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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

Have you done any 'work' with your DC this holiday?

69 replies

LinnetTrembling · 17/08/2015 12:20

[name changed just in case - thanks random name generator site]

I was just wondering if anyone has done and 'work' (i.e. things they might do at school) with their Infant/Primary kids over the holidays.

For various reasons which may derail the thread and are the reason for the name-change we haven't, but I have thought about it, and may still do so.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MelamineTeapot · 17/08/2015 20:18

We have but both my DC are home educated, so it seems a bit pointless stopping their learning just because school educated children are on holiday. We haven't got through quite as much as expected though as I work longer hours during school holidays plus we are mid house move and our cat has been quite poorly and needed several vet trips.

MonsterCar · 17/08/2015 22:24

Unfortunately I have had to do work with DS this summer. Even though he is bright he got a not so great school report.

He has problems with paying attention due to recently diagnosed autism. I want to help him so he doesn't fall too far behind the others

His reading has come one on leaps and bounds over the summer.

if DS had no issues I could be one of those parents who lets their child just totally relax on the holidays

Iwanttoliveinatreehouse · 17/08/2015 23:03

Done nothing at all... Mines spend their entire summer on the beach in a swimming short/bikini so they haven't done much appart from fishing/surfing/swimming/sailing/building tree houses... And reading books at night time (+ watching a few good movies). Museum wise not much either as there isn't much to do in the area (the lighthouse is by far the most educational trip.......) but we do a lot during term time as we live in London. We used to be quite ambitious but last summer we didn't do anything. I felt guilty at the time but I noticed it didn't make any difference at all, they all had a good year at school like before. They're busy enough during school terms and I am happy for them to have proper relaxing holidays. That said I fear they might have a tough time settling in the back to school routine in September as the contrast will be huge...

Iwanttoliveinatreehouse · 17/08/2015 23:08

I forgot one thing... Their grand-father dictates them one newspaper article every day (the same for all of them) in order to improve their spelling (whilst at the same time allowing them to discuss current affairs/politics/economics etc).

Inkymess · 17/08/2015 23:08

Nope - I have had to work so they at hol club 8-5.

MrsBungle · 17/08/2015 23:11

2 pages of an usborne maths book with 6yo dd. I'm not going to make a very good hot-houser

louisejxxx · 18/08/2015 06:18

I have heard ds read on a couple of occasions, but I don't really need to as he seems to have had another massive leap since finishing the school year....He is always reading everything he comes across in terms of road signs, things on the telly, stuff we walk past when shopping etc so I think that's enough really!

I may buy a maths work book for him to do in these last couple of weeks to get him practicing that again before school starts.

But other than that, we have plenty of day trips planned and I have resolved to try and get him riding his bike without stabilisers.

chaiselounger · 18/08/2015 07:06

Nope. And I won't be either.

Alibabsandthe40Musketeers · 18/08/2015 10:39

They are both doing the summer reading challenge at the library. DS1 has learnt to swim - DS2 has learnt to swim with armbands.

If I wanted to be wanky then I could say that we've done medieval history and french, biology and physics. But as far as they are concerned they've been on holiday in france and looked round some castles, been out for walks, and looked at a lot of aeroplanes with Daddy.

DS1 has a science workbook he is doing, but that comes under fun not work for him.

Radiodependent · 19/08/2015 20:14

We have done library reading challenge, small amounts of mathletics to earn TV watching time, a few mins music practice most days and a holiday scrapbook, although there has been a lot more sticking than writing in this! Ds also did a music camp and a few days of art and sports camp. The best stuff has been having time to go swimming, visit museums, build Lego eye from which they learn so much and which we don't have time for in term time.

catkind · 20/08/2015 01:40

The dreaded summer holiday diary with DS (yr1/2). He's got into all sorts of bad habits over the school year which we didn't really notice until school books came home. Trying to help him straighten out so he can keep up in year 2.
Reading has been sporadic. He's fallen in love with a couple of series and charged through those, in between not much.
Bit of piano practice, if that counts as schooly.

And all of that the 3 yr old has demanded to join in. So we're officially hothousing her too.

murderedbystress · 20/08/2015 07:24

We played, and played and played and played (could go on forever). Since this is what 3 year olds do at nursery, does this count as 'work'?

Apart from 2 stories at bedtime, child initiated drawing and colouring with a bit of name writing practise (not initiated by me except to write in his dad's birthday card this morning!), we've done nothing.

TBH, I would do always do child initiated activities in the holidays. They don't need the stress of 'work' being forced upon them when school's out.

British kids are stressed these days. If they find 'work' fun, so be it. But I would rather my child spend his HOLIDAYS doing stuff he wanted and if that means lounging on the sofa, watching DVDs, making mud pies, jumping on trampolines, going to the park, riding his bike and being a general loon, then so be it.

