LEARNING GAP
thing then there is still plenty that you can do around the house to continue the learning experience! It’s no surprise that when children are having fun, they learn more.
“Therefore, why not get hands-on and get cooking! Baking and following recipes – or even creating our own – is a good way to bring out essential skills such as using their initiative, following instructions and problem solving. Online recipes can easily be found such as the BBC’s collection with simple recipes for them to follow. “Another great example is science experiments! Boost those all-important STEM skills by visiting your local shop to buy weird and wonderful things to experiment with. There are plenty of activity suggestions on websites like Pinterest or YouTube which will give you a list of things to buy or that you can already find in the family home. Making your own volcano, or discovering how to bend water with static electricity not only piques their curiosity, but helps them understand basic scientific concepts too. “While the expression ‘work hard, play hard’ is of course important, stopping learning altogether can have negative implications come September, so let’s encourage children to explore, create and problem-solve this summer!”
Meanwhile, for Fleur Sexton, the summer holidays can offer an excellent opportunity to get children involved in their local communities and learn new skills.
“Here at PET-Xi we are all excited about the summer holidays, getting away from it all and spending some time in the sun.
“I know teachers are looking forward to the break to recharge their batteries but many parents will have mixed feelings. Six weeks can seem like an endless stretch and many families will be anxious about finding the money for childcare. So here are a few suggestions you can pass on to parents.
Involve yourself in the community “Find out what is happening in your community. In many parts of the country there will be festivals, carnivals or agricultural shows. Make a point of finding as many free events in your neighbourhood as possible. At PET-Xi in Coventry we encourage young people to make the most of local events such as the free Godiva Festival and the carnival. The City Council is setting up Giant Games in town and the Vikings are coming to our
July/August 2017
www.education-today.co.uk 31
local museum. These activities are suitable for all ages and offer fun and a touch of pizzazz.
Get creative
“Encourage children to lay aside their tablets and try something new. Adopt an author this summer. Never mind looking for worthy, 'educational' books, help them find writers who makes them laugh. Let them have that experience of getting lost in a book. If you have a local library, use it. If you don't, search charity shops which often sell children's books for 50p or less. “Feed your children's creativity: make a barbecue from an oven shelf and old bricks, paint a bedroom or plan a makeover for an unloved or neglected area of the home. Listen to their ideas, let them loose … and make them clear up afterwards.
“Encourage them to do something for and with others. Gardening with Grandma or going to work with dad or mum for the day are valuable experiences and just as educational as doing extra maths... more so I'd say. They will be meeting and spending time with people from different generations who will often have different interests, attitudes and values and that has to be good for everyone's social development.
Work on a new skill
“Learn a new skill. Many children have conquered swimming during the summer holidays either at the local baths or at the seaside. Whether it's brass rubbing at an old church, playing tennis in the park or learning to juggle, the long days of summer provide an opportunity to put in hours of practice.
“Cook and eat something different – weigh out the ingredients and do the maths. We all get locked into family favourites but it doesn't have to be pizza or chicken every week. Scour a recipe book, watch cookery programmes and aim for one new dish a week. Some may be disasters but at least everyone will remember and laugh about them for years to come.
“The summer offers the chance for children to develop interests and find out more about themselves. They should go back to school a little older and wiser, a little more robust. They will bring new insights to school work and have more to offer to their communities and that has to be a good thing.”
www.standhigh.net
www.pet-xi.co.uk
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