bridging the summer learning gap

Should children study during the summer break? It’s a hot topic of debate between parents, children and educators. As the final days of term wind down, switching off is on everyone’s minds and children absolutely should enjoy the long, heady days of holidays! However, switching off from learning completely can make the return to school in September even more challenging.

Flex those brain muscles

Scientific research shows that our brain acts like a muscle – you either use it or lose it! Think of learning maths and English in the way you would a sport. No matter how hard you work on your chosen sport, if you do nothing for six weeks, it will take time to get back to your previous standard. The learning process is the same; keeping up the momentum and engaging the brain during the summer break is essential to ensuring that children are in the best position when they return to school in September.

Fun ways to learn ‘accidentally’ over the summer break

Secret opportunities to learn are all around us. That is activities that feel more like play and less like school. Engaging your children in playful learning activities will support your child when they return to school in September, but the benefits are much greater than this - it’s about igniting curiosity, thinking more deeply about the world around them, asking questions and developing a lifelong love of learning.

Learn on the road

On the way to a favourite day out? Play some car games. We love a car bingo or the classic Ispy. Counting games and tally charts with different cars. You could also try making silly sentences with the letters on car number plates or make funny interpretations of weird road signs.

Get outdoors

There’s so much that can be learned in the great outdoors for children! Try a scavenger hunt as a fun way to learn. Scavenger hunts aren’t just exciting; they put children’s literacy skills to the test. One simple way to start is an alphabet hunt. All you need is a sheet of paper with A-Z listed and children try and find as many objects as possible that start with different letters. Great for practising phonics with younger children and spelling with those that are older. You could do this in your local neighbourhood, park or any day trip that you take.

Your local library

The Summer Reading Challenge is a perfect way to keep reading engaging over the holidays. Visit your local library for more information or sign up at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk. Also look out for any free workshops designed to inspire a love of reading. Explore Learning will be running some throughout the country this summer.

Cook together

If you have any budding chefs or bakers in your house, why not get out a favourite recipe for some treats and build some maths skills whilst weighing, measuring and timing your bakes? Get children involved in cooking meals as you’re making them. You can start with simple things like making a sandwich or cooking an egg before moving on to baking desserts. By getting your children into cooking at an early age, they’re more likely to be interested in trying new foods and eating healthy.

Family film time

Films can be a great way to practise comprehension skills. From discussing alternative endings to the personalities of the characters, you are helping your child to summarise, imagine and analyse. Try these questions: What will you say to Grandma to convince her to watch the movie? If you could write a sequel what would happen next?

Discover audiobooks

Audiobooks are a great way to engage children with stories, particularly reluctant readers. Although children aren’t decoding words by reading the text themselves, audiobooks can support reluctant readers to gain confidence in comprehending stories whilst developing their memory, concentration and imagination.

Arts and crafts

This is a great activity for rainy days over the summer. Arts and crafts can help children to practice their hand-eye coordination, concentration and patience whilst improving their understanding of the world around them. Whether drawing or junk modelling or stone painting, art is a great way to turn boredom into something beautiful and creative.

Try a new sport

There are plenty of sports out there for children to try out, they might even find one they really love. With the sun shining more regularly, the summer holidays are a perfect time for children to get outside and learn a new sport like cricket, football, tennis, baseball or many others. Sports are great to use up excess energy, keep children active and improve their coordination.

Should children study during the summer break?