Study in summer, combine leisure and learning

In summer, children have more leisure time. And that's when the question arises of what to do with so much free time; Summer camps, extracurricular activities, language courses, sports, games ... But, where is the study? Is it recommended that schoolchildren continue with work habits?

Summer is the longest vacation time for students and a good time for schoolchildren to continue learning and enriching themselves physically, emotionally and intellectually. The general summer activities books are a good resource for not forgetting the knowledge acquired during the course and practicing them, but they do not provide as much as a plan adapted to each child where the children continue to enrich themselves with other activities that are different to them and separate them from the routine of the school year.

Guide to combine leisure and learning in the summer

Rosa Peris, teacher of the degrees in Teacher of Infantile Education and Primary Education of UNIR, the International University of La Rioja, proposes the following guide of leisure and learning of summer for a scholar:
1. You have to think about each child: skills, hobbies, take into account the suggestions of their teachers at the end of the course.
2. Plan a more flexible schedule, but with clear limits.
3. Carry out an attractive weekly activity with the family.
4. Cultural plans: visits to museums, outdoor concerts, family cinema, etc.
5. Solidarity: dedicate time to the elderly, help children in need or be camp monitors, in the case of the elderly.
6. Daily reading of titles appropriate to their ages and tastes.
7. Activities that work logic.
8. Start or deepen the languages.
9. Sport as a stimulator of brain activity.

Can you combine leisure and learning?

Rosa Peris states that "summer is an optimal time to carry out educational activities different from those of the academic year, they are a personal enrichment".

Do not forget that the course has been very long and intense, children need to rest and enjoy their vacations. The UNIR teacher points out that learning has to be focused in a different way. "It is not a question of carrying out a systematic study of the different subjects, it would not make sense to try it out of context, there are many ways to continue learning and enriching the future members of society."

According to Rosa Peris, it is not convenient for students to totally disconnect from school during the holidays. "It would be advisable to have a certain work habit, the total disconnection of mental work is not good, I would prefer reading and games that stimulate their heads and move their bodies."

One of the questions raised by parents is the time that children and adolescents must devote to learning in summer. According to Rosa Peris, "it will depend on the ages, but it is advisable to spend some time from Monday to Friday, but without forgetting that learning is also doing sports, hiking, getting to know nature, interacting with different people, making plans with their parents, etc. "

In vacations, the best time to do the educational tasks are the afternoons, after eating, "in summer, the afternoons are eternal," says Rosa Peris.

How to motivate in the study during the summer

Motivating the child so that he does not think that doing homework or dedicating time to learning is a punishment is a challenge for many parents. Rosa Peris, advised to make attractive learning activities. "For example, summer courses that are practically organized in all municipalities and are very varied, combining sports, games, languages, creative reading, music workshops, plastic arts or theater." This is a good way to devote that time to learning without being seen as a punishment. "

Maria Lucea
Advisor: Rosa Peris, teacher of the degrees in Teacher of Infantile Education and Primary Education of UNIR, the International University of La Rioja