Summer activities you can engage your child in this holiday

Summer break after the exam is here, and this is the time children eagerly anticipate weeks of fun, relaxation, and adventures. The transition from primary to secondary school marks a significant milestone in your child's educational journey. It's filled with anticipation, excitement, and understandably, a little apprehension.

As parents, your support and guidance play an essential role in easing this transition. Summer doesn’t mean learning has to stop; it can be the best time to build academic skills in a fun, relaxed way. The summer break is an ideal opportunity to engage your child in meaningful activities that will enhance their confidence, resilience, and readiness for secondary school. 

One effective approach is to explore new hobbies together. Encourage your child to try something completely new—perhaps painting, pottery, baking, gardening, coding, or even learning a new instrument. For example, signing up for an online coding course or attending local art classes together can help their creativity and self-expression. These experiences not only help your child develop new skills but also significantly boost their self-confidence as they master something previously unfamiliar. 

Another beneficial activity is enrolling your child in a summer camp or educational workshop. Summer camps, especially those that focus on areas such as STEM, sports, drama, or leadership skills, provide an excellent environment for your child to develop independence, social skills, and teamwork. For instance, participating in a theatre workshop can help shy children become more expressive, while a sports camp can enhance their sense of teamwork and discipline while making sure that they are fit. 

Cultural and historical outings can also offer rich, informal educational experiences. Visiting museums, galleries, historical landmarks, or attending cultural festivals can open your child's eyes to diverse perspectives and intriguing topics beyond their textbooks. For example, taking a day trip to a local museum or historical site like an ancient castle or science museum could ignite their curiosity and provide exciting stories to share with their future peers and teachers. 

Encouraging independent reading during the summer is equally valuable. Let your child choose books based on their interests, which may include fiction, non-fiction, biographies, or graphic novels. Setting up a fun reading challenge or joining a local library's summer reading club can motivate them further. Reading widely not only improves vocabulary and comprehension but also fosters imagination and empathy—crucial skills as they enter a larger school environment. 

Public speaking practice can significantly build your child’s confidence in expressing themselves. Host family debates on current events, organize storytelling evenings where they narrate their favourite tales, or encourage them to give short presentations on topics they love, such as their favourite animals, hobbies, or an interesting fact they recently learned. Regular practice will enhance their communication skills and help them speak confidently in front of larger audiences. 

Goal-setting activities provide your child with an important sense of direction and accomplishment. Sit down with your child at the beginning of summer to discuss achievable goals they would like to pursue, such as mastering a sport, improving in a particular subject area, or completing a personal project. Track their progress together, offering guidance and celebrating their achievements. This will build their organizational skills and self-motivation, essential traits for secondary school success. 

Building emotional resilience is another vital area to focus on. Spend quality time having open and honest conversations about their feelings concerning secondary school. Address both their fears and excitement and teach them practical mindfulness techniques or breathing exercises to manage stress effectively. Helping your child develop emotional intelligence at this stage equips them to handle challenges and changes with greater ease. 

Familiarizing your child with their new school routine can also significantly reduce anxiety, if they’re changing schools. If possible, visit the new school, take a tour, and practice the journey your child will make each day. Discuss expectations, the layout of the school, new routines, and school rules as this can make sure your child feels comfortable while they familiarize their selves with the new school environment. If possible, arrange for your child to meet other children who will be attending their secondary school. This doesn't have to be formal – maybe you'll encounter them at summer activities, through mutual friends, or at school orientation events. Having even one familiar face can make the first day much less intimidating. 

Summer provides a golden opportunity to balance relaxation with meaningful, confidence-building activities. How will you and your child be spending your summer? Share your plans with us in the comments, we’d love to hear them.