ABU DHABI: One more school year has ended and the summer holiday freedom is upon children. The eight weeks or so are a welcome break for both parents and children and while some unstructured time is undoubtedly good and allows children to unwind from the pressures of an academic year gone by, it is also true that allowing them to completely hibernate is also not a good idea, say experts.
“Learning does not stop during the summer, but if children are exposed only to social media and their devices, this is all they will learn,” Amin Hamdan, senior consultant and trainer at educational consultancy Focal Point Management Consultancy, cautioned.
A little reflection on the year gone by and some prep work for the year to come are as important a habit to inculcate in kids during the summer break as it is also a best practice for parents to follow.
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There are a few things parents can do to create a meaningful transition experience during summer holidays.
“Parents must help children translate classroom-based learning into practical experiences during their summer downtime, and these will, in turn, help children fare better when they return to school,” Hamdan said.
Braden Bell, an American teacher and author of seven books on children’s development, suggests that every parent should use the summer holidays period to ask their child to reflect on the year, what they’ve learnt and what they can do differently next year. Chances are, says Bell, some of the child’s most important learning this year was not academic content. “I don’t mean to diminish the value of math or writing skills, but many of the things that will matter over time are probably more subtle,” said Bell writing in the Washington Post.
“The more I help them reflect, the more I realise how important it is. I don’t know what jobs these students might one day have, but learning how to honestly assess their work and planning to improve will help them in any field.”
Education experts suggest that the summer break be used to enjoy some personal development exercises for children and parents. This involves answering some questions that lead to reflection, introspection, and thus, heightened awareness of both parties on how the coming school year can be a more enjoyable and productive experience.
- Braden Bell | Teacher and author
Enhancing the child’s all-round development year after year as he grows into maturity is what underlines this endeavour.
