
The summer holidays in Singapore are for fun, but it’s also an ideal time to stimulate your child’s mind. The Canadian International School shares some great ideas on how you can play and connect with your child to keep their brain active
Renowned for its dynamic, inquiry-based approach to teaching, the Canadian International School (CIS) knows the importance of fostering lifelong learning – and while holidays are of course meant for fun and relaxation, learning how to keep your child’s brain active is a good habit that will serve them for life.
Anna-Marie McAleer, Primary Years Program Coordinator at Canadian International School shares some strategies that will stimulate your child’s mind in a fun, engaging way, and help you to connect as a family:
Remember the importance of play – and do it together
We’re all busy – between work, the school year and commitments, fun family time together can be scarce. If your parent-child relationship has strayed into seeing each other for school drop-offs and planning which activity to be at next, make this summer holiday about finding new ways to engage with each other. Rediscover unstructured or free play, which fosters key learning and thinking skills and helps children adapt to changing circumstances and environments. Don’t forget to join in!
Read, read, read
The teaching team at CIS believes one of the most important habits parents can encourage in their child over the holidays is to continue reading. If you have younger children, read together; take your child to the bookstore and let them choose a new novel, or consider an e-reader as a summer holiday gift. Even better, make time to read more yourself and discuss what you’re reading with your child. Reading gets kids thinking, expands their vocabulary, and keeps learning alive.
Write about your experiences
Create a family journal, or encourage your child to start a personal diary – expressing your thoughts and recording experiences keeps minds sharp. Write letters to family and friends (practise that handwriting!), and encourage your child to make meaningful connections.
Practise problem-solving
Here’s how you can convince your kid that maths really is important in real life: set a challenge to solve a real problem. We like the idea of reducing energy usage around the home: have them track meter readings and make calculations and estimations of cost savings is a great way to engage a child’s mathematical thinking. For younger kids, go on a neighbourhood number hunt, or play card games together to activate their mathematical brain.
Explore the world around you
Fill your days visiting new places that will inspire lots of questions. Singapore Zoo, Kranji Heritage Trail, the Art and Science Museum and Chinese Gardens are all a great start. At Canadian International School, we believe one of the key aspects to building understanding is inquiring into the world around us. Encourage your child to ask questions about what they observe, make time for discussion, and find resources together to help answer the questions. Ignite your child’s thinking by encouraging them to wonder, wonder, and wonder some more!
This post is sponsored by Canadian International School.