Keeping English going over the school holidays

Little and often

Ten minutes a day keeps English fresh far better than an hour once a week. Attach English to something your child already does every day, such as breakfast or bedtime reading, so it fits into the holiday rhythm instead of competing with it.

A holiday English journal

Give your child a notebook to record the holidays. Each day they draw a picture and write or dictate one sentence: "I went to the beach." "I ate watermelon." Younger children can label the picture with single words. By the end of the break, they have a book they are proud of and plenty of past-tense practice.

English on outings

• Zoo or aquarium: name animals, colours and sizes. "Look! A big grey elephant!"
• Supermarket: make a shopping list in English and find each item.
• Travel: count cars, spot colours, play "I spy" on long journeys.
• Parks: practise action verbs: run, jump, climb, swing.
• Signs: look for English on signs, menus and packaging.

Games for rainy days

• Bingo with words from the school year.
• Board games played with English counting and colours.
• Twenty questions with animals or foods.
• Memory card games with picture cards.
• Treasure hunt with simple English clues: "Look under the table."

A holiday project

A small project gives English a purpose. Ideas include making a poster about a favourite animal, a simple recipe card for a family dish, a mini picture book with a made-up story, or a comic strip about a holiday adventure. Your child chooses the topic; you help with the words.

Review last year's words

Ask your child to show you their English textbook or notes from school, and pick a few topics to revisit through games. Children enjoy teaching their parents, and explaining what they learned is one of the best ways to remember it.

Prepare for the next term

In the last week of the holidays, gently restart the routines that matter: a few minutes of reading, a song, flashcards. A soft start makes the first English lesson back much less of a shock.

Keep it fun

Holidays should feel like holidays. If your child resists, ease off and look for English in what they already enjoy, such as a favourite song, game or film. Positive feelings about English last longer than any single word learned.

Tip: Make a holiday bingo card with English activities (read a book, sing a song, find five English signs, cook something and say the ingredients). Your child ticks off each square, and a full card earns a small treat.