Do you get your children to do any 'written' type work over the long summer holidays?

[Legacy]

I really don't want this to become a slagging off for 'hot-housing kids' type thread, but it's a genuine question.

Was talking to another Mum who said that she finds her children 'slip backwards' in reading/ handwriting/ maths etc over the long summer holiday (we get 8 weeks) unless she gets them doing bits and pieces over that time.

We've encouraged the kids to do a 'holiday diary' type thing in the past - sticking a few photos/ tickets/ brochures etc in a book and writing a few lines, but not much else really.

DS2 would probably relaly benefit from playing a few maths type games etc regularly.

What other sorts of things do you do?

[castille]

Yes, we're fooled by Hachette et al into thinking our children will be way behind if they don't do finish their cahiers.

I think we'll have to be more inventive this year though, partic for DD1 who starts the bilingual programme at collège in Sept, I don't think there is a cahier for that!

[twinsetandpearls]

DD does do writing over the holidays as she is that kind of child. I would not force her though.

[Hulababy]

6yo DD does reading, writing and number type activities over the holidays, even over weekends. She isn't made to do it though; she just likes to.

[cory]

My kids read books, because books are always around and they enjoy them, but personally I think the things they do in the holidays are so important educationally that setting them written work would be a dreadful waste of time. Think I am typically Scandinavian in this: outdoor skills/crafts/practical skills are very highly prized and seen as a necessary part of education. And IMO they don't get nearly enough of those at their English junior school.

Obviously, they do activities that you could count as educational. Talking to me is an education in its own right . We do play card games or Scrabble or Pop to the Shops on wet days, but not because of their role in the maths or literacy curriculum; we play because it's fun.

I don't think it matters at all if my dc's forget a little of what they do at school and need reminding when they get back. My point is that they are busy learning something else that is just as valuable.