Why kids learn the most during vacations?
There are plenty of answers, and today I will try to answer them based on my experience and scientific knowledge.
- Vitamin D3 and learning problems
In the past, no one supplemented with vitamin D3, so we probably all were deficient. I remember myself from the school bench falling asleep at 5 pm! Almost all of the children were “gifted but lazy” or were we deficient in vitamin D3? It has been known for a long time that vitamin D3 influences learning processes. But I remember that in 1st grade I was reluctant to read and it was only on vacation that I learned to read well.
- Freedom and no schedules
When we have no pressure on ourselves, we learn the most – often without parental supervision.
- We learn better through the senses
The more senses involved, the faster we learn. Read more about it HERE.
Therefore, holidays are conducive to new skills, and learning during this time is usually much faster. Our children use two systems in the brain responsible for play and searching for stimuli. As a result, opioids, oxytocin, and dopamine are released in the brain. I also remember this euphoric state from my childhood, when we jumped into the water together or had various crazy ideas. When I think about them, my blood chills in my veins, and I’m glad that nothing happened to us.
- The sun and beautiful weather make us very positive
After all, in the morning it is not dark and it is really morning until you want to get up and conquer the world.
Children have the same thing – do you know that humans are the only mammal that wakes their children?
During the holidays, we often let them finally get enough sleep, because they do not have to get up for a specific hour and thus we allow them to regenerate. Unfortunately, the sun sometimes causes damage as well (I once fell asleep as a child in the sun by the lake and had a sunstroke). That is why you need to take precautions and teach your children to sunbathe.
Read HERE about UV protection.
- Absorbent mind in the morning
It is amazing, when we get up in the morning, our rested mind absorbs information completely differently. In school, it is often the case that the lessons that do not require concentration are at the beginning and the most important ones are at the very end when we are tired. On vacation, we can do what we are passionate about from the morning and that is why we learn the fastest. Read more about Absorbent Mind HERE.
- Nature changes the brain
You know that there are scientific studies that confirm the beneficial influence of nature on our brain . Read HERE more about it.
They show that nature changes the structure of the brain. That is why it is worth taking children to the bosom of nature so that they can recharge themselves positively. Water, fresh air, green trees have a liberating effect on us and sometimes we even allow ourselves to be more than normal.
- Learning through play
It has been known for a long time that learning through play brings the most benefits. Because children don’t feel like they are learning. Sometimes they are even allergic to the phrase: “Come on, I’ll teach you …” It doesn’t need to be said, just show something while playing, and the child will get it faster.
Read HERE about it
- We learn the most from people we like
Recently, I came across an article about the fact that we learn only from people we like.
There is a lot of truth to this because the brain remembers much more when a given piece of information activates positive emotions. That’s why we learn so much from our relatives. During the summer holidays, children have the opportunity to stay with us and their extended family. This is a great opportunity to learn new things. I do not know if you also, but I see a tendency that my children from each trip always come back with new skills. When I spent two months with my grandmother on vacation, I learned a lot of new things in September.
- Learning from mistakes – the most effective learning!
How many times do you talk to the children and they don’t listen? Sometimes I have the impression that as long as they do not fall, they will not hit themselves – they will not learn that, for example, getting on a table may end up in a fall. I’ve had so many times too, and this vacation freedom often struck me. Many times, I have had such situations that even ended with a cast on my arm, but since then I knew that jumping from the top of the beater was not a good idea.
I wish you all the best vacation ever this summer and enjoy your free time as much as you can. All the best,
Joanna
Xxx
