Back to School: Free Games and Warm-ups
After a long holiday, many children forget some of what they learnt last year, which teachers call the “summer slide”. A few minutes a day of quick games in the last weeks of the break gets brains back in gear, so the first weeks of the new year feel easy instead of hard.
🎒 Back to school games to play
Ten new math questions every day. Keep your streak!
Practise any times table from 2× to 12×.
25 timed times tables questions, just like a real multiplication check.
Look, cover and spell words from memory.
Read short stories and fact files, then answer questions about them.
Learn to type: home row, all the rows, words and sentences.
Listen and find Dolch sight words.
Add numbers within 10, 20, 100 or 1,000.
Guess today’s secret word in six tries. New word daily!
🖨️ Printable Back to school worksheets
Back to school learning ideas at home
- Ten minutes a day: For the last two weeks of the holidays, do one short game or worksheet each morning. Little and often beats a big catch-up session.
- Reset routines: Move bedtime and wake-up time back gradually over a week, and practise the morning routine before the first day.
- Read every day: Ten minutes of reading together each day keeps reading skills strong. Let your child choose the book.
- Write a letter: Ask your child to write a short letter to their new teacher about their holidays. Great handwriting and writing practice.
- Check the basics: Use the year pages to see what your child will learn next, and try the first level of a few games to spot any gaps early.
Questions parents ask
What is the summer slide?
It is the learning children can lose over long holidays, especially in math. A small amount of regular practice during the break is the best way to prevent it.
How much practice is enough before school starts?
About ten to fifteen minutes a day for the last couple of weeks is plenty for most primary school children.
Which skills should we focus on?
Times tables and number facts, reading every day, spelling and handwriting. These are the skills that make everything else easier in the new year.