Summer school is becoming an increasingly popular choice of activity for children's summer holidays, particularly for families who need to balance family and work commitments.

Is it time to start thinking about great summer school programmes for your children? Discover what options are available on Yellow!

What Are the Benefits of Summer School?

Summer school can be described as a structured programme of activities that is offered on a daily basis to children. Attending summer school is a great experience for children and has many benefits.

Indeed, during summer school kids will be able to do many fun activities with new companions. This helps them to expand their skill base and learn how to socialise with new people, make friends, boost

their self-confidence and remain active during the summer months. It also helps that they will be spending a portion of the day doing activities that are technology-free!

Similarly to formal schooling, summer school helps children to understand the importance of structure. Furthermore, retaining a regular routine throughout the summer will doubtlessly make the transition to the new academic year easier.

Summer Schools in Malta

The large majority of Malta-based schools officially conclude their academic year in June and commence again in late September. As a result, working parents are often faced with the need to find an option that can cater for the hours during which they are at work. Parents who have more flexibility with their professional commitments are also often concerned that their children will get bored and so try to find interesting activities that will make their summer holidays fun and entertaining.

There is a wide range of private summer school options in Malta and so it is relatively easy for parents to identify one that fulfils their requirements in terms of location, budget and activities offered. A very popular subsidised summer school programme is also available in many public schools. In both cases, parents are advised to start their research and the shortlisting process in early spring since applications are generally open around Easter time. It is also recommended to contact your preferred service providers to enquire about fees and application processes.

Summer schools generally tend to group attendees on the basis of their age and formulate activities that are best suited for that age group. Many nurseries and child care centres also offer summer clubs for young children and toddlers. The core hours are usually during the morning and early afternoon, but many summer schools offer extended hours in line with parents' working hours. Some are also open on Saturday to support parents who work during the weekend.

Activities offered are usually very varied and include a combination of crafts, water games, cultural outings, visits to the cinema, cooking and sports. Nonetheless, it is also possible to find summer schools that offer more specific activities and that are particularly fun for children who are keen on performing arts or sports, for instance. English language schools also offer junior summer camps for foreign youngsters who would like to improve their english while enjoying the Maltese summer.

Here are some tips on how to choose the best summer school for your kids. 

Kids Just Want To Have Fun

Parents often feel guilty that work does not let them enjoy as much quality time as they would like with their children during the summer. While summer school provides structure and an important support; it is still possible to enjoy summer to the fullest with your little ones.

There are many activities that will make your kids' summer holidays fun, constructive, fulfilling, and more importantly; memorable! For instance, how about getting the gang together to make fresh fruit ice lollies and then enjoying them together? Or how about enlisting everyone's help to prepare food for a family BBQ instead of the usual dinner? Another great idea is that of encouraging them to grow their own little garden, all that you will need are a few pots and clippings of plants that are easy to grow and maintain (such as succulents). And if everything else fails, a trip to the beach is always a fun activity that all children will surely enjoy.

We've also got a whole list of activities, if you'd like more fun summer ideas that will keep the kids occupied and don't cost a fortune either!