Wondering how to get your kids off the couch and up and doing something (literally anything?) Here are a few ideas of educational things you can do to keep your kids busy and engaged this summer.
1.) Sign your kids (and yourself!) up for library summer reading programs: The best thing you can do for your kids during the summer is encourage them to read diverse books across genres and across grade levels. Summer reading programs are a fun way to provide kids with a bit of extra incentive to read. Have some avid readers in your family? Sign up for multiple programs at multiple libraries, if possible. Consider also any other educational programs your library might have, such as STEM-themed classes for children or videomaking/art classes. You can also check out this list of businesses that also offer free rewards for summer reading.
2.) Keep review materials on hand: This will look different for every family. Some parents like to have scheduled "school time" during the day, where their kids review content for the coming school year; other parents prefer to let their children enjoy their short break without structured review time. Regardless of your style or preference, it's a good idea to have interesting review materials your kids might go through when bored. You'd be suprised how many kids I've seen voluntarily do math problems or write a story for "fun". Here are a few ideas of where to get educational materials:
- Old math, writing, or science notebooks from the past year: Bonus if you have old worksheets from older children that could be used to "challenge" younger siblings.
- Online math or literacy games: Your kids probably played these during the school year and might be intersted in playing them at home, too. Check out Duolingo, ABCya games, Prodigy, or FunBrain.
- Review workbooks: If you ask around your neighbor or check at a dollar bookstore, you could probably get one for free or cheap. Or, check out this list from VeryWell Family.
3.) Play, play, play! Research backs up what common sense already tells us: kids benefit from unstructured play time. Here are a few ideas to make sure your children are getting adequately time to play:
- Unstructured play: If your kids attend a day care, then they already have an amazing opportunity to play with children with diverse interests, abilities, and ages. When choosing a day care, choose one that allows for unstructured play time as well as structured play activities. If your kids don't attend day care, consider connecting with other parents for play dates or simply letting your kids loose in a public park (most kids will make a friend!)
- Board Games: Family board game nights are a great way to authentically use various "academic" skills, such as counting, addition, subtraction, multiplication, reading, critical thinking, and problem solving.
- Outdoor play: Such play is healthy for children's physical, mental, and emotional health. Go to the park, the beach, the lake, the mountains- it doesn't really matter as long as you and your kids are having fun!
4.) Take advantage of vacation opportunities: Vacations are rich opportunities for family learning. Consider visiting a free musuem, historical monument, or national park if it fits in with your travel plans. Is a vacation not in the plans for this summer? Look for free virtual field trips that would interest your child, or do Zoom calls with extended family that you haven't seen for awhile.
5.) Give children time to pursue passions: Schools are often overly focused on literacy skills and mathematical fluency. Give your kids a chance to learn about other rarely taught subjects in an authentic context. Here a few things that your kids might be interested in:
- Geography: Maybe try geocaching, explore Google Earth, or do a city-wide scavenger hunt.
- Environmental Science: Do a home recycling project or join a water/electricity conservation effort.
- Art: Painting, coloring, origami, etc
- Coding/Technology: Try this website with your kids.
Whatever your plans for this summer, I hope you enjoy every minute of it!
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