Playful Ways to Keep Children Learning Through the Summer Holidays
The summer holidays are a chance for children to relax, explore their interests and enjoy time with family and friends. However, with a long break from school routines, it is important to keep children engaged in fun, hands-on learning to prevent the ‘Summer Slide’ – the loss of knowledge and skills gained during the school year.
This doesn’t have to be complicated and there are many simple ways to support learning during the holidays through everyday play and experiences. Here are some ideas to help children continue to develop skills, discover new things and stay curious all summer long….
It’s important that children keep reading over the summer holidays to maintain their literacy skills and build confidence. Reading together, listening to stories and exploring new books all help develop vocabulary, comprehension and imagination. Platforms such as Pickatale provide a wide range of digital books for different ages and reading levels, with features such as read-aloud support and interactive quizzes to encourage children to stay engaged and enjoy reading independently.
Some children find it difficult to see how maths applies to everyday life. Trips to the supermarket are a great opportunity to practise skills such as weighing, comparing prices and working out savings. Cooking is another hands-on way to use maths, with children able to read recipes, measure ingredients, set timers and divide portions. For children aged 5+, Mi Box Live is a great resource to support maths learning through fun, interactive activities that help children build confidence while developing key skills.
The outdoors provides a fun, hands-on learning environment while supporting children’s physical and mental wellbeing. It’s great for children to explore nature by digging in the garden, counting mini beasts, writing stories about creatures they find, or going on a scavenger hunt to spot flowers, insects and interesting objects.
Inspire your child to become a little scientist by trying simple experiments at home. The Science Mad Crime Lab provides exciting hands-on activities that promote curiosity while developing problem-solving, analytical thinking and an understanding of cause and effect. Encourage children to make predictions, test their ideas and explore what happens, helping them develop the skills and confidence to think like a scientist.
Visits to places such as museums, zoos and galleries provide exciting learning opportunities beyond the classroom. Many offer free entry or hands-on activities during school holidays. Help children to get the most from their visit by asking open-ended questions that spark curiosity, such as “What do you like about this painting?” or “What questions do you have about this?”
Keep your child’s creativity flowing over the summer with hands-on craft activities. Projects such as the National Geographic River Rock Craft Kit help develop hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and creativity, while encouraging children to explore colours, textures and patterns. Craft also gives children the freedom to express themselves, make their own choices and build confidence in sharing their ideas.
Board and card games are a fun way to support children’s social and emotional development, especially during the summer when they may have less time with friends. Games such as Tri-Hand Card Game help children practise skills such as taking turns, managing emotions, problem-solving and strategic thinking. Playing together as a family also provides valuable face-to-face time and strengthens relationships.
Suggest your child keeps a summer diary or scrapbook using drawings, photos and mementoes from their adventures. They could also create an imaginary diary filled with made-up adventures to spark creativity. Writing letters, postcards or emails to family and friends is another fun way to practise writing skills while staying connected.
Continuous learning is about more than academic progress. It helps children develop curiosity, creativity, problem-solving skills and a love of learning that can last a lifetime. By keeping children engaged with fun, educational activities over the summer, you can make learning enjoyable and support a smooth transition back to school.