Combine Fun and Education This Summer Break

Some students begin counting down to break time as soon as a new school year begins, and even the ones who enjoy school are often excited to take an extended hiatus from their studies. As a parent, you may wonder how you can sneak in some learning during summer break. Balance summertime fun with educational activities this summer by trying the ideas below. 

Bring a Book

Leave the iPads at home and encourage kids to read a book during road trips or visits to the beach. Students lose up to 2 months of reading skills during the summer, especially kids from low-income families. Many students also fall behind on their spelling skills by a full month during summer break. Reading regularly may help prevent these issues from happening.

If your child hates books, offer them other types of reading materials. You may find that your child enjoys reading magazines, newspapers, or video game manuals. You can also try to find books about things your child is passionate about, such as a specific hobby, animal, or celebrity.  

If finances are a concern, invest in a library card. Public libraries often offer free book rentals, as well as educational classes. If you don’t live near a library, consider enrolling in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. The program connects qualifying kids with a free book each month. You can also search for affordable reading material at yard sales and thrift stores, as well as in Facebook buy/sell/trade groups.

Encourage Leadership

If you’re parenting older kids, you probably want to help ensure that they get accepted to the college of their choice. Colleges look for students who have participated in leadership roles. Doing so won’t necessarily strengthen traditional academic skills, such as math or reading, but it helps your child gain confidence and prepare for college. Encourage your child to lead a sports team or club during summer break so she can develop strong leadership skills. If there are no local clubs that appeal to her, help her create one. She may be able to find a sponsor at her school, such as a coach or teacher, to assist with the program she has in mind. A local church may also have opportunities for leadership.

Volunteer work is another way to showcase leadership skills. Your child can organize a group of teens or tweens who want to visit local nursing homes, or she can ask to help supervise volunteers at a nearby hospital or animal care center. Even if she doesn’t hold a leadership position, volunteering in the community is still a rewarding, resume-worthy way to spend the summer.

Discuss Daily Tasks

Young children learn about the world around them by listening to what you say and watching what you do. If you have toddlers or elementary school students, transform normal activities into educational experiences by providing important details. For example, you can mention that the healthy breakfast you prepared contains vitamin C and vitamin D, then explain how these vitamins help your body. If you take your child to the store, ask them to help you tally up the total of the items in your cart so you can figure out if you brought enough money.

Older kids can benefit from learning about how algebra is beneficial outside of the classroom. Circle items you plan to buy in the sales ad, and then clip coupons for these items. Encourage your kids to help you figure out how many bottles of detergent or toothpaste you can stock up on if you have a budget of X dollars and you’re planning to use Y coupons.

There’s plenty of time for fun during summer break, but your kids don’t have to sacrifice learning. Keep reading material in your vehicle so your kids always have some on hand, and spend time explaining daily activities so that kids can learn from them.

Guest Author: Frank Lawson
Edutude.net
frank@edutude.net