"It's fun being a kid."
~ Bradford Arthur Angier, author
Yippee! In our house, summer has officially arrived and the vibe has shifted from schedule-mode to fun-mode!
Remember when you were a kid and you couldn't wait for school to be
out for the summer? As a mom, the wonderful memories of childhood
summers always come rushing back at this time. Climbing apple trees, playing whiffle ball, and swimming, swimming, swimming were some of my favorite summer activities! It's our first lazy day
at home without having to pack a school lunch, sleepily eat breakfast,
and wait for the bus. Ahhh, it's heavenly, and I'm looking forward to
another glorious summer with my girl.
However, now that she's getting older, I realize we'll have even more summer art classes, plays, and play dates.
Am I ready for this? I'm not sure, but I also know that I want to revel
in this limited one-on-one time that I have left with my child. As a former
elementary-school teacher, I also know that summertime doesn't mean all
fun and games; you have to sneak in some learning time too. But how can
you do this without making it seem too rigid and dull? you ask.
Oh, I have plans!
Since it is mandatory for us to keep practicing our times tables this summer, I will need to sneak the flash cards into our daily routine somehow. This is where funtime (or bribing) can come in handy. Pack a picnic and go to the park—even better if you can bike—and while you're playing and having fun, whip out the handy flash cards. Try to squeeze in as many as you can. Please, don't stress out about it, or beg, and don't even say, "Hey, how about doing some flash cards while we eat." Don't ask, just take them out with a smile and make it seem easy, breezy. "Hey, do you remember 4 x 9? I bet you can add ? + ? without even counting on your fingers!"
Now counting is easy. You can play a variety of counting games while walking, eating, and driving in the car. For example, "How many seconds will it take to get to so and so, starting counting now . . . ," or "Can you count how many STOP signs we pass on the way to the grocery store?" And the store, that's a number wonderland for teaching kids the concept of money and, don' forget, healthy eating. Oh the educational opps are endless for our little ones if we just stay in tune with their needs as we're doing our daily tasks. And above all, try to make it fun!
I know it's not always easy because the mundane can creep in—this is where your child's interests come into play. Talk to them about what they want to do ahead of time. If you plan your day or week or month or entire summer ahead of time (which I know most of you are probably all booked up with camp, swimming, camping trips, and other activities) you're less likely to run into whiny, "Mom, what can I do now?" kids.
There are so many fun math games you can play with your child. Here are a few great websites to offer you math-related ideas for different grade levels:
And when it comes to reading and writing, your local library is your best resource for summertime programs. Our library has a reading incentive program, plus they offer fun reading and craft activities for elementary children of all ages. Also, the local schools offer educational summer camps.
My daughter loves to read (she recently turned 9) and she reads all the time. Sometimes I have to beg her to stop so we can do something together. I'm not complaining. I'm thrilled that she enjoys reading and I know it has a lot to do with how much I have read to her since birth! If you know anything about me at all, you know that reading is one of my favorite things. But when it comes to writing, that's another story. So I bought her a fancy leather-bound journal ("NOT A DIARY, MOM")—I guess she's too old for diaries now! Anyway, the notebook is a special place for her to document all of the exciting memories she'll have this summer!
Here are some fun and educational websites to check out for getting your kids into reading:
Starfall (this is a favorite for some kindergarten teachers I know)
Scholastic (this is a great source to help you find books on topics that interest your child)
I hope you have a wonderful start to your summer, and of course, taking a break from school work for awhile is just what our kids need to recharge their little batteries.
How are you going to sneak learning into your summer fun?
