7 Learning Activities To Do With Your Children During This Summer Holiday

 

The summer holidays are here again, that glorious stretch of time when school shoes go on break and lunch boxes finally get some rest. But after the excitement of the first week (and the thrill of not waking up early), the reality hits: “What do we do with all this time?”

Sure, screen time can be a lifesaver, but too much of it and suddenly your children start quoting cartoons in their sleep. The good news? There are fun, engaging learning activities you can do at home that won’t break the bank, or your sanity.

Here are 7 simple learning activities to enjoy with your children this holiday, even when the power supply has other plans.

1. DIY Science Experiments: No, you don’t need a lab coat or fancy equipment. Just some vinegar, baking soda, and a curious child. Try the classic volcano experiment: Put baking soda in a bowl, add a little red food colouring (for lava effect), then pour in vinegar and watch the magic happen. 

You can also explore simple projects like making slime, growing beans in a jar, or using lemons to light a bulb (seriously, Google it).

Science becomes a lot more fun when children get to do it with their hands, and when things fizz, pop, or explode just a little.

2. Home Library Hour: You don’t need a massive bookshelf to encourage reading. A few age-appropriate books, a mat on the floor, and some snacks can transform your sitting room into a mini-library. Set aside 30 – 45 minutes each day where everyone (including you) reads a book. 

For younger kids, you can read aloud with animated voices. For older ones, encourage them to read a story and tell it back in their own words.

You’d be surprised how much vocabulary, comprehension, and imagination grows from simple storytelling.

3. Cook and Learn Together: Children love food, and helping out in the kitchen can be a fun learning moment. Turn cooking into a mini maths and science lesson.

Ask questions like: “If we need 2 cups of flour for 10 pancakes, how many for 20?” Or, “Why does hot oil sizzle when we pour in water by mistake?” (Okay, don’t try that last one, just explain it).

Start with simple recipes like chin-chin, puff-puff, or fruit salad. Let them measure, stir, mix and of course, do a taste test. Cooking builds confidence and teaches responsibility.

4. Cultural Days at Home: Choose a day each week to explore a different Nigerian culture. Wear native outfits, cook a local dish, and learn a few phrases from a new language. One day it’s Edo, next week it’s Urhobo, then Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa... you get the gist.

You can watch short documentaries on YouTube, tell folktales, or listen to traditional music. This is a great way to spark pride in heritage while learning geography, language, and history in a fun, hands-on way.

5. Nature Walks and Scavenger Hunts: You don’t need to travel far. Even a walk around your compound or a neighbourhood park nearby can work. Create a scavenger hunt list: Find a feather, spot three different flowers, collect five pebbles, find something red, etc.

While on the walk, talk about the environment—why we shouldn’t litter, how trees give us oxygen, what animals eat, etc. Kids are naturally curious, and nature has plenty to teach if we slow down and look around.

6. Build a Craft Corner: Gather empty cereal boxes, plastic bottles, toilet paper rolls, glue, scissors, and colours—and just let the creativity flow. Ask them to create a “robot,” a car, a castle, or even a dollhouse. 

Crafting encourages problem-solving, fine motor skills, and imagination. Plus, you’ll finally get to use all that “junk” you’ve been saving in the store for months.

Hang up their masterpieces around the house. It boosts confidence and makes them feel like artists in residence.

7. Create a Summer Journal: Buy a simple notebook and encourage your child to write or draw one thing they did or learned each day. They can paste photos, draw pictures, or even write mini poems and jokes.

This helps improve writing skills and also gives them something to look back on. Years from now, they’ll open that book and smile at how their summer was filled with adventure, even if they didn’t travel far.

The summer holiday doesn’t have to be expensive or exhausting to be meaningful. With a little creativity, everyday moments can become opportunities for learning and bonding.

Whether you’re conducting science experiments in your kitchen, making up stories in your “library,” or cooking traditional meals together, what matters most is the time you spend connecting with your children.

So take a deep breath, charge your phone (if there’s light), and dive into some hands-on holiday fun. These little moments? They’re what childhood memories are made of.