Summer vacation is here! Now that your child is out of the classroom, you can take advantage of the different places your family will visit and people you will meet over summer break. Here are a few ideas to help your little one keep learning throughout the summer months.
1. A Vacation Journal
When you travel you can easily teach lessons to your child about geography, history, and even the weather. Keep a travel log where each day your child can write one new thing that he or she has learned on the trip. If he or she is too young to write, he or she can draw pictures. This will be fun for him or her to remember what he or she has seen during his or her travels.
2. Genealogy: Family Roots
Planning to see Grandma this summer? Your child can take advantage of understanding his or her own family history by interviewing older relatives. Have the child write down questions that he or she comes up with ahead of time. Your child can also record the interview using a video or audio recording device. A young child can greatly appreciate his or her own genealogy with this fun project. You might also try making a genealogy chart!
3. Public Library
A person is never too young or too old to get a library card. Look for story hours or summer programs. Many times these will be free, and the kids will enjoy the variety of books and DVDs that the library offers.
4. Volunteer Opportunities
Kids can enjoy volunteering over the summer. They might try picking up trash, visiting a nursing home, or if possible, helping at a humane society. This helps them learn to give back to their community and assist others.
5. Trips to the Grocery Store
Kids can learn organizational skills by making a list of groceries that the family needs. They can also practice reading by going over labels to understand what’s healthy (for example, is sugar listed as a main ingredient in the item they are considering to buy)? There are many opportunities to practice math skills, too. Try offering a budget of $25 dollars and see if your child can buy what he or she wants and still keep within the budget. Be sure to offer coupons online or in the newspaper for help.
Summertime is fun and offers plenty of opportunities for your child to get out there and stay right on his or her reading and writing skills. Enjoy the activities you have planned this summer!
The author co-wrote this article with an educator who has over 30 years of professional experience in the classroom-her mother.
Creative Commons Love: Vegas ER on Flickr.com
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