As parents, we all want our children to make the most out of their school holidays. Whether your child is preparing for PSLE in Primary 5 or 6, or navigating the challenges of secondary school life, these breaks are precious opportunities to grow, learn, and recharge. But how can you ensure that your child uses their time productively without feeling overwhelmed? At WRITERS AT WORK, we believe in helping students strike the perfect balance between rest and development. Here are ten meaningful activities to consider this holiday season:
Goal-setting is an essential life skill that empowers children to take ownership of their learning. Encourage your child to reflect on their past term and identify areas for improvement. For instance, if your Primary 6 child is preparing for PSLE, they could set targets for specific components like the English oral exams or composition writing. Secondary school students, on the other hand, might focus on understanding their weaker subjects better or planning ahead for exams. Writing these goals down and breaking them into manageable steps can make the process feel achievable.
Reading is a cornerstone of language mastery, and there’s no better time to cultivate this habit than during the holidays. Help your child pick books that not only align with their interests but also stretch their vocabulary and comprehension skills. At WRITERS AT WORK, we always recommend diverse genres to expose students to various writing styles. For example, a mix of fiction, biographies, and non-fiction can build both creativity and critical thinking.
Expanding vocabulary doesn’t have to feel like hard work. From playing word games like Scrabble and Boggle to using vocabulary apps, your child can boost their language skills while having fun. You could even create flashcards for challenging words and turn it into a family quiz session. WRITERS AT WORK offers tailored exercises that align with MOE standards to make vocabulary learning engaging and effective.
Encourage your child to pick up a skill that excites them. Whether it’s coding, baking, painting, or learning a musical instrument, these activities build creativity and confidence. Secondary school students might consider workshops or online courses that align with their career interests, while younger children can explore their hobbies without pressure.
Journaling is an excellent way for students to express their thoughts and improve their writing fluency. A simple 10-minute daily writing habit can help your child articulate their ideas better. For Primary 5 and 6 students, this practice can enhance their Continuous Writing skills—a crucial component of the PSLE English exam. Secondary school students can use journaling to develop critical thinking and reflection.
Holiday enrichment programmes are a fantastic way to keep your child engaged and learning. At WRITERS AT WORK, we offer workshops designed to sharpen students’ writing, comprehension, and exam techniques. These programmes are tailored to meet the needs of both primary and secondary school students, helping them gain a head start for the upcoming term.
The school holidays provide the perfect opportunity to hone time-management skills. Work with your child to create a daily schedule that balances study, play, and rest. Secondary school students, in particular, can use this time to experiment with planners and productivity tools, preparing them for the demands of higher education.
Physical activity is crucial for overall well-being. Ensure your child gets plenty of exercise, whether it’s cycling, swimming, or participating in team sports. These activities not only boost physical health but also improve concentration and reduce stress—benefits that translate into better academic performance.
While productivity is important, it’s equally vital for children to recharge during the holidays. Allow them to enjoy unstructured play, spend time with family, or simply relax with their favorite hobby. This balance ensures that they return to school refreshed and motivated.
WRITERS AT WORK is an English tuition centre in Singapore that covers PSLE and O-Level exams. Our educators seek to make students better learners through organisation skills, reflection, and understanding of how we process information. Join us at our tuition centres to be a part of the best English enrichment courses for primary and secondary school students in Singapore. Our tailored programmes are designed to help students master English while building essential life skills. From creative writing workshops to targeted PSLE preparation, our holiday offerings ensure your child’s time is spent meaningfully.
This holiday season, empower your child to achieve more. Start early, start now—because every moment counts. For more information about our programmes, visit our website or contact us today!
English is a compulsory subject which all students must undertake. However, mastering the English language is not something which happens overnight – it takes consistent practice and effort to learn the nuances of the language. Students must read more and practice writing to gradually improve. Cramming for a language subject nearer to the exams is an impossible feat. After all, Rome was not built in a day! Attaining such a skill will have positive implications for not only your child’s education in school, but also employment prospects in future.
Creative writing is good for children as it teaches them how to use their imagination. Children have a vivid imagination and will enjoy coming up with different storylines and characters. Through the use of creative writing, children can express themselves using the English language, which is also good for their emotional development and maturity.
A good start is to write about what you know. Students can start by writing about things that are familiar to them, such as school or family. Then, students can move on to more complex topics, requiring them to use their imagination about events which would be unlikely to happen in real life, such as a fairytale or an adventure story. Older students can write descriptive essays about being in a situation or about more abstract concepts, such as regret.
A good first step would be to plan out the story – it is important that the story follows a Plot Curve which has a logical sequence of events and a clear conclusion. The main and supporting characters should be clear – there should not be a whole village of characters – just enough to further the plot. Moreover, the central conflict of the story should be clear.
