Fun learning activities for 11-year-olds

Your child will still really enjoy, and benefit, from playing games and activities at this age, but you may need to be the one to suggest them as there are often so many other things for them to do.

Here are some activities that are fun but challenging, and which will help with language, reading, writing, and maths skills.

Games and activities

1. Writing ideas

• Encourage book blogging and taking part in readers’ book sites, e.g. adding reviews to Amazon.
• Children may like to keep a Favourite Book journal which can have lists of titles, quotations, pictures and sketches to encourage them to look back at what they’ve read.
• Get involved in planning a holiday schedule (making a list of books to read, entering book review competitions, planning day trips and so on).

2. Reading together

• Keep your eyes open for book awards and read the shortlists together to decide which title you would choose and why. It may encourage your child to want to read it too.
• If you have younger children then encourage your 11 year old to read to and with them.
• Talk to your child about the articles in your local free newspaper or even take out a subscription to the children’s newspapers like First News or The Week Junior, for example.

3. Maths games

• Take a look at our fun maths activities to help you enjoy maths with your child.
• Children aged 11 can follow a simple recipe independently, with only a little help and supervision. Cooking can be a great opportunity to develop reading and maths skills and to boost your child’s confidence. Best of all, you both get to enjoy a tasty treat at the end! Why not try Grandma Ferguson’s Shortbread Fingers recipe?

4. Writing ideas

• Encourage your child to keep a journal or write reflectively about things they have done at school or at home.