Few days ago I read an article about how teachers spend up to six weeks after the summer break re-teaching stuff kids forgot from last year.
This shows how important is for kids to continue learning during summer.
But you and I already knew that.
The question is how to break this to our children. I know mine won’t be so happy to hear this.
So here is my plan for this summer.
I am going to prove (again) to my kids that learning is fun and it comes in different shapes and forms.
Shhhh….Most of the time, they won’t even notice they are learning.
5 Summer Learning Ideas For Kids
1. Use challenges with your kids. Trust me, this word is magic.. It works for my kids so well. Every time I mention ‘challenge’, suddenly it makes everything fun and exciting. Try it! It even works with chores.
For example:
- I challenge you to write your name with legos.
- I challenge you to find 3 different types of leaves in the backyard.
- I challenge you to read 5 pages of the book while sitting on t
- I challenge you write 15 words that start with letter “B”.
2. Teach your kids the basics. We are a busy busy family during school year. I am sure you are too.
Between school, sport activities, competitions, there isn’t much time left to take time and teach the essential things that often get ignored.
Summertime is when we take bigger effort to plan themed days where we tackle a particular skill with the kids.
Here are some things that we will be working on this summer:
- How to tie a shoe
- How to properly give a firm handshake
- How to properly eat with fork and knife
- How to do their laundry
- How to make a shopping list
- How to create healthy weekly dinner menu
- How to shop at farmers market
- How to cook easy healthy meal
- How to look in the eye when you talk to someone
- How to give compliments to others
- Learn your mom's phone number and home address
- Strip your own bed sheets
We did this project last year and the kids were looking forward to it every single day, wondering what will they learn today. It was super exciting for them!
3. Give your kids more responsibilities. This goes closely with Nr 2 tip I shared above. Once you teach kids a new skill, it’s important to trust them and let them take the responsibility. This is the best way to help kids boost their confidence levels.
When assigning new responsibility to child I usually make it a big deal. I talk about how important the duty is and how much it will help the whole family. I show them my trust and explain well of what’s expected of them.
4. Help your child find a pen pal friend (if they don’t have one yet).
Writing letters and telling different stories will improve your child's creative writing skills and will help him learn about new cultures. Having a pen pal friend will also improve his communication and social skills.
If writing to a stranger is too weird for your child, pick a relative or a friend who is living far away.
5. Be the example to your child. Whether you want your child to pick up a new hobby or read more books, the best way to approach this, is by doing it yourself. Tackle a new DIY project you’ve always wanted to work on or start a new something that gives you joy and pleasure, so kids can see how happy one can get when it’s done with love and passion.
It always happens in our house. As soon as I pick up my glue gun and start making things, it takes about 5 minutes for my daughter to come and bring her own crafting supplies. Or the times when I get comfortable on the couch and start reading my book, minutes later I have both kids snuggling together with me with books in their hands.
6. Enroll into online activity camp at home so your kids can have some structured activity time every day. PLAYTIVITIES Activity Camp At home is a 3-week long camp, where every day kids will receive 3 videos with 3 different activities to do. 45 videos in total!
LEARN - quick science experiments and educational games and activities with challenges that will keep them thinking and becoming real scientists.
MAKE - DIY toys, crafts will keep their fingers AND creativity moving.
PLAY - game ideas, printable board games and other active games.
It’s a perfect (and very economical) way to engage kids in learning, creating AND playing during summer WITHOUT leaving the house and using your vacation budget.
How are you inspiring your kids to learn this summer? Please share your summer learning ideas for kids, so I can add to my list.