Should primary aged children study over the summer?

[Summerholidays1]

Split over this. On one side want to give DC (8) a complete break and just let them have fun and learn by seeing/doing. Will go on holiday, to museums, live rurally so lots of outdoor play.
Also don’t want them to slide back and have to catch up in the Autumn. Nervous as I know a few parents who hothouse.

What is a good/healthy amount to do over the summer? I bought them a holiday journal they are excited to fill in and will take them to a bookshop to choose some books - would rather encourage a love of reading than forced continuation of school work. Will probably do the MathsFactor summer challenge as they are in the habit of spending five/10 minutes a day on this. Art has been an issue at school (just not engaging) so I think Draw with Rob could be good as they do enjoy this.

Interested to know what others do/recommend.

I used to be a primary teacher and I would continue with reading, maybe write a summer holiday diary most days and keep up with times tables. None of that should take more than 20 mins a day but will help to ensure they keep on track.

They are 8.
Let them enjoy summer.
What you have planned sounds perfect.
Why are you nervous what other parents are doing? Your kids shouldn't have to compete academically in primary school surely?

no school work for the summer! just some reading for pleasure, and experiences and family life

Zero. Read for pleasure, do some art, a bit of sport. Get fresh air. Enjoy the break.

Library trips for a constant supply of fun books. Do the summer reading challenge if they're into challenges. That's it for us. Fun things, museum visits, outdoors, swimming.... No homework as such, just reading.

None! They shouldnt even have bloody homework till secondary school.

We make sure we read every day, so times tables and they do daily music practice. All in all it’s probably an hour and a bit out of their entire day, not a hardship.

My 5 year old daughter dose roughly 20 minutes of homework usually reading and maths 4 days a week unless we are away on holiday. I like to keep things as structural as possible and she thrives on routine.

We used to do the library reading challenge, a holiday diary, and some core maths. Both my DC struggled with schoolwork so it helped to keep skills ticking over.

Reading and maybe a diary but nothing else. Let them have fun! School results don’t matter.

DS is a bit younger, just finishing Reception. He'll go to a holiday club at school for a bit with some of his pals. While a lot of it is just having fun, there are some educational aspects too (eg a 'science week'). I also like that he gets to hang out with some older kids. We'll go on holiday for a couple of weeks and I'll try to encourage him to speak a bit of the local language (which he knows a bit). Other than that, just our normal reading before bed.

Last summer I encouraged my children to read most days with lots of trips to the library and a few treat trips to Waterstones. We worked on the area they find hard with ten minutes bursts most days - one times tables and the other handwriting. I’m glad we did as it made a difference and they still had lots of time to play.

We do a lot of reading. Some fun math and practise music.

Apart from reading, I let my ds do pretty much want he wanted, but that included the daily puzzles in the Times, and a lot of cycling.

He didn't seem to struggle and anyway, I was working so didn't have much time to organise him.

As a child I would have hated having anything imposed. Summer was for playing with my friends in the sun. Reading in the garden and exploring further than the year before.

What you are doing sounds perfect. Keep doing it as you are and ignore other people. It’s true children can fall back a bit over the holidays but guess what…having a fun summer and enjoying time together more than makes up for it.

That's ridiculous.
Of course they matter.
If you don't pass your english and maths GCSE (for which primary school is the foundation) you have to resit in 6th form, and will have a chunk of jobs not open to you if you still don't pass.
It is miserable resitting post y11.

No way give the kids a break!!
Does your employer expect you to work at home when your on holiday?

I would still read daily (but assume they would be at that age anyway) and I’d also get a summer holiday journal.

Mine have to read everyday, do some maths everyday and some handwriting everyday.

Plus we do a holiday diary.

I would keep up with reading and writing and basic maths, but this is the time to do it all through life rather than studying. Let them read comics and magazines and bookshops and library trips are a great idea. Get them writing though making lists for shopping or what they need for a day out or holiday or by keeping a diary. For maths get them used to telling the time and using real money.

Mine are 6 and 9. By their request we will be doing bits, some of which tie in with scouting/guiding badges and some of which will be wrapped up as "fun", i.e. science experiments and art projects. They'll also make a holiday journal. Music practice, French, swimming and reading are mandatory tho.

Depends on the kids really - mine both have sen and are significantly behind. They’ll study over the summer so hopefully they start the new year a bit less behind and with good study habits, which will help their self-esteem/confidence.

This. 100%. The only thing they should be doing is reading for pleasure and relaxing, enjoying themselves, and having family time. They need the break.

DD read a lot, we always did the library challenge and then whatever else she could get her hands on. Lots of charity shop trips for books as well.

Otherwise, queuing can be used for maths and spelling, I still remember standing in a queue to get tickets years ago before online booking and we did plenty of simple maths and spelling with her, she also read while waiting for an open air play to start.

Museums are great to just foster interests, maths can be included in baking or cooking.

We sometimes did workbooks if she wanted them.

I was a teacher and it would not occur to me to make the kids do work over the summer.

Reading should be a part of the daily routine rather than "schoolwork" so you should continue that, but otherwise I wouldn't unless they wanted to (eg if they love educational apps or games, I'd let them play it).