With all of the flurry of activity at the end of the year, attention to “summer slide” may have dropped off your radar. And while summer is just getting started, the school year will be here before you know it, and it’s important to make sure your kids are ready for the coming academic year. Take the time now to implement a few learning activities and plans to help them feel more prepared and to ensure they’re on track when school starts.
Everyday Learning
Many kids benefit when you make educational opportunities part of your everyday routine. Keeping kids involved in activities that are both fun and engaging is the best way to maximize the time ahead. This doesn’t mean kids have to be “scheduled” every minute of every day. Instead, focus on weaving educational opportunities into what you’re already doing. For example, kids need downtime anyway, so why not make screen time productive?
Screen time certainly has a bad reputation, but the right kind of screen time can be beneficial for kids. Exhibit Tech explains how watching educational programs can help children learn the narrative structure and develop interests in a variety of subjects. One of the most flexible ways to access an array of educational programs is through your streaming services or device apps.
Another way to make learning part of your regular routine is to turn activities into educational moments. If you have a little fish who loves to swim, make a math game out of diving for pool toys. If you love the outdoors, create a nature scavenger hunt to learn about science. And just about any child would enjoy making ice cream in a bag, which is an activity that’s chock full of important math lessons.
Choose Activities by Subject
If your child needs to work on certain subjects more than others, you can also choose specific activities that help boost these skills. Even these intentional learning activities are easy to fit into your routine.
Reading
Many children who are behind in reading struggle with low self-esteem, and unfortunately, that negative sense of their own reading abilities can be a self-fulfilling prophecy that holds them back. You can help by working on the specific areas that cause problems. Another powerful way to help struggling readers is to make reading fun and rewarding. To help your child discover the joy in reading, the blog iD Tech recommends joining a book club or subscription service, or starting a book series that appeals to your child’s interests. Also, consider transforming a room/space into a “reading sanctuary” where your child can escape from everyday distractions and relax (remember to note any changes you make to this space, as it could be a good way to help boost the appraisal value of your home).
Math
In addition to educational TV shows, playing computer games is another productive use of screen time, and games are perfectly suited to building math concepts. The website We Are Teachers provides a great roundup of math games for each grade level, such as puzzle pictures and bar graphing for elementary schoolers.
When you’re having family time, we also recommend regular old board games for practicing math. If you think about it, many classic board games involve at least basic math, but you can also find innovative games that are specifically geared toward math skills. Whether online or at your kitchen table, these games are interactive and fun. Most of all, they’re educational without feeling the least bit like schoolwork!
Reading and math are two core subjects parents are often concerned about, but you don’t have to stop there. It’s easy to conduct home science experiments, and don’t forget that simple art activities help strengthen a child’s fine motor skills and develop creative thinking. The good news for parents is that these activities can help children start the new school year ready and prepared. You can let them relax and be kids this summer while still fitting in everyday learning at the same time!
If you’re looking for more ways to keep your children engaged and occupied this summer, connect with The Country School House. We offer a summer break program that provides plenty of learning opportunities while keeping each day fun and interesting. Check with us today to find out more about open spots.
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