As we head into May, we all start to anticipate the end of the school year. Kids and parents alike are ready to kick back and take a break. The temptations are great to let your kids spend hours watching TV or gaming, but with a little creativity and planning, the summer can be transformed into a time to keep young minds active. To help you out we put together some educational activities so fun, that your kids won’t even realize they’re learning!
If you’re looking forward to summer, we recently created our 2021 Summer Fun Guide and will continue to add to it throughout the season. And you can find even more ideas on our Events Calendar.
Here’s 5 ways to keep your kids learning this summer:
1. Read every day.
Sign Up for a Summer Reading Program
Kids can record their progress and earn prizes by participating in a summer reading program at your local library. Local businesses like Barnes & Noble also offer summer reading programs. If you’re not ready to venture out, Scholastic and The Magic Treehouse both offer online reading programs.
Designate a special spot for kids to read.
This could be a corner of your home with a soft rug and lots of pillows, a cozy bean bag or a hammock under a tree.
Learn more about a favorite author.
Many popular kids’ book authors have websites with activities, games, book previews, printables and more.
2. Become a backyard scientist.
Plant a garden.
What better way to learn the basics of science and how things grow than to plant your own garden? Talk about what plants need to survive: air, water, sunlight and nutrients. Vegetables are especially fun and educational to plant because your child will learn where food comes from and will also get to eat the end product.
Turn into a bird nerd.
Summer break is a great time for kids interested in or inspired by birds to get involved with a birding project and learn more about our feathered friends. Check out our 5 EASY Ideas to Create a More Bird Friendly Backyard and then have kids make different observations about the types of foods different birds prefer, build a bird feeder or determine how many different types of birds visit your backyard.
Look up at the stars.
Stargazing is a fun summer activity for families—and a great excuse to introduce kids to astronomy. Find and view the planets together, or spend an early morning watching a meteor shower. The Des Moines Astronomical Society has put together some great tips for Astronomy for Families.
3. Get creative.
Visit your local craft shop.
Hobby stores and craft shops are full of DIY kits for making things, from model airplanes to string art. These projects teach children to read and follow directions and offer the added benefit of creating a finished product.
Take the stage.
Young children can make their own puppet theater. They can construct their own puppets out of old gloves or socks and then create a story that their puppets can act out. For older kids, they can find or write their own script and then ask friends to create their own neighborhood theater. They can plan a performance, create playbills and sell tickets.
Bake something.
Baking is a great activity that kids can learn all kinds of things from…math skills, reading skills, bonding skills to name a few. Dig out your favorite cookie or cake recipe and spend an afternoon or evening in the kitchen baking a tasty treat.
4. Go on vacation.
Become the family’s junior travel agent.
Half the fun of a trip starts before you get there. Have your kids choose your destination and research its location and how to get there. If you are going to a different state, look up information about the state, such as the state flower, state bird and interesting attractions.
Clip, paste and write about your family adventures.
A family vacation is a perfect opportunity to create a trip scrapbook that will be a lasting souvenir of family adventures. Collect postcards, brochures and menus from restaurants and tourist attractions. Encourage your child to write descriptions of the places you visited and tell stories about your family’s escapades.
Go on a virtual vacation.
If your family will not be able to take a trip this year you can still visit many attractions virtually. Take a tour of Crater Lake National park, the National Mall, Yellowstone, the Statue of Liberty and more at nationalparks.org.
5. Learn responsibility.
Complete summer chores.
Even young children can learn to be responsible by helping to set the table, take care of a pet, clean out a closet, wash the car or mow the yard. Studies show that assigning age-appropriate chores helps children build life skills and grow into well-adjusted young adults.
Volunteer.
Community service help kids learn to be punctual, follow directions and serve others. To get started volunteering, look to organizations your family may already have a connection to, and be sure to follow your child’s interests, like the environment, animals, and issues in the news.
How do you keep your kids learning during the summer months? We’d love to hear!
Unique and useful article. For more parenting tips I would suggest visiting the ParentCircle website.