School’s out, but the learning does not have to stop. In fact, it is critical that we encourage our children to keep learning and developing all year long. Fortunately, that does not mean doing worksheets and classes with our little ones at home!
In fact, our children learn from us daily. The best way we can teach summer learning is by modeling reading, showing enthusiasm and a love for learning, experiencing new things together, and having healthy habits. Here are some tips for this summer to make learning fun and help them grow up strong!
School’s out, but the learning does not have to stop. In fact, it is critical that we encourage our children to keep learning and developing all year long. Fortunately, that does not mean doing worksheets and classes with our little ones at home!
In fact, our children learn from us daily. The best way we can teach summer learning is by modeling reading, showing enthusiasm and a love for learning, experiencing new things together, and having healthy habits. Here are some tips for this summer to make learning fun and help them grow up strong!
Have a scavenger hunt with words and letters. Words and letters are all around us, even outside! If your kids are learning to read, have a scavenger hunt for letters on street signs. Or navigate directions, like east and west, without the use of online maps by reading street signs. These are simple ways to have fun with letters!
Turn to nature. A pile of rocks or a handful of wildflowers are common sights to find outdoors and can be exciting tools for learning letters without a screen. Make a word with things you find in nature, then ask your child to identify the letters and make the word again themselves. Then, see how many letters of the alphabet you can create together with the things you find outdoors.
Create and run a grocery store. This is an all-time classic and favorite pastime. Instead of throwing out empty cereal boxes or canned goods, recycle and give them to your children to create and run their own grocery store. Saving your grocery receipts can be a fun way to include math by having the children add up how much they can spend. Give them an imaginary budget, and see how far they can make their money stretch.
Get kids into the kitchen. Invite your kids to read through a cookbook, find a recipe, and write or draw a grocery list of ingredients. As they shop with you, try pointing out healthy snacks by picking fresh fruits and vegetables for the week. When cooking, you can let them read the recipe to you, follow the directions, and measure ingredients.
Write a letter. The pandemic has kept us from visiting and seeing our loved ones in person over the last year. Writing letters to connect with friends and family is a great way to practice story-telling and writing skills.
Get creative with music and the arts. Research shows music can speed up brain development in young children, helping them develop language and reading skills. If they are not interested in music, drawing, dancing, or writing plays are also great ways to get in tune with their creative side.
Be physically active. Physical activity is not only good for our bodies, but for our minds. Children who are physically active have better grades, focus and behavior. Luckily, exercising doesn’t have to be expensive or boring. Grab some chalk to play hopscotch, have a relay race, or play on the jungle gym. It’s a great way to keep kids’ bodies and minds moving during the summer.
Experiment with science. Sometimes we think science is too complicated, but parents can have science time at home too. It can be as simple as watching ice melt, watching grass grow, taking daily pictures of a plant or a flower and then being able to see it grow, playing with magnets, or collecting leaves or rocks.
Do a good deed. Have your children help a neighbor by offering to cut their grass, organize a clean-up project at your neighborhood park, or set aside some of their allowance money or a toy for charity. This will help them feel good and teach them valuable life lessons to cherish forever.
Don’t forget sleep. During the summer, parents often allow children to go to bed later, and that is okay from time to time. But sleep is critical all year round. It’s very important to maintain a regular bedtime routine, even during the summer, to encourage healthy habits and good sleeping patterns.
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