This post is coming to you from 2 perspectives – one as a parent & also as an educator. As a the parent of 2 lovely spawns, nothing is more intolerable than antsy kiddos. At 3 & 5, my boys are always doing something. More often than not, their “doing” needs some harnessing. What better way to learn & grow as a family than to support & engage them in educational opportunities during the summer months
. It’s not too late to start. There is still plenty of summer to be enjoyed!
- Read to your kids every day. Have them make predictions based on the book cover, title, illustrations & periodically throughout the book. Also have summarize smaller chunks of the book.
- Use an iPad or another tablet to read books aloud. Let them navigate the book.
- Go to a local school and/or libraries for summer reading activities.
- Play word matching games to reinforce sight words. Make your own or use online platforms like Starfall.
- Read a book and follow up with a family activity.
- Let your child “read” to you – even if they don’t know how to.
- Listen to audio books when traveling.
- Create a book nook in your home.
- Write a different ending to a story.
- Write your own story.
- Make an online story book.
- Publish family summer happenings.
- Keep a journal.
- Scavenger Hunt – Use pictures to accompany text for non-readers & emerging readers.
- Make an online comic.
- Count to 100 (and beyond). Count by different increments if counting by 1’s is mastered.
- Learn to use a tape measure or ruler.
- Play math online math games.
- Practice calendar skills.
- Practice telling time.
- Create your own store & use to practice counting & recognizing currency.
- Make it relevant.
- Learn the Pledge of Allegiance & facts about the pledge.
- Where am I? Learn city/town, state, zipcode, area code, country.
- Star Spangled Banner (Also a nice way to help prevent any mega-soloist-fails in the event you have a budding star on your hands)
Click on the flag for the Star Spangled Banner with Lyrics.
- Draw a family picture. Write a caption.
- Play charades.
- Write your own songs & sing them together.
- Have Kid Karaoke.
- Craft together.
- Make a movie together. I like iMovie.
Health & Exercise
- Go for a walk or run.
- Ride a bike.
- Have a race – skipping, hopping, jumping, galloping, etc.
- Have a dance party.
- Go for a hike.
- Take swimming lessons. Go swimming.
- Visit your YMCA.
- Create an obstacle course.
- Plan a Family Summer Olympics.
- Enroll in a day camp.
- Play soccer, baseball, basketball, football, frisbee, or any other sport.
- Play tag.
- Learn how & why to call 911.
- Map out your travel destination. Use a real map or have your child chart the course using your smart device.
- Have your child draw a picture of where you are going before the trip. Have him/her draw another one after you arrive at your destination. Compare & contrast the two.
- Send postcards from your trip.
- Go to the zoo.
- Keep a trip journal.