Making Summer Learning Fun

By Amy Flory

Summer is in full swing: the season of sleeping in, popsicles and bare feet. I love the relaxed energy of school-free days, but as an educator, I also know too many lazy days undo the hard work kids put in from September to June. Summer provides a wonderful opportunity for creative learning, the kind that gives kids the chance to explore and experiment away from the structure and demands of a classroom environment. Here are some of my favorite ways to keep my kids engaged and thinking throughout the summer months.

Summer Reading Programs

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Decades of research show that reading builds vocabulary, fosters creativity and helps children with cognitive, social and emotional development. To encourage 20 minutes of reading per day, many local libraries host summer reading programs, complete with prizes and activities for all ages. For some kids, reading for 20 minutes a day is a breeze, and for others it sounds like absolute torture. For these reluctant readers, make the experience fun by finding magazines they may enjoy, comic books that'll keep them entertained or non-fiction picture books in topics they love. Take reading outside on a blanket with a snack for a change of scenery.

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Math Games

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Math is everywhere, and basic fluency facts can be honed by quick quizzes throughout the day. "I see you have 10 marbles. How many would you have if you gave me three?" Or, "You have two friends here and we have 21 strawberries. How many strawberries do each of you get?" Another great option for math practice is a fun card game. Cribbage is a great option for kids nine and up, and War is perfect for kindergarten-aged kiddos. Kick it up a notch with Addition (or Multiplication) War, where whoever comes up with the total first gets the cards.

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Free Learning Apps

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Want to learn a new language? Duolingo has you covered, Quantiles has a variety of math videos, games and worksheets and Khan Academycovers everything from coding to history and test prep for high school students. My kids like playing Words with Friends with family members, and there are countless other apps and websites that offer low- or no-cost educational games.

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Cooking and Baking

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Summer is a wonderful time to get kids in the kitchen. Science can easily translate into a conversation about food safety (proper refrigeration, why handwashing is important, what cross-contamination means). Math can be worked into measuring ingredients (fractions, weight, volume), and nutrition is a perfect topic to cover when your child helps prepare a family meal. Don't forget to cover kitchen safety when it comes to knives, the stove and the oven. Also make sure you teach your kids how to do the dishes because that's the gift that keeps on giving!

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Gardening

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Nothing matches the joy of enjoying something you've grown with your own two hands. A simple herb garden is a terrific way to introduce kids to agriculture because it requires very little investment and maintenance. Talk about photosynthesis while watering the plants, and show them how to weed carefully. Kids who are exposed to growing their own food tend to eat more fruits and vegetables and better understand the importance of caring for the environment.

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Physical Education

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If your child has been struggling to master a physical skill, summer is the perfect time to tackle that challenge. There's plenty of time to practice nailing a somersault, cartwheel or pull-up. Teach them to jump rope, encourage them to climb trees or help them ride their bike without training wheels. Sign them up for swim lessons if they need more practice in the water. Plus, there are tons of day camps for specific sports if you have a basketball or soccer nut on your hands.

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Free Online Music Lessons

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If your child is interested in learning to play a new instrument or want to hone their skills on an instrument they already play, utilize free online music lessons to maintain practice during the summer. Our family is loving Hoffman Academy YouTube videos for my piano-playing nine-year-old.

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Local Attractions

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Play tourist in your own city, and visit the museums, landmarks, historical trails, state parks, amusement parks, hiking trails and swimming holes. Keep a running list of spots on your phone or kitchen notepad, and try to hit one or two a week.

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Boredom

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Boredom is underrated and underappreciated. Make sure your kids have time to do nothing. Unstructured time is when games are invented and creativity flourishes. Let them watch the rain slide down the window and make forts out of extra sheets and empty cardboard boxes. Give them the space and the time to think, dream and discover.

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