Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
Bhg
  • Shop
  • News
  • Food
  • DIY
  • Garden
  • Renovating
  • Decorating
  • Health
  • TV
Subscribe
YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

This is the cheapest place to buy your back to school supplies

This is the cheapest place to buy your back to school supplies

All of the best back to school sales deals to shop now

All of the best back to school sales deals to shop now

The ultimate back to school shopping checklist

The ultimate back to school shopping checklist

How to keep kids busy in the garden

How to keep kids busy in the garden

{headline}

{headline}

McDonald’s brings back retro Happy Meal toys

McDonald’s brings back retro Happy Meal toys

20 of the best girls' bedroom ideas

20 of the best girls' bedroom ideas

Children who sleep in your bed at night officially become clever and confident adults

Children who sleep in your bed at night officially become clever and confident adults

{headline}

{headline}

Popular teething gel to be taken off the market after warnings

Popular teething gel to be taken off the market after warnings

Child car seat confusion: Parents taking kids out of boosters too early, poll finds

Child car seat confusion: Parents taking kids out of boosters too early, poll finds

Adam Liaw’s kids’ party food hack you need to know

Adam Liaw’s kids’ party food hack you need to know

7 ways to teach kids the value of money

7 ways to teach kids the value of money

How this Kmart Mum turned some kitchen cutlery trays into this epic train storage wall rack

How this Kmart Mum turned some kitchen cutlery trays into this epic train storage wall rack

Why screen time isn't so bad for your kids, after all

Why screen time isn't so bad for your kids, after all

Why craft is good for kids

Why craft is good for kids

  1. Home
  2. Better Life

How to keep your kid from losing skills over the school holidays

It's called the 'summer slide' - by Rebecca Lowrey Boyd
  • 08 Dec 2017

Research has found that children can regress in reading and maths by up two months over the summer holidays. It’s known as the “summer slide”.

 

"All young people experience loss of maths and reading skills when they do not have opportunities to apply or build these skills," Summer Matter's Nazaneen Khalilnaji-Otto told Lifehacker.

"Over 100 years of research has shown that students typically score lower on standardised tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of the summer," she said.

Kids need a break from the pressures and routine of school over the holidays, but there are many ways you can help them retain their skills.

Here are some ways to slip in some learning over the summer holidays.

Read

Surround yourself with books over the holidays. Libraries are a great place to start, and many of them have summer school holiday programs. Get your child their own library card so they can take ownership of borrowing the books they want.

If you have a reluctant reader, try to offer your child incentives for reading. They could have 30 minutes of iPad time after every 30 minutes of reading, or offer them their favourite treat.

Make and bake

Spend time cooking in the kitchen with your children, and get them to read out the recipe and measure all of the ingredients. You could even talk about the chemistry of baking.

Keep a scrapbook

Help your child make a scrapbook diary of their school holidays. They can write a journal entry each day, draw pictures and stick in things like ticket stubs, maps from the zoo, postcards from the art gallery, etc. 

Engage in activities

There are loads of activities on offer for children throughout the holidays. Check your local council’s website for opportunities in your area, and visit websites such as Ellas List and North Shore Mums for the latest events and activities.

Sign up to all of your local galleries and museums for weekly updates on what’s happening throughout the holidays. Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum, the Australian Museum, Art Gallery of NSW and the MCA all offer school holiday workshops, events and programs.

Play board games

Keep little minds busy with games like Scrabble, Monopoly and Snakes and Ladders. Let them read the rules and apply them to the game. Puzzles are another great way to give the brain a work-out.

Talk to your child’s teacher

Ask your child’s teacher for advice on reading lists, recommended websites and suggested activities. 

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Subscribe for $4.95 per issue

Subscribe Now
Get your mag delivered!

Recommended to you

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

This is the cheapest place to buy your back to school supplies

This is the cheapest place to buy your back to school supplies

All of the best back to school sales deals to shop now

All of the best back to school sales deals to shop now

The ultimate back to school shopping checklist

The ultimate back to school shopping checklist

How to keep kids busy in the garden

How to keep kids busy in the garden

{headline}

{headline}

McDonald’s brings back retro Happy Meal toys

McDonald’s brings back retro Happy Meal toys

20 of the best girls' bedroom ideas

20 of the best girls' bedroom ideas

Children who sleep in your bed at night officially become clever and confident adults

Children who sleep in your bed at night officially become clever and confident adults

{headline}

{headline}

Popular teething gel to be taken off the market after warnings

Popular teething gel to be taken off the market after warnings

Child car seat confusion: Parents taking kids out of boosters too early, poll finds

Child car seat confusion: Parents taking kids out of boosters too early, poll finds

Adam Liaw’s kids’ party food hack you need to know

Adam Liaw’s kids’ party food hack you need to know

7 ways to teach kids the value of money

7 ways to teach kids the value of money

How this Kmart Mum turned some kitchen cutlery trays into this epic train storage wall rack

How this Kmart Mum turned some kitchen cutlery trays into this epic train storage wall rack

Why screen time isn't so bad for your kids, after all

Why screen time isn't so bad for your kids, after all

Why craft is good for kids

Why craft is good for kids

Bhg
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
Bhg Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • All Recipes
  • BHG Shop
  • Girlfriend
  • Home Beautiful
  • New Idea
  • New Idea Food
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • Who
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • That’s Life
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • Airtasker
  • 7NEWS
  • SocietyOne
  • Health Engine
  • Starts at 60
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Better Homes and Gardens

Magazine Subscription Offer

Get your mag delivered!-Save 29% off the cover price!

Shop This Offer
Get your mag delivered!