6 weeks of holiday all at once! What does one do?
Read to find out more about our Summer Transit Project....
The concept of multiple stepping stones and achievement of milestones can be applied to pretty much every subsection of life. I can see the distances covered on my runs slowly increasing and I know it’s down to consistency and dedication. With each new distance reached, a sense of satisfaction is found, and a new burst of motivation. The same fundamental principles - of consistency and dedication - underlie many different aspects of life. In particular, education.
On the flip side, consider suddenly stopping the process of learning or going out for the weekly runs. The effects can be detrimental as the brain becomes lazy and the rate of brain activity decreases. And with that in mind…
Learning is a lifelong process. It begins by learning how to cry for a feed or a nappy change. After many mini discoveries, we learn how to walk, talk and develop as individuals. With one accomplishment leading to the next the amount of knowledge in one’s brain only increases. Generally this results in improved behaviours, worldly understanding and intellect.
So, what am I trying to get at?
The importance of ensuring children are always learning. For the information they learn, to be, well learnt. It’s integral that when basic principles are taught in Primary schools, they are ingrained into the brain. Multiplication tables, Creative writing tasks…. and much more. To be always mentally stimulated and engaged in various tasks and projects is key. Research seems to suggest that reading books from birth - or even engaging in conversation with a foetus - can be beneficial. Well, we know it can’t do any harm!
During exam season, students must take breaks to perform their best in exams. Parents need to have breaks away from their kids. Primary school students need breaks to just play. But, everything in moderation. The extensively long, 6 week summer holiday, which children are blessed with - and parents might find a more tiring period of time - time which needs to be spent wisely. It’s vital to avoid the “Brain Drain” of students - a term which describes the learning loss that takes place for many students during the summer months.
With all the fear of a long summer, how should a parent go about maintaining the best type of summer holiday? Find out and discover what your child enjoys doing and where their interests lay. Explore new avenues, discover green spaces and go wild! Education doesn’t always need to be in a classroom. Summer 'school' programmes can be wild.
Our Summer Transit Project @ Head of The Class is worth a consideration! Incorporating education, friendships, nature and character development all in one programme isn’t an easy feat. Nonetheless, Head of the Class have managed to do it. And, as a bonus, it means the parents and guardians also get some breaks from their wonderful children.
Summer Transit Project @ Head of the Class
Summer camps have been a highlight of my summers from a young age. I’ve learnt the value of teamwork, empathy and leadership skills. I’ve also explored different ecosystems and the importance of Maths when creating new recipes. You don’t have to send the kids away for entire camps during the summer, but time outdoors is crucial to personal development.
For more ideas and information on outdoor time, check out the article, “Do Picnics bring Nature back into our lives?”. Fruit picking, ice cream farm visiting and maize maze completing are all just a few ideas.
Try to avoid making learning over the summer holidays a chore. We don’t want our best intentions to backfire on young people. Creative story writing sessions, scrapbooking and scavenger hunts are all various methods which can be used to integrate fun and learning. Ultimately, use the summer however best suited for you and your family.
Congratulations on completing another academic year!