After the final school bell has rung and the sun has come out to stay it’s easy to spend the entire summer vegging out by the pool. However, just because school takes a break each year doesn’t mean your child needs to take a break from learning. Taking some time during summer vacation to enjoy fun learning activities with your child can go a long way. Use the time to both enjoy your vacation and participate in fun and exciting activities that will allow your child to learn new things and enjoy learning in new ways.
Fun and educational summer activities
- Create a reading list. Many children have summer reading assignments to complete before they head back to school in September. Instead of calling it quits after one book, get your child excited about reading by creating a reading list and schedule. Visit your local library and spend time discovering and choosing books or subjects your child finds most interesting. Teaching your child to read for pleasure can help create a lifelong passion for reading. You can even take it a step further and set a timeline or reading goals for your child. When books are finished on or before the goal date, you can reward your child with summertime treats – their favorite ice cream cone or a trip to the beach.
- Take a nature walk. Visit a local park, trail or other outdoor area and enjoy a relaxing nature walk or bike ride with your child. Use the time as an opportunity for learning about nature and the outdoors. Teach your child about plant life and how to identify different types of trees, flowers and other plants. Bring a pair of binoculars to spot different types of birds or other critters and then teach your child about the different animals that can be found in your area.
- Camp out in your backyard. Spend a night camping out in your backyard and relaxing under the stars. Pitch a tent, enjoy some s’mores and scary stories and lay out under the open sky. While you’re enjoying the night, turn the “camping trip” into an astronomy lesson. Teach your child about the moon, planets, stars and the different constellations and see what you can spot from your own backyard.
- Learn about the Fourth of July. The fourth of July is often the high point of summer vacation. With barbecues, parades, carnivals, concerts, and fireworks galore, your child may forget what the holiday is about. Spend some time leading up to the day teaching your child about the history of the holiday and the American Revolution.
- Set up a lemonade stand. Who didn’t have a lemonade stand when they were young? Let your child experience this quintessential summer activity, but turn it into an opportunity to teach. For younger children, making change for customers is a great way to learn about counting and money. For older children, a lemonade stand is a perfect way to teach them about planning, creating a budget and learning to manage money responsibly.
Summer vacation should certainly be enjoyed. It’s a great time to enjoy and experience new things with your child. It’s okay to let your child enjoy a relaxing summer vacation. These fun activities will certainly keep your child entertained, but they can also help keep his or her mind sharp. Keeping your child engaged in educational activities during the summer will help keep him or her on track and ensure a smooth transition when the summer ends and it’s time to head back to school.
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