Mumsnet users share tips for keeping children focused during the summer school term with Premier League Primary Stars

[EllieMumsnet]

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The summer school term can feel like a bit of a struggle for both parents and DC; it’s coming to the end of the year, the sunshine is out and a well-deserved break is on the horizon. With that in mind, the Premier League would love you to share your tips and experiences of keeping your DC engaged with learning during the summer term.

Here’s what the Premier League has to say: “We understand that children sometimes need some additional encouragement when it comes to learning, both in the classroom and at home. Our Premier League Primary Stars programme uses the appeal of football to inspire children to learn, be active and develop important life skills. More than 15,000 schools are already using the football-themed teaching resources for maths, English, PE and PSHE lessons but we know that learning doesn’t stop at the school gates. So, to give parents a helping hand we have created activities and an interactive online game designed to extend learning to the home too.”

Watch their video here:

If the weather is nice do you try and get them to complete any homework outside? Perhaps you try giving your DC regular pep talks to keep them motivated? Maybe you have a reward system in place to ensure they stay on track?

However you keep your DC motivated during the summer term, comment on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw, where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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Really the same as any other time - checking school planners and making sure that homework is done in good time before days out or sleepovers etc,

DS loves his homework, he does it as soon as he gets it . I put that down to sheer good luck though, and I’m fairly sure I need to read all these tips before DD starts school.

DSD and DSS are much less keen on homework and I think DP manages it well by making it clear the homework has to be done and by giving them a say in whether homework or play comes first

No different to the rest of the year. Try and get them to have a reasonable amount of healthy food, exercise and sleep, send them to school and hope for the best. Homework outside is a pita and ends up flapping about etc. Just sit down at a table and get it over and done with.

My children are good at doing their homework and in a routine now, so homework then play/screen time and are allowed a snack while they do it, otherwise they moan they are hungry and it seems to help them stay on track. They tend to play out more in the nice weather and for longer, scooters are popular at the moment.

Doing a bit of learning outside growing veggies

I don't find there's any difficulty. If anything it's easier to retain focus and motivation, as there are so many more opportunities to use the outdoors to clear your head and refocus. The hardest thing about the summer term is remembering to eat supper at a reasonable time and going to bed at a reasonable time, because it's so bright and warm for so long, that we forget it's getting late.

More trips to the park to play, and have an ice cream, on the way home from school.

Last year I found there were loads of extra things happening in the evening in the summer term, which made my already pretty tired 5 year old exhausted, which then made her uncooperative, stroppy etc. So I had to limit the number of extra activities, especially ones that went on late. Didn't make me popular, but kept us all sane.

Getofficial homework our the way asap. Then add learning irk every day fun stuff. Weighing out ingredients in baking. Counting money at the shops etc.

In the summer term, evenings feel longer, so we manage to get more out of them. My DDs generally come home from school and rest/relax, have some tea and them complete any HW required. My eldest aged 15 spends most of her evenings working, because she is very keen to do well. My middle DD age 13 gets her HW done as quickly as possible, the youngest age 10 gets little. We then often play in the garden or local park (across the road) or go for a walk when the evenings are particularly lovely (though hayfever does not always make this totally pleasant). We try and have a balance in work and fun - secondary age is upon them so fast, when they have no choice but revise for exams in summer term.
Two of my DDs read a lot before bed; the other likes being read to.

We get school work finished as soon as we get home, then either some screen time, a board game, crafting or outdoor play until bath/bedtime. With the lighter nights, allowing for a slightly later bedtime if playing outdoors.

Similarly, getting homework completed on a Friday straight after school and planning at least one family outing to look forward to during the weekend.

Taking an interest in their schoolwork and rewarding their efforts and achievements. Planning outings that tie in with their topics.

I get them work books and activity books to do, also they do a lot of reading, and also do the summer reading challenge at the library. We do a lot of outdoor activities

Home work to be completed before electronics and in the summer we spend the majority of our time outdoors so take homework with us to complete with a picnic then playtime on the park after or a game of football.

This is my LO's first Summer Term at school so I'm learning as we go! Even though he's in reception class - he's still coming home with homework - reading each night & spellings weekly.
To keep his interest now the weather is warmer (& the distractions greater!) we go outside & lay out on a blanket to read in the sunshine.
I write his spellings on a whiteboard which we keep in his room & then we practice them while he's getting ready for bed at night, or getting dressed in the morning - it seems more natural than knuckling down to do them in a set routine & it seems to be working!
I imagine this will get harder as he gets older - but I agree with the general consensus - playtime is earned when homework is completed.

There are just different things to focus on in the summer. DS2 spent 45 minutes focusing on bashing rocks together outside today instead of focusing on a device or watching tv (or playing lego)

We use reward charts to keep them motivated as that seems to work for our dc. We try to get homework done during the week, so we have the weekends free for long days out when they can burn off their energy.

We always make sure we talk about a range of topics/visit new places and learn about them etc. We encourage them to do maths in a day to day situation e.g. calculating the cost of shopping, measuring ingredients, working out football league tables and all their connotations.
We also have ‘learn French’ cds in the car (we visit France in the summer). I don’t think they ‘forget’ anything over the summer; they need he break to keep them fresh but I like to make sure things are subtlety ticking over.

me and my husband work opposite shifts to reduce childcare costs so I usually compile a Summer holiday schedule which consists of 30min academic type tasks, plus a couple of creative ones. It is flexible though, in that the 7 tasks for that week can be done in any order and at any time as long as they get done so it gives my son some responsibilty and independance for his learning. Reading is done nightly before bed for pleasure. It probably sounds a bit joyless but it reduces arguements if its planned, it manages expectations from the start and it then doesnt interfere with all the fun stuff we have planned. As we have so little family time it is precious so we try and cram as many days out as possible which are rewards in themselves. We also make sure we get out for fresh air every day (live in a flat) and excersise

A timetable on the hallway wall for maths, reading and art time, along with time on the trampoline and when we have days out at theme parks etc to have the 'carrot and stick' effect for the weekly schedule. It's important to have a routine to keep brains ticking over and exercised, but having a fun time also.

A lot of fresh air, we like going to castles etc and woods so its educational as well as fun

If it's hot they tend to be in a bit of a state when they get home so a bit of fresh air with an ice cream and then homework after tea when they've (hopefully) perked up a bit.

I thinks the key for my young son is to make learning fun

I use a sticker chart to encourage work, reading and writing, we do half hour sessions, a sticker and then we will do some baking (still learning but not knowing it). We love our smiley face stickers, and a gold star on a jumper my DS walks tall all day.

As long as he knows he's allowed to play on his trampoline afterwards he is happy to do his homework and piano practice!

Sleep sleep and more sleep.

School weeks my two in bed by 7pm latest.

They wake up having had at least 12 hours sleep. Refreshed, good mood, focussed.