A New Approach During Rest
The end of the school year marks the beginning of a three-month period that is usually interpreted as a total break, thanks to the coexistence of the term vacation with the idea of absolute rest. However, this break between academic cycles not only serves to free yourself from multiplications and grammatical rules, but also represents a valuable opportunity to explore new areas of knowledge, without the pressure of homework and tests. It is a favorable time to foster curiosity and learn for the mere pleasure of knowing.
Learning Outside the Classroom
It is important to understand that learning is not limited to conventional educational spaces. Therefore, when thinking about family activities, it is essential to not only see them as a hobby, but as opportunities to create meaningful memories. It’s not about turning every trip to the zoo into a biology class, but we can take advantage of the ‘lead by example’ strategy in our daily interactions.
The Tradition of Jólabókaflóð and its Relevance
Following the Icelandic tradition of Jólabókaflóð, where books are exchanged on Christmas Eve and people spend the evening reading together, we can be inspired to encourage reading in our homes during the summer. What stops us from recreating this dynamic in our own homes? If we leave books in plain sight and in an accessible place, it is more likely that seeing someone reading in a common area will motivate others to join in the activity, thus avoiding excessive screen use.
Literature as a Bridge to New Horizons
Although promoting a reading habit during the school year is essential, the possibilities expand greatly outside of the classroom. While there are mandatory reading lists at school, during the summer young people can embark on extraordinary adventures in worlds like Unicórnia or explore the heroes of classical mythology through modern stories like those of Percy Jackson.
Cinema and Conversations on Vacation
Plus, the holidays are a perfect time to enjoy movies as a family, which can lead to rich conversations. Digital platforms offer a wide variety of safe content for minors. Films like ‘West Side Story’ can open discussions about the importance of reconciliation, while ‘The Book Thief’ presents deep themes such as tyranny, wartime hunger and the value of literacy.
Take advantage of time for meaningful activities
Probably, on several occasions we have had in mind topics or activities that we would like to explore with the children, but that we often dismiss thinking that we don’t have time. Vacations, however, provide us with the ideal opportunity to address those desires and activities, allowing us to enjoy and learn in company. It is the right time to let creativity and learning flow together.