All children learn differently, have special interests and move at different speeds through their education, the bottom line is kids learning is fundamental and we can play an important part in it and help make learning fun.



Here are a few tips to ensure your child is happy and engaged with learning:



1. Give them a book

Reading for kids really should be fun! Look for comics, joke books, trivia books, graphic novels about places and animals — anything that sparks an interest. Easy-to-fall-into series are great choices. They may not be excellent literature, but that's not the point. The goal is to have your child read the next book in the series. Keeping their reading skills going has a lot to do with consistency — not whether your child is tackling a novel.



By getting kids engaged in reading, they are continually improving their reading and writing skills.



2. Spend time reading together

Here’s the deal: If you don’t read, it’s unlikely that your child will be a voracious reader either. If you’re not a big reader yourself, pick a novel (one that may be too difficult for your child to tackle on their own) and read it together. Again, pick up on your common interests. Reading together (using silly voices wherever possible) is a great way to connect and an opportunity for you to discuss what you’ve just read. What do you think will happen next? What do you think the character is feeling? While these are all reading comprehension questions, they grant you great opportunities to share your thoughts!



3. Build away! Construction sets​

Working on a LEGO set is actually a great way for kids to keep their school skills alive. They have to follow directions, work in a sequence, and perhaps most importantly, stick with the task — something that will translate in a positive way come September. Start with smaller sets that they can succeed with — the goal is build their confidence. Buying the biggest set (which may seem generous) may in fact be too frustrating for them.



4. Incorporate math into daily activities. ​

At breakfast, throw a few challenges at my kids. We drove 55km's yesterday and will drive another 78 to Grandma’s – how many does that total? At a restaurant, let the older kids figure the tip. Give them a few receipts and ask them to tally how much you’ve spent this week!