How to Help Your Child Keep Learning Over the Summer Holidays

Keep Learning Over the Summer Holidays

When the school gates close for summer, children are ready to relax and recharge – and so are parents. However, the long break can sometimes lead to the “summer slide”, where children lose some of the knowledge and skills they’ve built up over the year. The good news? Learning over the summer doesn’t have to feel like schoolwork. With the right mix of fun, curiosity, and everyday activities, you can keep your child’s mind engaged while still letting them enjoy their holiday.

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Top Tips On Preparing Your Child For The New Academic Year

Preparing for a new academic year

A new academic year brings fresh opportunities, new friendships, and exciting challenges. While it can be an exciting time, it can also feel a little overwhelming – for both children and parents. With some preparation and planning, you can help your child start the school year feeling confident, organised, and ready to thrive. Here’s how, inspired by the practices of this boarding school in Switzerland.

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Understanding AI in Social Media: A Parent’s Guide

Understanding in social media

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a core part of our daily lives, and social media is one of the spaces where it’s most visible – even if we don’t always notice it. For parents, understanding how AI works within social platforms is essential to helping children navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

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Helping Your Child Develop Emotional Resilience

Helping Your Child Develop Emotional Resilience

In today’s fast-paced world, children face a variety of challenges – from navigating schoolwork and friendships to adapting to life changes. One of the most valuable skills you can help your child develop is emotional resilience – the ability to cope with setbacks, manage stress, and bounce back from difficulties. By fostering resilience early, you can equip your child with the confidence and coping tools they’ll use for life.

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Supporting Your Child With Social Challenges

Supporting Your Child With Social Challenges

Social skills are a key part of a child’s overall development, helping them to build friendships, communicate effectively, and feel confident in a range of environments. However, some children find navigating social situations more difficult than others. Whether your child is shy, struggles to read social cues, or finds group settings overwhelming, there are practical ways you can support them.

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Park Days and Nature Walks: Easy Summer Escapes 

Park Days an Nature Walks

Spending a summer day outside in the soft embrace of nature has a timeless quality. The simplest joys frequently turn into the most memorable ones when the sun is shining perfectly and a gentle wind is carrying the aroma of blossoming flowers. Park days and nature walks stand out among the various ways to enjoy summer because they are simple, accessible getaways that demand no preparation yet provide a wealth of benefits. 

These peaceful times in green areas are the ideal cure for anyone looking for a revitalizing respite from the stress of everyday life. A deep breath, a slower pace, and a renewed awareness for the environment around us are all encouraged by the experience, whether one is strolling through a city park or following a meandering woodland trail. 

P.S.: My Islander Harris Tweed Jura Crossbody Bag from ShamrockGift, a chic and useful item that holds necessities without hurting the mood, is a constant companion on these journeys. 

The Allure of Park Days 

Parks have a special ability to unite people. Intimate local gardens and expansive metropolitan green spaces both provide a respite from the bustle of the metropolis. Families enjoying a picnic under the shade of old oak trees, buddies playing frisbees, or lone travelers reading beneath blossoming branches can all find refuge in a park on a warm summer afternoon. 

All you need for a park day is a comfortable blanket, a decent read, and a small food. It’s the ideal location for people watching, mild exercise, or just lounging in the soft warmth of the sun. 

Nature Walks

The beauty of park days is carried into wilder, less tame environments with nature hikes. These walks encourage curiosity and tranquility, whether they are a boardwalk extending along a marsh, a route meandering through a nearby nature reserve, or a peaceful path through old woodlands. 

Walking step by step, listening to birdsong, experiencing the dappled sunlight on your skin, and watching leaves flutter in a light breeze all have a contemplative quality. The opportunity to observe minute details, such as the earthy smell of damp soil, the abrupt flash of a butterfly’s wings, or the delicate spiral of a fern, is provided by nature walks. 

Benefits Beyond Beauty 

Nature hikes and park days offer more than only appeal to the senses. Research indicates that spending time outside enhances mental well-being by lowering stress and anxiety. While mild exercise promotes general wellbeing, the greenery improves mood and cognitive function. 

These getaways give many people a chance to disconnect from the cacophony of technology and re-establish a connection with more basic rhythms. The slow tempo promotes mindfulness; the warmth of the sun, the sound of leaves rustling, and the scent of new dirt are all reassuring reminders of life’s little pleasures. 

Preparing

A little planning will help you get the most out of these simple summer getaways. Walking shoes must be comfortable; choose materials that breathe well to keep feet cool and supported. 

Even on hot days, it’s a good idea to layer. Particularly in areas with forested forests or close to bodies of water, morning and evening temperatures might drop. Comfort all day long is ensured by keeping a lightweight jacket or scarf close at hand. 

Naturally, picking the appropriate luggage is also crucial. My bag is the ideal combination of style and functionality. Its crossbody design keeps it safe and handy, and its small size allows it to hold essentials without adding bulk. 

Making It a Habit 

The accessibility of park days and nature hikes is what makes them so lovely. They only demand a willingness to get outside and enjoy the gifts of the season; no specialized equipment or lengthy travel is needed. In the midst of hectic lifestyles, incorporating these excursions into summer routines provides a soothing rhythm of rejuvenation. 

The Soft Glow of Summer: How to Create a Comforting Outdoor Sanctuary

Summer outdoor sanctuary

As the warmer months arrive, many instinctively turn outward—toward gardens, balconies, and courtyards bathed in light. Yet even in summer, there remains a longing for comfort: the golden hush of candlelight at dusk, the intimacy of a softly lit corner, the hush that falls when the sun dips below the horizon and a different kind of stillness begins.

You don’t need sprawling countryside or elaborate landscaping to create a sense of sanctuary. Whether you have a small balcony or a leafy back garden, you can craft a space that whispers of warmth and ease—a space that wraps you in quiet even as the air hums with life.

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The Gentle Pantry: Spring Staples for Comforting, Cosy Meals

Spring pantry

As the world begins to bloom and the sunlight lingers longer each evening, spring nudges us towards freshness — light meals, fragrant herbs, and delicate flavours. But for those of us drawn to comfort, who find joy in slow-cooked dishes and gentle rituals, spring doesn’t have to mean stepping away from cosiness. It simply means adapting the pantry — choosing ingredients that feel soft and nourishing, even in lighter weather.

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Garden Glow: Creating Evenings That Feel Like Bonfire Nights

evening bonfire

There’s something undeniably special about the way a bonfire night wraps around you. The scent of woodsmoke curling into your jumper, the warmth of a mug cradled in both hands, the laughter drifting through the dark—it’s a kind of magic that speaks to the soul. But who says we have to wait for November?

At A Long November, we believe in keeping that autumnal spirit alive all year round. And with just a few thoughtful touches, you can transform any summer or spring evening into something that whispers of bonfire nights—right in your own back garden.

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The Comfort of Quiet: Finding Autumn in Unexpected Places

Autumn landscape

While the world rushes towards sunlit beaches and alfresco brunches, some of us continue to crave the hush of amber light and creaking floorboards. Autumn isn’t just a season—it’s a feeling. It’s found in shadowed corners, the soft rustle of pages in a quiet bookshop, the scent of old wood and moss after rain.

And sometimes, when you least expect it, that same energy lingers in spring and summer, too.

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