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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I don't. Let them play and enjoy their childhood. Term time is for studying and holidays are for being kids. They need a break.

Homework first before TV / ipad. We try to do stuff outside too - bug hunting, reading in the garden etc. But they are little (5 and 7) so their concepts of terms and weeks to summer hols are very hazy.

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I don't. Let them play and enjoy their childhood. Term time is for studying and holidays are for being kids. They need a break.**

That kind of attitude gives the impression that studying is something negative. A chore. A negative that is stopping them from “being kids”.

A little bit of studying, perhaps in the garden, nothing heavy is a positive.

My DD has SATS this term so been trying to help with revision at the weekends. She's getting a slime making kit which is helping to keep her motivated! I can't wait till they are all over - I certainly wouldn't want to have to do them

Make sure they are getting enough exercise, sleep, and downtime as well as the study. Give them a chart to fill in when tasks are achieved.

Don't nag them, academic excellence isn't everything, mental health is more important. Not everyone can, or should, notch up the top grades and get places at elite schools and colleges.

Tell them not to believe friends who claim to be doing minimum work, they may not be entirely truthful.

Bribery! Every day we do a bit of homework before anything else is allowed. Through the door and sit down with a drink and snack. We’re still of the age where it only needs to be 10/15 minutes a day and then he’s free to go out in the garden. We’ll often do a treasure hunt or plant seeds etc as these are things he enjoys

Same routine but with additional playing in the garden after school, which is lovely.

always make time for some school work once a week of not more.

Definitely another vote for rewarding completion of homework and reading with something they enjoy, whether it's time on their tablet or a water pistol fight outside! This seems to help keep them motivated.

Well I'll be honest, football related temptations wouldn't work with my DS as he's not at all keen on football, things like football related worksheets would likely put him off rather than encourage him.

For my ds what works is breaking things into chunks. EG time to wind down after school for a while and then a little homework, a weekend reward if hes tried hard at school that week, me supporting him with his learning at home instead of leaving him to it.

I do try to not put too much pressure on too, and I praise him for all his good qualities as an individual not just his academic acheivements. I feel this build his all round confidence and doesn't make it feel like the be all and end all.

for homework I let ds use whatever (appropriate!) method he wants. For instance for spellings he will sometimes just write them, but other times he'll use scrabble tiles or similar.

Having "you can play outside as soon as you finish" as an incentive makes work get done a lot quicker!

We live in Scotland where there is no ‘summer term’ - we get the summer off.

It's a long term, especially for those having to go through SATs, end of year exams and GCSEs.

When the sun is shining, it's great to get outside, but a balance has to be found if they have to do revision (older children- I don't believe in revising for SATs).

It's also good to have something planned for afterwards- I am big fan of the carrot & stick approach.

I think it's important to still make sure they have plenty of sleep, so blackout curtains and gadget-free bedrooms are a must.

We’ve been taking chalks in to the garden and doing some writing and maths on the patio paving. Much more fun than using paper.

My two are at secondary now and I leave it up to them to organise their homework. I also try and think up some nice day trips for the summer so they have something to look forward to. But they quite enjoy the summer term. Lots of outdoor sports and after school clubs and activity week makes it enjoyable.

Routine stays the same whatever the term! Only difference is we spend more time outside at the weekend.

I have home educated my eldest and still do with my youngest three. To keep them engaged we let them get bored! lol.
They don't do tons of homework, we do more cooking, creating, fishing, anything that they are interested in, we know they will learn from.

We don't do much different except we do a lot more camping. We;re not a well off family, inherited family debts, plus I was a young carer which lasted many years, and so we have had to learn how to keep our kids amused and learning on the tightest budget, and so we make use of all the woods and free play areas around us.
The older two camp out in the garden with the younger two to give us a break, and the youngest get as excited about this as they would a trip abroad!
They pack their bags, make their hot chocolate, they take their ipad and listen to Goosebumps out in the dark, and me and their dad can actually watch what we like on telly for once lol x

Like others have already posted, the real difference between the summer term & the rest of the year is (hopefully!) a greater chance of sunshine & going outdoors. I have a son who has chronic hay fever, so we aim to remain indoors until midday, getting any jobs like homework done (particularly at weekends), with the incentive of eating, exploring & playing outside later. Both my children enjoy gardening, which gives lots of opportunities for learning across the curriculum.

Knowing what they're current topics are at school helps as then you can incorporate learning into time off.
Homework is done before anything else after school.
Reading books come on days out. Reading a book under a tree in the park goes down better than sitting at the dining table as usual.

Oh FGS! Is this actually a thing? Must we constantly be engaging them? It actually ok to take your eye off the ball you know.

Never noticed any need to up my game in the summer term thanks. Kids and teachers get a bit de-mob happy towards the end - as it should be. It’s actually ok to take your foot off the pedal - but there’s not what you are trying to sell us.

And given Year 6s do SATs which eradicates ANY love of learning for the entire final year of primary school, perhaps ask the DfE what they intend to do to engage children?

Do your homework first on Friday and then you can do what you like over the weekend.

I don't find it harder to keep ds focussed - he has to do his homework, and if he doesn't do it on time, we give him extra to do which is a good deterrent!

I think that actually being interested in what your child is doing is very encouraging and helps motivate a child

Arrange for them to do a range of activities both indoor and out - like days, out, treasure hunts, baking, arts and crafts, etc.