A study on how holidays affect the development of children
We remember school summer holidays as a happy and carefree time when you can forget about school and enjoy freedom to the fullest. Scientists confirm: summer holidays are a great time for the full development of children and strengthening family ties.
As part of the project, HomeToGo employees (a meta-search system for holiday housing offers) interviewed psychologists, teachers, and scientists who talked about the benefits of a long holiday during the summer holidays.
Knowledge in practice
During the long summer break, children get a “reset” after 9 busy months at school or kindergarten, but this does not mean that during idleness, they will forget everything. Marina Prostova, teacher of the laboratory of special psychology, says that the children’s brain uses this time to rethink the knowledge gained and learn how to apply it in practice.
“Summer holidays are extremely necessary for children. They are distracted from learning activities, but at the same time, everything they learned in school fits in with their practical application. Those. they also don’t really need training camps in the summer ”- Marina Prostova, a teacher at the laboratory of special psychology and correctional education at the FSAU NPTsZD of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.
The school gives not only knowledge, but teaches interaction in society, and summer vacations provide an excellent opportunity to practice communication skills. The new team is expecting a child in a children’s camp, in the country, on a trip to the sea and even in the yard – and it is during a long interaction during the summer holidays that children expand social ties, learn to communicate with different people and try themselves in different roles. This is especially important for those children who have difficulties with the school team – in the summer they can make new friends, improve socialization and practice communication skills.
All-round development
During the summer holidays, two systems are activated in the brain: “game” and “search”, when the child learns the world around him through the game and the game forms of interaction. This is not an empty pastime – when these systems work, neurochemical substances are produced in the brain that are responsible for happiness and good mood. Changing environments stimulate concentration, reduce stress, improve learning ability and planning skills.
Children are especially affected by outdoor activities. Scientists at the University of Illinois have shown that even in 20 minutes concentration increases in nature, and also pressure and stress levels are reduced. Especially helpful in finding fresh air for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
How to spend holidays?
There are many ways to spend holidays – vacation at the cottage, a trip to the sea or to a children’s camp, traveling around the country or abroad – but traveling with their parents are the most productive in terms of development and new knowledge. Traveling brings a sense of happiness and satisfaction, allows you to better know yourself, your skills, skills and needs, as well as develop your outlook and open mind.
Scientists at Indiana University conducted a study proving that even thinking about traveling and planning a trip can bring happiness. After the end of the journey, they are filled with satisfaction and impressions for a long time.
Another advantage of joint travel of parents and children is the opportunity to strengthen family ties, learn more and learn to understand each other. Thanks to such trips, children have a higher level of confidence in their parents, self-confidence and self-esteem. During joint trips, children learn and learn the skills of adults, learn new types of interaction using the example of parents and learn about the world with their help.
Speech therapist Yana Polya about joint rest: “A long, lazy or active rest of a child with mom and dad, without reports in the form of lessons, without special requirements, just rest and communication is great! At the same time, you can learn a lot about the parents or the child. ”
