“The essence of intelligence is skill in extracting meaning from everyday experience.” – Unknown

If you are looking for summer learning activities that will keep your child motivated during the summer months, look no further. Although some parents feel that students “need a break” from learning during the summer, nothing could be further from the truth! Summer can be a wonderful opportunity for your child to learn new skills as well as reinforce what they learn in school. In fact, children are likely to forget much of what they learn in school if they do not revisit topics or practice skills during the summer. In order to avoid having your child experience a lag at the beginning of the next grade, we encourage you to support their active learning throughout the year!

While no one expects kids to sit down and muddle through flashcards in July, there are many ways students can gain valuable hands-on learning experiences. One of the challenges students face is that learning can seem less fun as they progress from preschool to elementary school or from elementary to middle school; consequently, they can start to tune out. Struggling readers and students who have not mastered basic math facts such as their multiplication tables soon realize that learning is hard work and may start to avoid it. As a parent, you can use valuable modeling techniques to increase your child’s enthusiasm for learning and help them develop~~at a very early age~~ the confidence they need to take risks in propelling their own education. There are also plenty of educational games & toys that will serve as an excellent replacement for boring lessons.

Preschool: It’s time to get creative! Since students ages 3 to 6 are working on improving their fine motor skills, parents have an opportunity to help them gain mastery over the summer months. Consider arranging a purposeful playgroup for your child. It’s easy to find local playgroups online or you may want to arrange one in your own neighborhood so commuting doesn’t present an obstacle for parents. A purposeful playgroup is designed to mirror a segment of a day in preschool and can benefit children in varying age groups who work together, helping each other, to achieve a common goal. For specific ideas on the kinds of arts and crafts activities you can arrange for your playgroup, visit https://www.preschoolrainbow.org/preschool-summer.htm or https://childparenting.about.com/cs/summer/a/summerart1.htm. These activities will include cutting, drawing, painting, pasting and building. At the end of the activity, you can teach children a “time to clean up” song to foster responsibility and make this process nearly as much fun as the project itself. Remember, your enthusiasm for an activity will be contagious so wear a smile even when the noise level makes you hope you’ve replenished the Aspirin supply! ~You may find that you have only limited or sporadic participation by other parents; don’t let this hinder you! If this is the case, you can enlist the help of an older sibling or even hire a babysitter to assist you. This way, your role will be more of a facilitator and your assistant will enjoy the hands-on instruction. Try to regularly invite 3 to 5 other children within 3 years of age of your own child so that your child learns the value of collaboration and cooperation. You will also want to set up a Preschool Zone in your home, preferably a room containing a tile or linoleum floor that can withstand a paint spill and be easily cleaned. This area should include a child-sized work table as well as a display area, including a cork board and shelves, so that children can proudly exhibits their projects upon completion. Soon, you may find other parents knocking on your door looking to join in the fun!

Elementary School: Near the end of the school year, parents can request a meeting, phone conversation, or even a simple email from their child’s teacher. By asking some specific questions, you can gain valuable information to help your child progress throughout the summer. Here are a few questions to help you start a dialog with your child’s teacher:

1. What are my child’s academic strengths? Weaknesses?
2. If there was one skill I could work on with my child over the summer, what would you recommend?
3. What theme or activity did my child show a strong interest in?
4. How does my child generally get along with other students?

Whenever possible, you want to focus on your child’s strengths and interests to promote active learning. Students often participate in theme-based learning during these years. Common themes include animals, ocean and aquatic life, and the solar system. Consider the themes your child seemed to enjoy during the school year and build on them. Often times, local libraries, museums, and even zoos will sponsor activities that relate to these themes. Even if there are no group activities available, try establishing a habit of regularly visiting these facilities to promote a love of learning in your child. Even if it means a quick weekly pit-stop on the way home from grocery shopping, you can chauffer your child to the library frequently, encouraging them to pick out books on a specific theme. Then, ask your child to read a chapter to you or take turns reading with them. Ask them to draw you a picture describing a favorite part of their book. Many parents stop reading to their children much too early. Again, modeling positive behavior about reading will leave a lasting impression on your child. For more summer learning activities you can share with your child, even on rainy days, please visit https://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/summer.activities.html and https://www.kidsturncentral.com/summer/summerfun.htm.

Remember, your active involvement in summer learning activities will help your child extract valuable knowledge from experiences ranging from flying a kite to starting a garden! You may find that you have only limited or sporadic participation by other parents; don’t let this hinder you! If this is the case, you can enlist the help of an older sibling or even hire a babysitter to assist you. This way, your role will be more of a facilitator and your assistant will enjoy the hands-on instruction. Try to regularly invite 3 to 5 other children within 3 years of age of your own child so that your child learns the value of collaboration and cooperation. You will also want to set up a Preschool Zone in your home, preferably a room containing a tile or linoleum floor that can withstand a paint spill and be easily cleaned. This area should include a child-sized work table as well as a display area, including a cork board and shelves, so that children can proudly exhibits their projects upon completion. Soon, you may find other parents knocking on your door looking to join in the fun!

Elementary School: Near the end of the school year, parents can request a meeting, phone conversation, or even a simple email from their child’s teacher. By asking some specific questions, you can gain valuable information to help your child progress throughout the summer. Here are a few questions to help you start a dialog with your child’s teacher:

1. What are my child’s academic strengths? Weaknesses?
2. If there was one skill I could work on with my child over the summer, what would you recommend?
3. What theme or activity did my child show a strong interest in?
4. How does my child generally get along with other students?

Whenever possible, you want to focus on your child’s strengths and interests to promote active learning. Students often participate in theme-based learning during these years. Common themes include animals, ocean and aquatic life, and the solar system. Consider the themes your child seemed to enjoy during the school year and build on them. Often times, local libraries, museums, and even zoos will sponsor activities that relate to these themes. Even if there are no group activities available, try establishing a habit of regularly visiting these facilities to promote a love of learning in your child. Even if it means a quick weekly pit-stop on the way home from grocery shopping, you can chauffer your child to the library frequently, encouraging them to pick out books on a specific theme. Then, ask your child to read a chapter to you or take turns reading with them. Ask them to draw you a picture describing a favorite part of their book. Many parents stop reading to their children much too early. Again, modeling positive behavior about reading will leave a lasting impression on your child. For more summer learning activities you can share with your child, even on rainy days, please visit https://www.kidsource.com/kidsource/content4/summer.activities.html and https://www.kidsturncentral.com/summer/summerfun.htm.

Remember, your active involvement in summer learning activities will help your child extract valuable knowledge from experiences ranging from flying a kite to starting a garden!