How to Keep Children Learning During the Summer Holidays
22nd July 2026
How to Keep Children Learning During the Summer Holidays (Without Spoiling the Fun!) The summer holidays are a well-earned break for children after a busy school year. They’re a time for adventures, family days out, and making memories. However, many parents worry about the so-called “summer slide”—the learning loss that can happen when children spend six weeks away from the classroom.
The good news is that keeping your child’s brain active doesn’t mean turning your home into a classroom. Just a few enjoyable learning activities each week can help children return to school feeling confident, motivated and ready to learn.
What Is the Summer Slide?
The “summer slide” refers to the loss of knowledge and skills that some children experience during the long summer break. Research suggests that regular reading, problem-solving, and educational activities can help children retain what they’ve learned and even build new skills over the holidays.
Rather than focusing on formal lessons, aim for short, engaging activities that fit naturally into your family’s routine.
Make Reading Part of Every Day
Reading is one of the easiest and most effective ways to keep learning going over the summer. Encourage children to choose books they’re genuinely interested in, whether that’s adventure stories, graphic novels, non-fiction, or magazines.
A daily reading session of just 20 minutes can improve vocabulary, comprehension, and confidence.
Great online resources include:
- Oxford Owl – Free eBooks and reading resources for children of all ages.
- National Literacy Trust – Reading activities, book recommendations, and family literacy advice.
- World Book Day – Reading challenges and book inspiration throughout the year.
Top tip: Visit your local library and let your child choose their own books. Giving children ownership over what they read often makes reading much more enjoyable.
Turn Everyday Activities Into Maths Practice
Maths is everywhere! You don’t need worksheets to practise important skills.
Try involving your child in:
- Measuring ingredients while baking.
- Working out discounts during shopping trips.
- Budgeting for a family day out.
- Calculating travel times and distances.
- Playing card and board games that involve numbers.
For extra practice, these free websites offer fun maths activities:
- BBC Bitesize – Curriculum-linked maths games and revision.
- NRICH – Creative maths challenges from the University of Cambridge.
Explore Science Through Fun Experiments
Children are naturally curious, making summer the perfect time for hands-on science.
Simple activities include:
- Growing plants from seeds.
- Making slime.
- Testing which materials float or sink.
- Creating paper aeroplanes and investigating how different designs fly.
Excellent online science resources include:
- STEM Learning – Free science activities and experiments.
- Primary Science Teaching Trust – Family-friendly science investigations.
- NASA Kids’ Club – Interactive games and space-themed learning.
Keep Writing Skills Sharp
Writing doesn’t have to feel like homework.
- Keep a holiday diary.
- Write postcards to family.
- Create a comic book.
- Start a travel journal.
- Write reviews of books, films, or attractions they’ve visited.
Learn Through Family Days Out
- Museums
- Historic castles
- Wildlife parks
- Nature reserves
- Science centres
- Art galleries
Read our blog about places to visit in Yorkshire
Helpful Online Resources
- Oxford Owl –
- BBC Bitesize – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize
- National Literacy Trust – https://literacytrust.org.uk
- Oak National Academy – https://www.thenational.academy
- Topmarks – https://www.topmarks.co.uk
- NRICH – https://nrich.maths.org
- STEM Learning – https://www.stem.org.uk
- Scratch – https://scratch.mit.edu
- Duolingo – https://www.duolingo.com
- NASA Kids’ Club – https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub
Need a Little Extra Support This Summer?
At Tutor Tailor, we offer personalised tuition throughout the summer holidays to help children maintain their progress, build confidence, and prepare for the new academic year. Whether your child needs support in English, maths, science, or exam preparation, our experienced tutors create engaging lessons tailored to every learner.
