Infotainment is the best way to get kids engaged during vacation

executive principal Little GEMS International, Al Barsha As parents and early years educators we have both been stuck with knowing what to do with our little ones during the summer holidays. The temperatures are soaring and often it feels like our little gems are bouncing off the walls. While soft play spaces are great to expel energy it’s important that learning opportunities are happening throughout the long break. Below are some fun and engaging activities that parents can easily do with their kids.

Treasure hunts: Children love solving mysteries. Put some clues around the house that involve riddles, rhymes and number problems. For example, find the missing word in a rhyme that will lead to the next location or add the numbers to get the code for the lock on a treasure box. There might even be a healthy treat at the end. This involves increasing vocabulary, critical thinking and problem solving, visual discrimination skills and math skills.

Sound games: Make some sounds with different household objects such as pots, jars, light switch, etc. Get your little one to close their eyes and guess what they heard? This activity develops acoustic discrimination skills that help children distinguish between sounds in preparation for reading.

Clapping games and finger rhymes: ‘Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar’ and ‘Patty Cake’. Do you remember playing these when you were little? This activity develops rhythm and

While soft play spaces are great to expel energy it’s important that learning opportunities are happening throughout the long break.” rhyme which children need to develop clarity of speech, intonation, new vocabulary and introduces the structure of speech.

Word games and word hunts: Look around the house for words starting with a specific sound and words that rhyme with each other. You can write these down as you go on slips of paper for your child to make a fun story at the end.

Don’t shy away from getting messy! Homemade ‘goop’ can be made with a simple mixture of corn flour, water and colouring. You could hide some of your child’s favourite objects in there. It’s still the best way to support fine motor development in preparation for writing.

Make pictures with old bottle tops and caps: You can stick these down or keep them loose to create never-ending options. Snap a picture and keep this as a souvenir. This activity develops hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, focus and attention.

Create a treasure basket: Collect ‘junk’ from around the house such as scarves, necklaces, reels, mittens, buttons, kitchen utensils, etc. Use these for creative role play and storytelling.

Overall, play is the best way to stimulate your child’s communication, critical thinking and motor skills.

(with contribution from Angela Cariappa, head of preschool, Little

GEMS International, Al Barsha)