Spring’s arrival means that summer vacation is just around the corner for school-aged children. Keeping young children busy during these relaxing summer days can be a challenge for most parents. After a couple weeks of playing outside, making a few trips to the pool, and trying to entertain extremely discerning children, it can be all too easy to let your kids veg out with their tablets or in front of the TV watching their favorite shows. Kids generally go through what teachers call the “summer slide.” It’s the phenomenon that happens when children forget a significant portion of what they learned in the previous grade. Parents can help prevent this from happening by keeping their young ones busy and active during their summer break. Here are some tips from our experts on how to keep the learning rolling during summer vacay:
1. Decide What a “Successful” Summer Entails for Your Children
Have you ever finally gotten some free time all to yourself only to be totally overwhelmed with deciding what to do with it? Summer can be like that for children. They key is to stop and think through what your family’s idea of a successful summer would be. This can be very different from family to family, and very different from year to year and will depend on what your goals are for education during summer break. Two important aspects here are:
- What skills or subjects do you want your kids learning about this summer? How will you do it?
- What’s something new your children would like to learn or try? What do you need to get started with these new hobbies?
2. Write Down Your Summer “Bucket List” and Display it
Once you & your children have come up with the family’s summer theme and things you “must do,” write it down and display it as a summer bucket list. This should include all of the desired favorite activities and new adventures they’d like to take on. It creates an incredible reminder of what you decided to pursue as a family, and why! Consider trips to the zoo or local museums, summer camps, volunteer opportunities, field trips, new books to read, etc.
3. Utilize Visual Reminders to Keep Kids on Track
Plenty of research studies have shown that giving kids visual reminders of important rules, routines, or schedules will actually enhance learning by fostering an “I can do this” sense of independence and control, not to mention a language-rich environment. (Plus, it means less nagging from parents) – These can include:
- A simple checklist for screen time control (what do they have to do first?)
- Behavior and goal-setting charts for a variety of ages and needs
- A “Boredom Jar” which contains slips of papers they can pull out with ideas on fun activities they can do to entertain themselves
4. Use Local Programs
Summer camps are an excellent way to keep kids learning through summer and entertained all at the same time. If you are looking for a high quality summer program for children ages 5 to 12, check out our Kids ‘R’ Kids Summer Camp! Not only will your children have access to an array of awesome crafts, field trips, and play opportunities, they will be learning with each and every task they complete at our highly acclaimed summer camp program.
Also, don’t forget to relax and let kids learn naturally! Kids learning at home doesn’t look like it does in the classroom, and that’s completely acceptable. Contact our preschool & early education specialists for more information on summer programs you can take advantage of for summer learning opportunities.