Summer’s here!

Photographs: Pexels

Text: Monika Pedersen

The summer has finally arrived, and school is over for a while, which is a lovely feeling, as it's a time to rest and recuperate. The power of downtime is not to be underestimated. Both parents, teachers, and students need to recharge their batteries, as strict routines will return faster than one can imagine.

The summer brings the opportunity to spend time relaxing, reflecting, and growing. It is an important time that allows children to consider all they have achieved and learned, and for them to organise this in some sort of order for the coming academic year. During term time, this can only happen to a limited extent, but with the passage of weeks, knowledge and understanding can settle in their minds and become solidified. However, dare it be said, some small routines to keep the brain ticking over are vital, so all the good investment is not watered down or, in the worst case, become a little foggy and uncertain.

Review

Although it may seem challenging, maintaining a few routines is a worthwhile investment for the future. For young learners, it is wise to maintain reading time, and what better way to do this than to retain the bedtime routine of reading before a good night’s sleep? Regarding writing skills, allocating a little time each week to practice phonics, spelling, and sentence writing will yield dividends in the coming academic year. Math can be practised in fun ways during a car journey, a visit to the grocery store, or a walk to the park or the beach. The work does not need to be arduous if a sense of fun and play is injected. Strange, though it may seem, many students enjoy the mental stimulation, and certainly want to keep up, so they do not find the transition to the next grade level a hugely daunting step. Many young students are hungry for knowledge, and so fuelling their curiosity is a positive thing.

"Dialogues in class, the sharing of stories, and the expression of emotions can help develop coping strategies."

Personal growth

Academic learning is one aspect of developing a child, but it is not the whole deal. It is equally important to provide students with broader experiences, which enable them to grow as individuals and develop a more comprehensive perspective on their environment. Thus, a trip to the zoo or a museum, travelling to another country to experience a different culture and way of life, as well as time with family and friends, are truly significant activities. Young people are like sponges, as they absorb a lot and then love to share this knowledge in class discussions and side conversations. The more intense the outside enrichment they have, the better equipped they are to understand and appreciate the world around them and how it functions, making them more wholesome and stable young people, comfortable in their surroundings.

Relaxation

In addition to all the reviews and adventures, it is vital to have some quiet time to recharge and rest. Young people expend a significant amount of energy each school day learning and dealing with discipline, structure, and routines, as well as human interactions. Therefore, it is also key to have unstructured time, where one can play, sleep, and simply enjoy the sun and the moment without an agenda. Children truly need to rest, as often they are not aware of their fatigue levels until they ‘hit the wall’ or, sadly, become sick, as their little bodies cannot cope with the demands placed upon them, especially if they are in schools with demanding academic standards and rigour. A lot more is expected of a child in our current age than it was in the past. Maintaining a balance is crucial so they remain healthy, both physically and mentally. Being in the fresh air and, hopefully, enjoying some warmth on their bodies to revitalise them is critical, as much of the academic year is spent indoors in classrooms and sitting down.

July

The weeks in July and the beginning of August are an integral part of the cycle of life, a time when genuine relaxation can occur, rather than the shorter and more defined holidays at other times of the year, when specific commitments take priority. The takeaway here is to enjoy the freedom and free time to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.