My kids aren't going to be doing homework this summer. They don't want to, and neither am I. If I forced them to, they wouldn't be fully on vacation. Besides, I don't know any adults who take their work bags to the beach. Yes, okay, it seems like we're all a little more stressed these days, and that a full month of vacation is out of fashion. But if you work on your days off, it's your responsibility. don't push your kids to do the same.
Are you asking me what they'll learn if they don't do homework? Seriously? Well, they'll learn how to negotiate with their friends, they'll acquire some basic physics (you know Archimedes' principle in the pool and stuff like that), they'll know how to locate the North Star if I take them on a night sky observation trip, They will learn spelling and grammar naturally (they read a lot), and they will become more independent in bicycle repair if the breakdown catches them far from home. As if that weren't enough They will discover new culinary techniques (in the kitchen at home), they will improve the movement in the drawings they make, they will be surprised visiting exhibitions, They will discover the world with eyes eager to know, and maybe even participate in a creative workshop.
But above all they will play, rest, smile, and they will know owners of their time; they have worked hard for months, they have fought battles over the last few months, and they have kept going; they have also managed to balance this with doing the extracurricular activities they have enjoyed. I will not be the one to tell them put one of those boring holiday booklets right under your nose.
Nowadays I see a lot of fear of letting children behave as such, of letting them have freedom; I fear that it is not so much concern for their future as acceptance of a model based on the absence of personal spaces and being constantly busy. But at the same time, new pedagogical proposals are emerging to better adapt to the current times: Children need to develop skills, not to accumulate knowledge.
Each one does the best they know and can with their children, I don't want to deny you the right to ask for their effort, but the fact is that in a relationship between two or more people, the right of others also counts. Make Homework is not a sine qua non condition for achieving effort, which is also acquired by being responsible for tidying the room, taking care of little siblings, learning to manage emotions or loading the dishwasher.
Was your child waiting for the summer to do homework?
Right? Maybe we should listen to them more. traditional homework format it is out of date, and it is out of date no matter how funny the math sentences are. If the labor market we are going to will value the use of technology, adaptation, creativity and innovation, I do not understand what relationship has to repeat the rules of c / k / z ad nauseam, with the achievement of those skills.
Let your child satisfy his curiosity, investigate, ask questions, invent crafts (or find them in books / on YouTube), follow the trail of ants with magnifying glass in hand, and that classifies different seeds until they learn which vegetable they belong to. Let them try, make mistakes, and ultimately grow; don't be afraid to postpone obligations until September, He won't be a worse student for it., you won't fail school even if you don't do summer homework.
For rest to be truly restorative and, at the same time, stimulating, it is advisable limit screen use (TV, tablet, or mobile) and prioritize conversations, shared reading, games, and outdoor activities. When they converse, reflect, and play, their minds stay active and curious without feeling like they're being tasked.
But do you learn if you don't do your homework?
Of course you learn! Learning it is innate...just think about the fact that notebooks and pencils haven't always existed, and yet we've evolved, that's true. But let's focus on the present. Do you want ideas for doing homework without actually doing it?
- The travel notebook, so your child can record their vacation experiences: Annotations, drawings, a photo of the grandparents, a fallen tree leaf.
- La reading, which is not lacking: books, albums, comics (according to age and tastes) in the home library facilitate the encounter between children and literature.
- Cultural activities: exhibitions and displays.
- Languages: perhaps you have signed them up for an English camp, or your daughter may find it very easy to learn just by watching videos or watching children's programs in their original version.
- Experiments artistic or scientific at home.
- Creative workshops, film, or botany.
- Social interaction: seeing those friends who live a little far away again, finally meeting that relative we have heard so much about.
- Table games.
- Computer games.
More ideas that work and that you can integrate into your daily life:
- Math in the supermarket: adding prices, calculating discounts, or managing change. You also learn geometry observing the shapes of boxes and fruits.
- Summer Photo Album: print photos, organize them and write texts or captions develops deed, reading y creativity.
- Homework by age: setting the table, tidying up or folding clothes reinforces the autonomy and the sense of responsibility.
- Gardening and urban orchard: watering, observing and recording changes introduces life cycles, photosynthesis and care for the environment.
- Homemade world map: Cut out countries and label capitals; you can add animals from each area to learn living geography.
- Invent a story: Choose a topic or keywords and have them read aloud; you strengthen oral expression y writing.
- family recipes: following steps, measuring ingredients and sharing the result; are practiced mathematics, teamwork y Healthy Habits.
- Experiments with water: transfers, volumes, and densities; sensory science perfect for heat.
- Read a little every day: novels, picture books, comics or audiobooks according to taste; the key is the constancy no pressure.
Do you see as yes?
A few years ago, Malena (from Learning Mathematics) counted that Throughout life we ​​tend to forget what we don't use, despite the repetitions we've had while we were children, so the fear that they might forget if they don't review is no excuse for forcing them to do homework every day during the summer. Despite everything I've told you, traditional homework can be useful in very specific situations like that little time when grandparents come back from the park with the kids, and they need to keep them busy while the food is just being cooked; without counting those little ones who love to fill out notebooks, I have nothing to object to about it.
