Holidays help children do better in class, say parents
Education Secretary, Michael Gove recently proposed that school holidays should be made shorter to improve children’s academic performance. But learning can take place beyond the classroom and according to a new survey carried out by The Adventure Company, taking your child on holiday can actually help them with their school work.
In the family adventure specialist’s poll of more than 4,000 parents, almost nine in ten (87 per cent) said that going on holiday had helped their child with one or more school subjects, most notably geography (69 per cent), history (59 per cent) and languages (49 per cent).
Some parents also thought that their child performed better in science, religious studies, maths, social studies, politics, home economics, PSED (personal, social and emotional development) and photography classes as a result of experiences they had while on holiday.
As well as educational benefits, almost every parent surveyed (99 per cent) said that experiencing different places and cultures had helped their child to develop social skills and positive personal attributes such as curiosity (76 per cent), confidence (76 per cent) and tolerance for people’s differences (66 per cent). Other traits they said their child developed on holiday included the ability to make friends, a zest for life, creativity and gratitude.
“As a former teacher I know just how valuable time at school can be, but learning doesn’t have to stop at the end of term,” said Claire Wilson, mum and Managing Director at The Adventure Company. “There’s no greater classroom than the incredible world that we live in and going on the sort of holiday where you can introduce your child to different cultures, customs and experiences can have real educational benefits as well as helping them develop a wide range of personal skills and attributes.
“Whether you’re learning to sail around Croatian islands, exploring the ancient Pyramids in Egypt, getting up close to amazing wildlife on a Tanzanian safari, or visiting Buddhist temples in Thailand, travel can help to bring your child’s school lessons to life and create enduring shared memories too,” she added.
Parents in Yorkshire and Humberside were most likely to say their child’s education had benefited from going on holiday, while parents in Northern Ireland were most likely to say it had helped their child develop tolerance for people’s differences and other social skills.
Example family holidays with an educational benefit:
Feluccas & Pharaohs, Egypt
Full of fun and discovery, this tour of ancient Egypt brings history lessons to life. Explore the famous Valley of the Kings and the temples at Karnak, see Tutankhamen’s gold mask and marvel at the incredible Pyramids at Giza. There's also an overnight felucca cruise down the Nile and a chance to snorkel over coral reefs in the Red Sea.
Summer Iceland Adventure
Iceland is a living geography lesson which offers plenty of activity and adventure for all ages. On this week-long summer trip, families can explore lava fields, waterfalls and steaming geysers, swim in the glacial Blue Lagoon, take a boat ride among icebergs, hike around a live volcano and go underground caving to view remarkable rock formations.
Rainforest & Evolution Adventure, Ecudaor
The Galapagos islands helped to shape Darwin’s theory of evolution, and teens and their parents will have a chance to spot all manner of species as they explore the islands on foot, by bicycle and by boat. Paddling through the rainforest in kayaks, a guide from the indigenous Huaorani community will point out medicinal plants and the science lesson is completed with three nights learning about conservation at an eco-tourism camp on mainland Ecuador.
For more information, visit adventurecompany.co.uk.
