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8 Fun Ways to Keep Kids Learning
How to make this summer an enlightening one — without your little ones knowing it
Even though your kids would like to think so, a break from school doesn’t necessarily have to mean a break from learning. Here, eight educational activities they’re sure to enjoy.
Check out local “Kids on Campus” Programs. Is your child a future anthropologist? Novelist? Forensic expert? Kids can explore career options and still have a good time in these reasonably priced classes, says Kim Stezala, an advisory-board member at Parents Plus of Wisconsin, a parent-resource center.
Start a summer reading club. “Visit the library with your child every week,” suggests Katy Lee, author of the website adventuresinparenting.org. You can make a fun chart that shows which books he or she has read and offer a small prize for finishing five of them.
Buy puzzle books. Dollar stores sell them for a song, says Lee. Choose books that include Sudoku, crossword puzzles and word searches.
Organize a neighborhood game day. “Have the kids plan the games, create awards and host the ceremony,” says Beth Caldwell, executive director at positivemoms.com. The kids can even create flyers to announce the big event.
Celebrate “Pioneer Day.” Live like the pioneers with activities from the 1800’s, suggests Caldwell. (Read books about The Oregon Trail or visit The Oregon Trail website for inspiration.) Hold sack races and tug-of-war games and then finish the day with an old-fashioned pie-eating contest.
Play tourist. Historic houses, nature centers and museums can be a fun way to spend time says Deb Fuller, a freelance museum educator in Alexandria, VA. “Most cities have a department of history and cultural resources where parents can look up local sites, visiting hours and event listings.”
Go for a “shape walk.” Give preschoolers pieces of paper in different shapes, suggests Silvana Clark, author of 301 Bright Ideas for Busy Kids. Then take a walk and help them find items that match the shapes.
Build a “natural” alphabet. Collect alphabet-shaped twigs and roots, Clark suggests. “Naturally, ‘T’ and ‘I’ are easy, but it’s possible to find twigs and roots that look like ‘B’ and ‘S,’” she says. Keep a big piece of plywood handy and glue on the “letters” as they’re found.
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Printable lesson plans and activities.
Try challenging your kid to read an entire series of books -- like Harry Potter or Magic Treehouse.