Half term activities that help develop your child

All children look forward to the school holidays. It gives them a chance to let off steam from school, catch up with their friends or laze around the house. For parents though, having the kids out of school can be stressful; half term activities can cost a lot of money and you may need to rearrange work commitments. What’s more, as a parent, you don’t want your child sitting in front of the TV all week long, or glued to their phone. So, what are the activities you can do as a family which don’t cost too much and can also be beneficial for your child’s development?

Family film club

Bringing the family together over a film gives you all something to talk about, plus it can be a great vehicle to stimulate your child’s cognitive processing and comprehension skills. This half term, you can turn a trip to the cinema, or an after-dinner film at home, into an informal film studies class by asking everyone in the family why they thought certain characters behaved the way they did, or what their understanding was of certain moments in the film.

For instance, with Toy Story, you could ask how the narrative may have been different if Andy was a girl, or whether the film has made your child feel different about their toys and what character their favourite toy would have if it came to life and why. These questions are equally fun for parents as for kids!

You may be able to get a family discount ticket to enjoy many films at your local cinema chain.

Last minute break

Usually, prices for breaks within the UK or abroad skyrocket around the school holidays. However, if you are able to leave it to the last minute, you can get some great deals around this time of year. It’s great for your child to gain confidence by exploring new places, especially if you can research the local history of the area and bring that to life for them.

If you’re running out of ideas for the last few days of half term, Airbnb’s ‘Instant Booking’ feature means you can find somewhere and book right now for tomorrow.

Half term activities at school

Sometimes, despite best intentions and wishes, parents simply can’t get the time off over the holidays, meaning you’ll need to look for alternative childcare. Some schools, like Oakleigh House Private School, offer half term holiday clubs, which can be an ideal solution to ensure your child is getting the mental stimulation you want for them.

Rest time is important too

Encouraging your child to sit down and relax will also be very beneficial for their development this half term; giving them a chance to switch off will help improve their concentration and memory. If your child struggles to rest, you could sit them in front of a blank sheet and paper with some pens and get them to doodle until they’ve calmed down.

As with everything in life, try to balance your child’s half-term activities between activity and rest time, and you’ll be helping to develop their body and mind.