Rosa · 20/08/2015 07:29

We have 3 months holidays and both have been given a work book which is about 120 pages. Both have reading books and the youngest has to be supervised. Its a complete pain and you have this hanging over you. We have been doing a bit here and there and have almost finished but we haven't had an 'away' holiday IYKWIM ... As we have long holidays I agree on some especially for the youngest who has completed her first year but its not fun for anyone.....

catkind · 20/08/2015 09:37

I don't think 5 minutes of writing a day makes holidays less fun, we can't be out and about every minute of every day. I don't see it as work so much as a bit of harmless and mainly fun housekeeping. Brush your teeth, tidy your room, straighten out you letter formation ;)

Farandole · 20/08/2015 13:32

Yes, bond books with DD (going into year 2), she also read all the Worst Witch books and did a scrapbook about a wedding where she will be a flowergirl. No reason for the bond books, she is not doing the 7+ but I want to stretch her a bit and increase her confidence. Also a bit of art history with a terrific Usborne sticker book.

DS (going into reception) has been playing Alphablocks app and Biff Chip and Kipper app. All initiated by himself. He also learnt how to swim.

MsMermaid · 20/08/2015 13:56

Dd1 is going into y11 and has taken it on herself to revise some of the topics she found hard last year. This is entirely due to her best friends being away all summer.

Dd2 is 5, going into y1. We've done reading most nights, with library books for the reading challenge (they don't have many easy enough for her to read, but we have found some). She wrote a couple of postcards from our caravan holiday (because there was a rainy day to fill) and she has filled a notebook with "stories" that she chose to write in her bored moments. We've mostly done pe, she's learnt to ride her bike without stabilisers, swim without armbands, do monkey bars, balance beams, zip wires, climbing frames, etc.

Scaredandanxious · 20/08/2015 14:05

For Dd 5 we had read and done some maths at least 3 times a week - she aspires to be a doctor and a friend's daughter who is at medical school told her she had to study hard so she has pushed to do it (long may it last!)
We have also been on lots of trips out to nt & eh places and made some messy science 'experiments' usually involving baking powder or bicarbonate of soda lol
I was planning to let her have a play filled summer as this will be the last without formal homework but...

BlackAmericanoNoSugar · 20/08/2015 14:05

DS has had tuition over the summer with a teacher from his school. It has worked out really well, she has gone over some of the academic things that he struggles with but she has also done a lot of work on social skills which will be hugely beneficial to him. I wouldn't do anything formal with him myself as he would be very resistant to that.

I have been doing mental maths with DD but only as part of a normal day. For instance asking her how many more of something I need, or how much I should put back if I have too much. Or adding up prices when we are shopping.

OohMrDarcy · 20/08/2015 14:10

Nothing 'official' really

DD I've got a pen friend - her spelling and handwriting are her weak points so its helping her practice that

DS I got a maths work book - but because he loves maths...

They've both had a play on a numberbonds game on my phone

More importantly, DS has learnt to ride without stabilisers, DD has learned to sew, we've been to a local hands on science centre which they both loved. We have had time with families and friends and had fun together

TheHouseOnTheLane · 20/08/2015 14:12

Not a jot. We've painted, made perfume, made lip balm, made soap....all from scratch. We've baked, collected and painted rocks, been on an aeroplane, fished and drawn.

So I don't give a hoot about the rest! It was their hols too!

Skiingmaniac · 20/08/2015 18:50

Yes, 20-30 minutes per day plus reading

Cookie122 · 22/08/2015 21:25

reading thats pretty much it

iPaid · 25/08/2015 20:24

Some of you are teeth itchingly worthy. If you're not doing maths or literacy with them, then you're classing every day stuff as 'enriching activities'

starlight2007 · 25/08/2015 22:11

Gosh...I must be a harsh parent here.. My DS did Kip Mcgrath summer school..She has worked on what he stuggled with on school report. He has played games on mulitplication.com. , reading challenge ( he is a bookworm anyway)

I got him to do a bit of writing for cubs badge...

This been said..These have fitted in with me working. We have done day trips, trips to the park..He did a craft activity thing at the library today, swimming at water park. He has played out on his scooter a lot. He has also done mindless things watched many films, played on minecraft , Ds and wii.

I don't think his fun has been ruined and think he wil find returning to school september easier because he has got his brain ticking a little bot

NewLife4Me · 25/08/2015 22:16

Mine has done a couple of hours music practice a day/ continued lessons.
30 mins language per day either Italian/ French/ German
Maths and English alternate days for about 30 mins.

Obviously, during breaks away and days out this hasn't happened.
She was H.ed though and used to doing it no problem.

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