AIBU to have my children (8&5) do 30-40 mins of writing and maths every day of the holidays?

[Dilemmacentral]

Every morning, after breakfast, I ask that the children do 20 mins writing in a holiday journal and then younger does 15 mins of basic maths (reception - year 1 maths), and older one does 20 mins of mental maths, mainly tables? Every day, even when we went on holiday.

It doesn’t feel like a big deal. They don’t complain. They are so used to it (I do it every holiday) and in fact both seem to really enjoy the journal writing in particular.

But! A dear friend, in a genuinely unjudgemental manner, asked whether I felt guilty and said she thought that holiday were good for a complete break other than set school work. We do have set school work but very little (book reviews for eldest).

I don’t feel guilty at all and I told her as such, and we just moved on to another topic. I plan to continue doing. However I’m wondering about others thoughts out of nosiness and whether others do this too.

I feel the heat hols are so long. And it’s only max of 40 mins so that they hit ground running in September. Am I alone though?!

My ds did this every school holiday, he didn't mind too much but he appreciated it when he got back to school and it was still fresh in his mind.

@youokhon kids stop wanting to do homework in the holidays when they actually get proper homework from school during the school year e.g. around 11.

If you’re absolutely certain they enjoy it and would still do it if given a free choice then fine.

As an educator (academic) I find the activity repetitive and uninspiring, and as such more likely to put them off learning than anything else.

It’s great they enjoy it
Ds likes to do maths ad hoc as he enjoys it but they don’t do this
But why not if no complaints

I do nothing formal or enforced with my two - aged 6 and 8 - but they read and write through choice on a day to day basis during the holiday. One of them would probably quite enjoy what you do, the other would hate the enforcement and would probably rail against it and maybe become a bit anti reading/writing if it was forced on her.

I do think you’re very good to do this. I’m too lazy apart from anything else. The mornings during the holiday are spent with me on the sofa drinking coffee and my children sent off to play.

As to whether I’d “make” them do it if they ever said they didn’t want to, I don’t know.
They honestly never have.

Given they never have, if one was to say “oh please Mummy I really don’t want to do it”. I would say “fair enough, shall we agree to do it after lunch?”.

Yanbu.
11yr old DS is doing mathletics most days. And reading to me.

His sister won't do anything for love nor money, and it shows every September.

ScottishInSwitzerland

Similar here. Straight after they head off to play, and I flake with a massive coffee

What are they learning though if you don’t correct?

I find it such a shame that people think of anything educational / brain-based as 'work' or 'school work' and start delineating between that and 'fun' from such a young age. They're not mutually exclusive.

Writing in a journal IS fun for so many people. Maths IS fun for tonnes of people, too. But if you start calling it 'work' and treating it like it's heavy, telling kids they need a 'break', they'll take on that way of thinking too...

I think it's ace.

I think it depends on the individual child. My DD isn’t doing anything like that. But she’s done well at school this year, so I don’t see the need.

That doesn’t mean that the holidays aren’t educational. We have conversations about interesting things and she’s currently trying to make a microscope. She’s going to various activities over the summer, some are educational. But nothing particularly maths or writing focused.

My 7 year old has just finished year 2 and whilst actually being good at maths doesn't believe that she is and it affects her confidence. We had a chat about it and she doesn't want to go back to school not being able to understand (mainly division) so we agreed that I woukd set her a 5 min maths challenge most days and if she wanted to, she could do it. At the end of the holidays, if she can do most of a mega maths challenge, she can have £10 to spend in Smiggle. She would rather not be doing it but I set 10 questions and it is up to her whether she does them or not. They are mainly repetition so that she can see the logic or patterns ie. 30/5=6 5*6=30 30/6=5 as she seems to take a whike before things click. The problem at school is that she has a very good memory so can apply a rule but not necessarily take what she knows and apply it in a slightly different way. And if I try to get her to help work out amounts or maths in day to day things for fun she refuses to do it.

What are they learning though if you don’t correct

Really?

Creative writing. Expressing themselves on paper.
Writing in itself, practising letter formation for the younger one.
They often want me to spell a word for them.
They often ask me “what’s another word for “terrifying” etc

It sounds a bit much but it's better than being stuck to screens

Yanbu, but I think it's a product of the fact that the school holidays are far too long. Four weeks in summer is plenty, 6-7 weeks (more at private schools) is outdated and counter productive.

Holidays should be holidays and there are learning opportunities everywhere, but I do think it should be changed

YANBU at all. Yes, children need a break but what you’re describing is a perfect amount to keep them ticking over. My two do a holiday diary which has lapsed a bit, and we also do fun games which they enjoy which have a little bit of educational purpose too, eg Scrabble.

YANBU. 30-40 minutes out of the day that will prevent them from slipping back by september.

I used to love writing a holiday diary :)

YANBU. Private tutor here. If children do nothing over the 6 week break they end up with mush for brains and forget most of what they were taught the previous school year.

Sounds very sensible. My 12 year old is currently having a Latin lesson.

How shit for them.

Don't make mine do this at all and she's not thick. Has spent the summer mostly naked eating chips watching tv and in the pool.

Come September she'll be at school full time doing homework her chores and 8 hours a week of sports.

Your poor kids.

If your children don’t complain then it’s good for them. If they resent it then it’s probably best to leave it.

I was a child nerd that loved school work/homework. I would have enjoyed this. I spent most of my summer holidays reading in the garden or playing “school” with my neighbours.

I do 5 mins of puzzles (word search type stuff), 5 mins of maths and then 5-10 mins of reading most days.
It doesn’t take long and I ensure it is done for fun and isn’t stressful.
It just keeps things going and it is a habit. I want my child to have this habit. It is a nice thing to do.

cumberlandsausages

My poor kids!

I genuinely find it sad that you view 20 mins of holiday journal writing and 15 mins of numbers as such an abhorrent thing to do. A love of learning is real pleasure but you seem to see it as a terrible chore.

I do "mummy school" in our long holidays.
It is not widely loved....
Selection of stuff - writing twice a week, an online reading comprehension thing, some maths, and some english/spelling work books. Only one thing a day, 5 times a week. Also 3 weeks off when we went on holidays (still leaving 10 weeks....)
That has evolved from "write in a journal 5 times a week" we did the first summer (spelling and writing is our weak point). It was universally hated, but DS1 found the notebook the other week, and loved reading it. He won't get the same enjoyment out if this one just done twice a week, as one entry is often a drawing or creative writing, leaving just one entry that is about what he has been up to.
So, No, YANBU, but consider making it optional when on actual holiday.

*How shit for them.

Don't make mine do this at all and she's not thick. Has spent the summer mostly naked eating chips watching tv and in the pool.

Come September she'll be at school full time doing homework her chores and 8 hours a week of sports.

Your poor kids.*

Christ - they're hardly down the mines... let's get a little perspective on the matter, shall we?!