Help your kids to balance learning and leisure during the summer
By Mostafa Hassan
For many parents , the summer holidays may be bittersweet because the kids are at home , it ’ s hot , boredom sets in after a week and we worry that they are going to forget everything they have been taught during the school term . We don ’ t want them ( or us ) to struggle when the new term starts . Of course , we also worry that they will make us crazy before they return to school .
Cambridge English Dictionary defines a holiday as “ a time when someone does not go to work or school but is free to do what they want , such as travel or relax ”. Holidays are meant to be the same for our kids as they are for us . At the end of the day , kids need a break as much as we do . They need to regroup and assess themselves in whatever way they know how but in a less structured environment .
We have an opportunity to help them continue with learning even while they are relaxing .
I have put together five easy ideas to keep you and your kids ‘ chilled out ’ but still learning this summer , all while teaching them to manage their own time .
Plan a project : Talk to their current teacher and inquire about the next term ’ s topics . This is great for 5-12 year olds . For example , if ‘ planets and stars ’ is the first topic on the curriculum , task them to build a solar system . Plan the project , the design and the artwork . Maybe start a garden and record the growth and activities . Have them document their process and progress .
Reading holiday : As we celebrate , The Year of Reading , why not head to the book fairs / shops and let them choose 10 books that they can read throughout the holiday period . Each time that you see them reading , ask them to share with you what it ’ s about . It can prove to be a great chance to answer questions or help them form their ideas .
Weekly activities : Agree for each week or two on the activities that you will do together . These should be fun yet informative and based on things that they can write about when they get home . You can create a collage at the end of the summer . The Zoo , The Farm , Dubai Miracle Gardens , Kidzania , Museums , Dolphin Aquarium , theatre productions , etc . are all great opportunities to learn things without breaking the bank .
Build it : Every week , your child can be given a bucket of objects . They have a week to build something unique . Use candy one week , kitchen objects the next , tape , glue , etc . Have them document what they did and why they did it . Was their purpose to build something big or something that moves ? You ’ ll be surprised at how creative they ’ ll get !
Talk : We can become so busy working or managing a home that we often take for granted how important a simple conversation about nothing and everything can be . Sit on the balcony , go for tea and talk about their plans or their feelings . Keep it light but remember that what they say is important to them and what you actually hear may be more important than words .
There are so many ways for us as parents to support our children ’ s balance during a holiday . By creating opportunities to relax but learn , you open up their minds , as well as your improve your relationship with them . Make all activities fun ; that way they get to fully enjoy learning and still get to relax during their time away from school .
ArabBaba
Help your kids to balance learning
and leisure during the summer
By Mostafa Hassan
F
or many parents, the summer
holidays may be bittersweet
because the kids are at home,
it’s hot, boredom sets in after
a week and we worry that they are
going to forget everything they have
been taught during the school term.
We don’t want them (or us) to struggle
when the new term starts. Of course,
we also worry that they will make us
crazy before they return to school.
Cambridge English Dictionary defines
a holiday as “a time when someone
does not go to work or school but
is free to do what they want, such as
travel or relax”. Holidays are meant to
be the same for our kids as they are
for us. At the end of the day, kids need
a break as much as we do. They need
to regroup and assess themselves in
whatever way they know how but in a
less structured environment.
We have an opportunity to help them
continue with learning even while they
are relaxing.
I have put together five easy ideas to
keep you and your kids ‘chilled out’
but still learning this summer, all while
teaching them to manage their own
time.
Plan a project: Talk to their current
teacher and inquire about the next
term’s topics. This is great for 5-12 year
olds. For example, if ‘planets and stars’
is the first topic on the curriculum, task
them to build a solar system. Plan the
project, the design and the artwork.
Maybe start a garden and record
the growth and activities. Have them
document their process and progress.
Reading holiday: As we celebrate,
The Year of Reading, why not head
to the book fairs/shops and let them
choose 10 books that they can read
throughout the holiday period. Each
time that you see them reading, ask
them to share with you what it’s about.
It can prove to be a great chance to
answer questions or help them form
their ideas.
Weekly activities: Agree for each
week or two on the activities that
you will do together. These should
be fun yet informative and based
on things that they can write about
when they get home. You can create
a collage at the end of the summer.
The Zoo, The Farm, Dubai Miracle
Gardens, Kidzania, Museums, Dolphin
Aquarium, theatre productions, etc.
are all great opportunities to learn
things without breaking the bank.
Build it: Every week, your child can be
given a bucket of objects. They have
a week to build something unique.
Use candy one week, kitchen objects
the next, tape, glue, etc. Have them
document what they did and why
they did it. Was their purpose to build
something big or something that
moves? You’ll be surprised at how
creative they’ll get!
Talk: We can become so busy working
or managing a home that we often
take for granted how important a
simple conversation about nothing
and everything can be. Sit on the
balcony, go for ѕх)ѡȁ́ȁѡȁ̸-)ЁЁɕȁѡЁݡЁѡ)ͅ䁥́хЁѼѡݡЁ)Յ䁡ȁ䁉ɔх)ѡݽɑ̸)Qɔɔͼ݅́ȁ́)ɕ́ѼЁȁɕe)ɥ丁 䁍ɕѥ)չѥ́ѼɕЁɸ)ѡȁ̰́ݕ́)ɽٔȁɕѥ͡ݥѠѡ)5ѥ٥ѥ́ոѡЁ݅ѡ)ЁѼձ䁕䁱ɹѥ)Ѽɕɥѡȁѥ݅䁙ɽ)͍((