We are officially halfway through the summer holidays! Just six weeks to go before the new scholastic year starts and shop windows are already displaying back-to-school items.
If the shop displays have set you thinking about refreshing your children's minds about what they learnt last year, don't just repeat the same stuff from textbooks or past work. With a little thought, revision can be fun.
Many websites offer printable worksheets suitable for all ages and capabilities. The following work for me:
• www.kidzone.ws offers a host of English and Maths worksheets which you can tailor to suit your child's preferences and abilities.
• www.janbrett.com is a great source for printable games and flash cards especially suited to younger children.
• www.learnenglish.ork.uk/kids offers a number of interactive games covering a variety of topics while focusing on English practice.
For Maltese practice you can always make up your own worksheets; after you've studied some of the English versions the task seems far less daunting. Refer to textbooks if you are uncertain about grammar and spelling.
For other subjects with local emphasis a quiz can provide loads of family fun. This will take a little time to organise, but older kids can be roped in to help with researching questions. Read through the textbooks and write questions on pieces of cardboard cut to the size of playing cards with answers written on the reverse. You may be surprised at what you have learnt by the end of the game!
Escape from the heat and head to the library. The variety of books available is a terrific way to encourage even the most reluctant reader. A browse through the shelves of the central public library is bound to unearth an interesting book; after all, someone who is reluctant to read about the knights may relish a book about engines or lose oneself in a lively adventure story.
Each ticket holder can borrow up to four books at a time for three weeks although you can extend this three times so long as the books are not overdue. The good news is that you no longer have to trudge to the library; you can extend your books by calling the central public library on 2124 0703, 2124 3473 or the computerised regional libraries in Mosta, Luqa, Qormi, Paola or Birkirkara.
The central public library is on summer opening hours until September 30, from 8.30 a.m. to 1.15 p.m. from Monday to Friday and from 8.15 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. However, if you want to check out the opening hours of your local library, or for any other information, log on to www.libraries-archives.gov.mt.
Why don't you throw a party this summer? There is nothing like the excitement of planning and having a party to set a child's pulse racing. If you don't have a reason for a party, here are a few ideas to get you going: Midsummer, end of summer, local festa, or just because you are happy to be living in such a great family as yours.
The guest list can be as exclusive or extensive as you like; limit it to the immediate family or invite everyone you can think of. Likewise, the catering can range from sandwiches, jelly and ice cream to a full buffet if that's what you fancy - just don't forget the all-important cake.
Include the children at every stage; they can help with the guest list and invitations - even if Daddy is the only person getting an invite. Get them to suggest items for the menu and then let them help you prepare the food and set up any decorations. After the event, don't forget to let them help you with the clean-up either.
The really great thing about parties is that they don't even have to be real to get a youngster excited, so if you can't face the hassle of a real party, organise a teddy bear's picnic or a dolls' tea party instead. You can still guide your young host through all the stages with the advantage that the guests are invariably quiet and extremely neat.
If you have had, or are planning a holiday this summer, stretch the experience out a little further and suggest each child makes a scrapbook of the holiday.
Older children can use a scrapbook to paste photos, leaflets and mementoes of the trip. Writing about the highlights of each day will turn the scrapbook into a journal of the holiday and will eventually make nostalgic reading. Perhaps you could suggest that everybody researches their favourite landmark or site in more detail and then spend an evening presenting that work to the rest of the family.
Kindergartners and young primary schoolchildren can do something simpler. Use one A4 sheet of coloured paper for each day of the trip; have your child stick photos or mementoes for each day of your holiday and draw a picture or write a few words depicting their favourite part of the day. When they're done, make covers out of coloured cardboard and tie the whole project up with ribbon or gift wrap string.
Whatever you decide to do, enjoy your time with the children - they'll be back at school all too soon!
If the shop displays have set you thinking about refreshing your children's minds about what they learnt last year, don't just repeat the same stuff from textbooks or past work. With a little thought, revision can be fun.
Many websites offer printable worksheets suitable for all ages and capabilities. The following work for me:
• www.kidzone.ws offers a host of English and Maths worksheets which you can tailor to suit your child's preferences and abilities.
• www.janbrett.com is a great source for printable games and flash cards especially suited to younger children.
• www.learnenglish.ork.uk/kids offers a number of interactive games covering a variety of topics while focusing on English practice.
For Maltese practice you can always make up your own worksheets; after you've studied some of the English versions the task seems far less daunting. Refer to textbooks if you are uncertain about grammar and spelling.
For other subjects with local emphasis a quiz can provide loads of family fun. This will take a little time to organise, but older kids can be roped in to help with researching questions. Read through the textbooks and write questions on pieces of cardboard cut to the size of playing cards with answers written on the reverse. You may be surprised at what you have learnt by the end of the game!
Escape from the heat and head to the library. The variety of books available is a terrific way to encourage even the most reluctant reader. A browse through the shelves of the central public library is bound to unearth an interesting book; after all, someone who is reluctant to read about the knights may relish a book about engines or lose oneself in a lively adventure story.
Each ticket holder can borrow up to four books at a time for three weeks although you can extend this three times so long as the books are not overdue. The good news is that you no longer have to trudge to the library; you can extend your books by calling the central public library on 2124 0703, 2124 3473 or the computerised regional libraries in Mosta, Luqa, Qormi, Paola or Birkirkara.
The central public library is on summer opening hours until September 30, from 8.30 a.m. to 1.15 p.m. from Monday to Friday and from 8.15 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. However, if you want to check out the opening hours of your local library, or for any other information, log on to www.libraries-archives.gov.mt.
Why don't you throw a party this summer? There is nothing like the excitement of planning and having a party to set a child's pulse racing. If you don't have a reason for a party, here are a few ideas to get you going: Midsummer, end of summer, local festa, or just because you are happy to be living in such a great family as yours.
The guest list can be as exclusive or extensive as you like; limit it to the immediate family or invite everyone you can think of. Likewise, the catering can range from sandwiches, jelly and ice cream to a full buffet if that's what you fancy - just don't forget the all-important cake.
Include the children at every stage; they can help with the guest list and invitations - even if Daddy is the only person getting an invite. Get them to suggest items for the menu and then let them help you prepare the food and set up any decorations. After the event, don't forget to let them help you with the clean-up either.
The really great thing about parties is that they don't even have to be real to get a youngster excited, so if you can't face the hassle of a real party, organise a teddy bear's picnic or a dolls' tea party instead. You can still guide your young host through all the stages with the advantage that the guests are invariably quiet and extremely neat.
If you have had, or are planning a holiday this summer, stretch the experience out a little further and suggest each child makes a scrapbook of the holiday.
Older children can use a scrapbook to paste photos, leaflets and mementoes of the trip. Writing about the highlights of each day will turn the scrapbook into a journal of the holiday and will eventually make nostalgic reading. Perhaps you could suggest that everybody researches their favourite landmark or site in more detail and then spend an evening presenting that work to the rest of the family.
Kindergartners and young primary schoolchildren can do something simpler. Use one A4 sheet of coloured paper for each day of the trip; have your child stick photos or mementoes for each day of your holiday and draw a picture or write a few words depicting their favourite part of the day. When they're done, make covers out of coloured cardboard and tie the whole project up with ribbon or gift wrap string.
Whatever you decide to do, enjoy your time with the children - they'll be back at school all too soon!