The "Summer Slide":
5 Games vs. 8 Weeks
Dubai summers are long. 8 weeks without math can cause your child to drop 2.6 months behind in progress. Don't worry—you don't need worksheets. You need "Stealth Math."
Use it or Lose it
Academic research confirms the "Summer Slide." Children who do zero math over the summer return to school in September with a lower reading age and slower mental math recall. The first 4 weeks of Term 1 are often wasted just catching up.
Top 5 Games for Travel & Home
Whether you are on a long flight out of DXB or hiding from the heat indoors, these games require zero setup and zero pencils.
| Game Name | How to Play | Skill Built |
|---|---|---|
| 1. License Plate Math | Add the digits on the license plate of the car in front. (e.g., A 54291 -> 5+4+2+9+1). First to shout the total wins. | Rapid mental addition & bonding. |
| 2. Airport Currency | "This chocolate is £2. How much is that in Dirhams?" (Assume x5 rate for simplicity). | Multiplication & estimation (Year 4+). |
| 3. Supermarket Estimate | Round every item in the trolley to the nearest Dirham and keep a running total. Whoever is closest to the receipt total wins. | Rounding & cumulative addition. |
| 4. Top Trumps | Use cards (cars, footballers, animals) to compare stats. "My speed is 245, is that higher than yours?" | Place value & comparing large numbers. |
| 5. Kitchen Fractions | Baking a cake. "The recipe says 200g, but we are making half a cake. Weigh 100g." | Halving, doubling & ratios. |
Why "Stealth Math" Works
If you give a child a worksheet in July, they will fight you. If you ask them to bake a cake, they are doing math without realizing it.
No Performance Anxiety
In a game, getting it wrong is just "part of the fun." In a worksheet, getting it wrong is a "red X." Games preserve confidence.
Real World Context
Calculating currency conversion at Heathrow Airport teaches a child why math matters more than any textbook ever could.
Worried about September?
If you return to Dubai in late August, consider a 1-week "Refresher Course." We brush off the cobwebs so they walk into their new classroom feeling sharp.
Book a September RefresherMost Dubai schools assign "Summer Homework" packs. While useful, these should not replace active play. Teachers generally prefer a well-rested child who has played Uno over a stressed child who has completed 50 worksheets.