This Summer, Keep It Simple: Play, Talk and Read
- The House of Learning
- Jul 2
- 4 min read
As the summer holidays begin, many parents start asking themselves the same questions:
Should we hire a tutor?
Should we enrol our child in a summer camp to keep them busy?
Will they fall behind if we take a break from structured learning?
At The House of Learning, we understand these concerns. As parents, we all want to give our children the very best opportunities to learn and succeed.
During our recent THL Parent Line podcast, Esra Uzsayilir, Educational Psychologist and Co-founder of Connect Psychology, left parents with a simple but powerful piece of advice:
"If there is one thing you can do to support your child's development, it is to play, talk, and read." |
At first glance, it sounds almost too simple. In a world filled with tutoring programmes, educational apps, enrichment classes, and packed summer schedules, it can feel as though we should always be doing more. Yet some of the most important foundations for learning are built through everyday experiences, meaningful conversations, shared stories, and opportunities to play.
At The House of Learning, our advice is simple:
Play. Talk. Read.
Whilst summer camps and activities can be wonderful opportunities for children, they are not essential for learning. Some of the most important learning experiences happen during everyday family life.
Play
Play is how children learn best.
Whether children are building a fort from sofa cushions, creating imaginary adventures, splashing in the pool, exploring an indoor play centre, helping prepare lunch, creating artwork, building with construction toys, or enjoying a family day at the beach, they are developing essential skills that cannot be taught through worksheets.
Through play, children learn to:
|
Children spend much of the school year following routines and structured activities. Summer provides an opportunity to slow down, explore their interests, and enjoy the freedom that childhood should bring.
Talk
One of the most powerful ways to support your child's development is through conversation.
Talk together whilst cooking dinner, driving in the car, travelling, shopping, or simply spending time together as a family.
Ask questions. Listen carefully to their ideas. Wonder about things together. |
These everyday conversations help children build vocabulary, confidence, critical thinking, and communication skills. They also strengthen relationships and help children understand the world around them.
The more opportunities children have to engage in meaningful conversations, the stronger the foundations they build for future learning.
Read
Reading remains one of the greatest gifts we can give children.
Reading together supports language development, imagination, comprehension, memory, and early literacy skills. It also creates valuable moments of connection between children and the adults who care for them.
Read favourite stories. Visit the library. Read before bed. Allow your child to choose books that genuinely interest them. Read signs, menus, recipes, and maps together. Most importantly, make reading enjoyable. |
Children who associate books with warmth, comfort, and enjoyment are more likely to develop a lifelong love of reading.
Learning Is Everywhere
Learning does not only happen in classrooms.
A family meal can develop communication skills.
A trip to the beach can encourage scientific thinking.
Helping to bake can introduce mathematical concepts.
A story can spark imagination.
A game can teach problem-solving.
Children learn through experiences, relationships, conversations, and play.
Our Summer Message to Families
This summer, permit yourself to slow down.
You do not need to fill every day with lessons, worksheets, or structured activities.
Spend time together.
Make memories.
Explore, laugh, read stories, have conversations, and enjoy the simple moments.
When September arrives, your child will return with far more than academic knowledge. They will return with experiences, confidence, stories to tell, and memories that will stay with them for years to come.
When life gets in the way!
Of course, like many families, there may be days throughout the summer when your child needs to attend a holiday programme whilst you work or manage other commitments.
When choosing a summer programme, look beyond the timetable of activities. Consider whether the environment respects your child's natural rhythm, emotional well-being, and stage of development.
Choose a programme that understands young children. One that allows them to be creative, follow their interests, lead their own play, and try new experiences in a way that feels safe and comfortable.
The best summer programmes are not those that keep children constantly busy or overstimulated. They are the ones that provide the right balance of exploration, rest, creativity, movement, and connection.
Children do not need to be rushed from one activity to the next or pressured to achieve. They need opportunities to enjoy their childhood, build confidence, and learn at their own pace.
Quite simply, not too much, not too little — just right.
So, when you have the time, play, talk, and read with your children. And when life gets busy, and you need a trusted early year setting to do the same, choose a place that values childhood, understands development, and provides the care, connection, and experiences young children need to thrive.
At The House of Learning, we are committed to doing just that.
Comments