Keep on learning during the holidays

HOLIDAYS are for having fun and kids need all the happiness they can get.

However, if your little one is struggling to master reading, writing or counting, having weeks off school can be a set back. This isn’t a problem for a teenager who understands this is temporary but for a young child who doesn’t realise learning is a matter of practise and relearning, this seeming loss of skills can be devastating and baffling.

So if your little one is at that point where they are learning their three Rs, here are some fun ways to make sure they keep in the loop.

Reading

To keep up reading skills, have your child read you a goodnight story. Pick out a favourite story (theirs, not yours!) and settle down for nap time or at night for a good read together.

When you play the entertained audience, your little one will be encouraged to enjoy reading.

Writing

Throw out the textbook and create your own novel. A nice way to do this is to give your little one a stack of magazines or stickers. Glue them into an art book and then write the story to go with the images.

A lost pony finding his way home, a girl who becomes an astronaut or a boy who finds a treasure – it’s all good!

Arithmetic

If you can stand it, make every trip to the market and supermarket a counting game. Count three packs of this, ask if these ears of sweetcorn are cheaper than those bags of carrots, and make sure to count change for every time you go to the sweet shop.

Counting games in the car are also excellent: three red cars, two green trees, four motorcyclists.