There are lots of great ways to continue to develop numeracy and literacy over the summer without children feeling like they have to do ‘homework’! Here are some ideas:
- Library Visits – Join the Summer Stars programme from some extra motivation. Make visiting the library a regular event throughout the summer. Pick a time in the day where everyone reads – TV off.
- To encourage writing: write postcards and send to family and friends, make lists of anything – shopping lists, lists of things we will need for the beach trip tomorrow, lists of place we could visit, lists of favourite animals etc.
- Subtitles – if watching cartoons (because of course that will happen!) pop the subtitles on too – this is great for beginning readers and all the way up!
- Maps – draw maps of the playground and label the swings, slides etc. Draw a map of the park, your garden, house anywhere – label and colour.
- Board Games – any board games that encourage counting, reading or thinking skills – Snakes and Ladders, Monopoly Junior, Frustration, connect 4, Pictionary, Cluedo Junior to name a few.
- Create a story – choose 5 random toys and tell a story using all the characters/objects. Older children can write the story out after and draw a picture.
- Nature trails – collect leaves, shells, pebbles etc – make lists of them, draw them, tell a story about them.
- Counting toys – simple but effective – count all the teddies, cars, dolls, the blue bricks, the red cubes, anything! – touch each toys as they count.
- I Spy – still a classic! I Spy something beginning with the ‘muh’ sound. Focus on sounds for infants, letters for older kids. I Spy something the colour green for pre-schoolers.
Keep it fun, natural and most of all enjoyable!