Expert warns parents about learning delays during holidays

Clinical psychologist Dursun said that by the end of the school year, millions of households were talking about how children would spend their holidays. Dursun noted that before the holidays, families were looking for answers to many questions such as “We are working, what are we going to do”, “It is very difficult at home with the child while working from home, should we take them to a course or summer school?”, “Shall we send them to elders?” Dursun, who stated that the boundaries were lifted during the long vacation and that many things changed from the children’s sleep time to the time they played computer games drew attention to the negativity that could be experienced.

‘Children should not stop studying during summer holidays’

Dursun said children’s screen addiction becomes frightening during the holidays: “Summer vacation basically means vacation, stop working, take a break. However, if the work stops here and we do not understand it well for a long time, then this holiday is a process pregnant with many negative things. However, if we take it with a slide metaphor, this is returning to the starting point by quickly sliding down the stairs without doing anything. If our children do nothing during the long summer months, they can return to where they started in their academic skills at a loss of 20-30%. The aforementioned loss of reading and arithmetic skills is particularly common at primary school level. Second, screen addiction, kids are intertwined with tablets and phones as if they were a limb. During the period when the considered screen time is turned upside down, the limits are lifted. Not only that, of course, but when sleep hours are disrupted, both neurological and psychological problems come with it. Children who do not sleep regularly and sufficiently become more prone to anxiety disorders, depression and anger outbursts. In addition, learning skills are also negatively affected by insomnia.

“Make a calendar with your child”

Clinical psychologist Dursun suggested that parents create an activity calendar with their children to avoid these problems. Dursun said, “The calendars you will prepare with your child for the solution will be a savior. Studies on academic processes should take place in 20 to 30 minute periods, such as book reading, free writing, and math studies. Outdoor activities with the family should also be planned and included in the calendar. The time spent in front of the screen must be determined. How many virtual games are played at what time of day should be written on the calendar. While preparing the calendar, the child should be told that the maximum time period for tablets and phones during the summer period is 20 minutes, and this time will be divided into at least 2-3 parts, and this period should be followed. The time spent learning should also be put to good use. If prepared together, the child will adopt such a calendar and will not push the boundaries. If you’re struggling to meet deadlines and can’t draw boundaries as a family, you can overcome this by getting support from the experts in the field.