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.

What is it that’s too adult about TKAMB for an 11 year old?

At what age can you grasp the crime of rape?

@Ozanj @AyrshireTryer yes that's my concern, the rape, he said she said etc.

Regarding reading, we decided a few months ago to get newspapers delivered a few times a week. Dh used to read them on his phone and felt it wasn't good for the kids to sit there scrolling especially when eldest was getting grief for his new Tik Tok addiction. He now leaves the newspapers open on the kitchen counter in the hope the kids will absent mindedly read something over breakfast and learn a bit more about the world. I can't say it is working, but it can't be a bad thing to try for older primary kids.

I don't do anything prescriptive except music practice. Mine do a variety of camps where they learn a different set of skills (eg tennis, dance. musical theatre, art) so there's already a learning curve there and they're dealing with new social dynamics there too.

At home I provide opportunities for learning - we change library books and buy book box sets, have educational board games and toys, and activity books. They pick and choose them as they want, and read for pleasure. We also do family days out to educational places all year round - museums, galleries, historical sites, fun days at educational/research institutions and children's classical concerts.

11 year olds should know about rape. And tbh I’d rather boys learn about rape from this book so he can ask you informed questions than by reading stuff on the internet.

@Ozanj on reflection, I think you are probably right, it's sadly all part of real life education. TKAMB is one of the best books of all times IMO. Blows me away every time.

@Summerholidays1 Sorry for the derail!

Maybe watch the film first.

I have two children, 10 and 8, who are ‘exceeding expectations’ in all subjects and I have never made them do any work over the summer holidays. They read for pleasure, draw, craft, do puzzle books and play their musical instruments for their own amusement.

I do not make my kids "work" over summer.

We do reading but they would read anyway. We find ways to keep on top of other things - i encourage a bit of postcard writing etc.

Maths skills are easy as there are shedloads of games that keep them practising this. Mine both find maths easy (seemed to just pick up timestables without really trying) so we have never really had to go over board drilling it into them at home.

Oh we do do music practise but they are happy to do that anyway.

Basically there are two types of answer here.

If your child is doing well at school, enjoys reading, music, maths games, writing little stories and doesn't need to be prompted to choose these activities you can be smug and say you'd never make your child work in the holidays, the summer is for having fun.

I have one of these children. She is self motivated and naturally drawn to activities that build literacy and maths skills. She loves playing the piano. I can leave her be and she'll be fine, all self directed, how wonderful.

If your child is not doing so well at school, hates reading or maths, will never choose to pick up a book except to look at pictures, is falling behind their peers... what are you supposed to do? Just let them slip further behind in the name of a carefree summer?

I've got one of these as well. I know he'll get better at reading and writing eventually, but not without practice. I read to him every day but he needs to practise doing it himself. I also know he won't enjoy doing his summer reading and it will be hard work for him. So yeah I need to make him do it.

That's how you see it because you're a good parent who values education.

There's also a heck of a lot of parents who don't encourage any academic work because their child is resistant to it and it's easier not to, and these are the children who are really suffering from summer slide.

I used to draw times table snakes for my dc and they filled in the gaps. We did a few tables per holiday took 5 mins a day? Not everyday...

Flash cards with words and boosting vocabulary, 5 cards a week, would take minuets and keep them reading with stuff they enjoy.
No more unless very behind.

We've never done any study whatsoever over summer. All mine are avid readers though and I'm content that the reading, alongside the many many educational activities we enjoy over the summer (museums etc) is more than sufficient

You’ve hit the nail on the head, we are exact lily the same. My DD exceeding in all areas and I put it down to the 20/30 mins I do each morning before school. I used to hate that feeling at school when I felt like the only person not understanding something. She is really happy at school and I’m sure a large part of that is that she is confident in her learning.

We've always done Maths Factor summer sessions, library reading challenge, museum and gallery trip with one main researched focus then just ambled around to see if anything else caught our attention.
Stargazing too.
Watched a couple of documentaries a week and some "worthy" films as well.

We've also done lots of play, parks, beaches, picnics, bike rides, swimming and so on.

There are benefits, apart from the obvious ones, for keeping kids learning during the holidays. Mental stimulation is really important and having a bit of a routine helps kids not be whiney and begging for screens all the time then complaining they're bored.

Nothing! Let them have some time off

With my 5 year old I try to do "stealth" homework - Lego is great for finger strength and dexterity, drawing/colouring improves pen skills without being 'writing'. Might also do yoga/sports for balance as core strength is crucial for writing.

But routine is important.