I started by telling you that my children won't be doing homework, and I hope I haven't alarmed you too much. In addition to numerous organized and many free activities, we have a few projects in the works: build a dollhouseIt was the little one's idea, and we're currently brainstorming ideas. I think it's wonderful that they maintain their ability to create based on their own needs. Summer is sure to be very interesting, that's for sure.
Learning by playing with everyday life
Home, the neighborhood, or the supermarket are perfect settings for transforming everyday life into meaningful learning. A walk can include a treasure hunt with plants, signs and numbers; the kitchen becomes a laboratory for measuring, weighing and estimating; and a trip to the market is a kind of domestic economy improvised.
Propose a family reading marathon with realistic goals (pages or chapters per week) and varied formats: illustrated books, comics, novels, audiobooks or multicultural stories. Set aside a cozy reading corner and share your impressions aloud to make the experience social and motivating.
Add a writing challenge: travel diaries, short stories, poems, comic strips, or letters and postcards to family members. Combining words and images with drawing or collage It triggers creativity and consolidates the habit of writing without feeling obligated.
The board games They also teach: there are titles to practice arithmetic, vocabulary, geography, logic, and strategy; and they are used to learn how to take turns, cooperate, and manage emotions when winning or losing.
Science, nature and curiosity
Turn your garden, balcony or windowsill into a vegetable patch with herbs, strawberries or cherry tomatoes. Keep a record with drawings, measurements and weekly observations: you will talk about pollination, nutrients and seasons without the need for a textbook.
Ride a mini laboratory with everyday materials: vinegar and baking soda for reactions, invisible ink with lemon, marble circuits to experiment with gravity or water absorption in different materials. Pose hypotheses, observe and draw conclusions; this is how you train the scientific method.
On every nature walk, prepare a observation guideAnimals, leaves, footprints, clouds, or rocks. Draw maps of your journey, record routes, and create a small collection of finds (rocks, feathers) to sort at home.
Visit museums and exhibitions family members. Reading posters as a team, participating in workshops, and discussing what they've seen stimulates critical thinking and enriches vocabulary.
Math, Language, and Critical Thinking without Worksheets
Integrate mathematics into real-life situations: calculate distances on excursions, times and rhythms in sports, fractions with recipes and budgets with a short shopping list. Set up a fictitious store with money toys to buy and sell.
In language, in addition to shared reading, try Word games: rhymes, riddles, categories, word searches, character creation, and short scripts for playing out scenes at home.
Explore the local historia: Create a timeline or illustrated map with key locations in the neighborhood and stories from family members or neighbors. Understanding the recent past strengthens the identity and the sense of belonging.
If you are looking for structured support without falling into repetitive cards, there are manipulative resources and platforms with a focus visual and practical (without depending on language) to train spatial reasoning and logic, very useful for early years and multilingual students.
Languages, art and expression
Summer is ideal for relaxed contact with a second language. Introduce classic games in English (Simon Says, Thematic Bingo, Memory), storytelling with puppets, songs with movement and little role playing games (store, restaurant, doctor's office). Labeling household objects and listening to children's music or podcasts in the original version adds natural exposure.
In art, prepare Creative workshops with recycled materials: build models of cities, bridges or sculptures; paint with new techniques; or design a family comic. Music and instrumental initiation They develop memory, coordination and emotional expression.
La swimming and water activities, in addition to being fun and providing security, strengthen resistance and habits of improvement. Linking sport and play with small challenges encourages constancy.
By age: proposals adjusted to their development
Because each step requires different experiences, these ideas help adapt expectations:
- 2 to 3 yearsSensory games with water, sand, and textures; psychomotor circuits with cushions and balls; songs with gestures to connect language and movement.
- 4 to 7 years: Recycling crafts, scavenger hunts, memory and category games, first team games for learning standards and cooperation.
- 8 to 10 years: Fun science workshops, LEGO or cardboard constructions, role-playing games, cooperative sports projects with strategy.
- 12 years and teenagers: challenges type escape room, audiovisual projects or podcasts, debates and presentations, leadership and problem-solving.
Child entrepreneurship and community
Start up a small project (crafts, plant care, pet walking with adult help) teaches how to plan materials, organize time, and calculate expenses and income. More than money, the key learning is taking an idea from the imagination to action.
Take advantage of community programs from libraries, cultural centers, or sports clubs: reading clubs, STEM workshops, urban camps, theater or art groups. They offer social interaction, structure, and the discovery of interests.
Camps and English Immersion
If you opt for a camp with language immersion, look for proposals with activities adapted to ages, a playful approach, qualified staff and a balance between play, sport and creativityA safe and stimulating environment where the language is experienced in real-life contexts increases motivation and confidence when speaking.
Organizing without stress: how to balance rest and stimulation
A simple scheme works very well: tomorrow morning light activity (reading, creative writing, walks or homemade science), midday rest and afternoon free play and social life. Define clear and flexible screen limits, offer election between 2 or 3 proposals and reserve spaces for pure boredom, a breeding ground for creativity.
With small routines, spaces of autonomy and meaningful activities, summer becomes a period of discovery without sacrificing rest. Your support, daily conversation, and trust in their interests are the real driving force.