As a result, whether you homeschool or your child attends the local elementary school, you must be able to feed this hunger for knowledge during the summer. After all, while they’ve definitely earned a break from desks and homework, that doesn’t mean they can’t learn something new.
With that in mind, here are some simple ways in which you can ensure your child learns something new during their summer vacation!
Read, read, and read again.
By now, you are likely well aware of the impact reading can have on children. For example, it can help them to develop better comprehension and language skills while also encouraging them to use their imagination! As a result, you should make plenty of time in your summer schedule for reading. For example, you could:
- Visit the local library
- Host a family reading group
- Read in the garden or outside
- Read before bed
- Ask questions about the books they are reading
Visit museums.
Museum visits are another great way to help your child learn something new this summer - and they are also a lot of fun. Most museums will hand out worksheets or activity books to children, too, which can make the entire experience much more entertaining and challenging for them. If not, read up on some of the exhibits ahead of time and make your own!
Furthermore, most museums do not charge entry fees (especially for children), which means they make for a great low-cost day out for the entire family.
Hand out some worksheets.
There are plenty of online resources where you can gain access to worksheets and Lesson plans designed by qualified and experienced teachers. Handing out these resources, whether they be fact sheets on historical figures or writing exercises, is a simple yet effective way to help your child learn something new. Furthermore, by giving them some choice on what they’re working on, you can help them to explore their special interests, which means they’re likely to be more enthusiastic about this.
These tasks are a great way to keep their minds whirring during the summer and can also help you to pass the time on a rainy day!
Head outdoors.
There’s no better education than spending time outdoors - as the more we engage with nature, the more we learn about the world around us. As a result, you can ensure that every day of the summer vacation is filled with knowledge by trying to spend more time outdoors. For example, you could take up hiking, visit the local park or go to the beach.
With every visit, try to have a conversation with your child about the great outdoors. For example, you could talk about the environment and why we need to be eco-friendly or have them write down every insect they see during a bug hunt. This also serves as a fantastic way to spend quality time together as a family.
Watch documentaries.
Watching child-friendly documentaries is another excellent way to inspire young minds - and there are simply thousands of great documentaries to choose from. Some of the highest-rated documentaries for children include:
- March of the Penguins
- The Biggest Little Farm
- Spellbound
- Born To Be Wild
You could make this even more fun by turning your lounge into a cinema and handing out snacks during the movie. This way, it will feel less like a ‘lesson’ and more like a trip to the movies - and it's sure to bring a smile to your kid’s face. You could even make your own cinema stubs or tickets.
Visit the Zoo.
Visiting the zoo can also be a fun, educational activity for children of all ages. This is because it gives them a chance to learn more about the animal kingdom while also seeing some of their favorite exotic animals in person. As you work your way through the zoo, be sure to ask the zoo keepers plenty of questions about the animals - as this will inspire your children to be similarly inquisitive. For example, you could ask about:
- What the animals do for ‘fun.’
- What they eat.
- Their sleeping habits.
- What their habitat is like in the wild.
- Download educational apps and games.
As a parent, it's natural to have some concerns relating to your child’s ‘screen time.’ For example, you may feel as though they spend too much time on their iPad or worry about keeping them safe online. However, that’s not to say all screen time is detrimental - in fact, it could form an essential part of their learning.
For example, you could download educational apps and games that help them develop a range of new skills, whether they're focusing on nailing their times' tables or prepping for a spelling bee. Again, this can also be a way to make learning seem more fun and accessible.
Find time for creativity.
Children can learn just as much from creative pursuits, such as painting and drawing, as they can from a textbook. After all, they can encourage your child to take risks and express themselves while also helping them develop their coordination skills. Furthermore, “research suggests that such activities help build resilience and develop children's positive mental well-being.”
Again, there are plenty of easy and budget-friendly Summer craft ideas for you to try out!
Encourage them to write their own stories.
If your child is a keen reader with an active imagination, you may well have a budding novelist on your hands. As a result, investing in a nice journal or notebook and having them write their own stories is another great summer pastime. This creative writing task can help them to find new ways to express themselves or tap into their imagination while also improving their written skills (and their handwriting). If they aren’t sure where to begin, you may want to encourage them to write a story featuring their favorite characters from other books, films, or TV shows - or a different ending to the original story. Again, this is a great way to improve their reading comprehension skills while also giving them a fun challenge to work with. When they’ve finished, read their story and provide them with plenty of positive feedback!
Complete their summer projects.
Many teachers and educators hand out small projects for children to complete over the summer. While you don’t have to get to them right away, it's also essential you don’t leave them until the last minute. As a result, you should encourage your child to start working on them early in the break so they don’t have to rush or panic when the first day of the team draws near. This also gives them a chance to ask any questions they may have or ask for help if they need it.
Consider Summer Programs.
Summer Camps are beneficial in more ways than one. Not only are they often geared toward personal and academic development, but they also give your child a chance to step out of their comfort zone and make new friends. As a result, if you’re looking to find a way to pass the time during summer vacation, keep an eye out for local summer camps.
While, again, there are thousands to choose from, it's best to settle on a camp that offers activities that your child enjoys or has expressed an interest in in the past. For example, if they are athletic and often try out for school teams, a sports-based camp is an easy choice. Alternatively, if they have a flair for the dramatics and like to perform, you might want to send them to theatre camp.
Remember, not all camps are residential - and you can sometimes take your child for a few days here and there instead of sending them away for weeks and end. This can make the pursuit a little easier and a lot more budget-friendly.
Final Thoughts.
One of the greatest joys of raising children is seeing the way in which they interact with (and learn from) the world around them - and as parents, it's important that you encourage them to remain thoughtful and curious. After all, these are skills that will serve them well in adulthood - whether they’re heading to college or looking for a job.
As a result, you must ensure they’re constantly learning something new - without being too overbearing. As discussed above, there are plenty of ways to make summertime learning fun and engaging - whether they’re attending summer camp or playing a game on their iPad or tablet. Of course, it's equally important that you give your child a break when they need one. After all, just like adults, they sometimes need some time to rest and recharge - and it's their vacation, after all! Summertime learning is all about balance - meaning your child should spend just as much time playing and having fun as they should learning or participating in educational activities.
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