Slip into Summer Without the Slide!
Ah, summer break! The time when kids can finally wave goodbye to the rigors of the classroom and enjoy a few months of freedom. But, all that time away from the classroom can lead to the "summer slide." Yep, that's right - the dreaded loss of academic skills that can leave your child feeling like they've forgotten everything they learned the previous year.
There are plenty of fun and easy ways to keep your kids engaged and learning throughout the summer that don't involve spending lots of money or sending them away to camp. Here are some everyday activities for kids of all ages and abilities that can help prevent the summer slide and keep your kids on track.
Look no further than your very own kitchen for a fun and delicious activity! The kitchen is a great place to spend quality family time and the perfect spot to sneak in some critical math and reading practice.
Next time you're whipping up a batch of cookies or preparing a family dinner, get your little ones involved by having them read the recipe, measure ingredients, and even practice multiplying and dividing to ensure you're making enough servings for everyone. Don't forget about reading timers and keeping track of cooking times - these are all great opportunities to keep those reading and math skills sharp.
And, the best part? You can enjoy a delicious meal or treat together as a family once you're done!
Adventure awaits right outside your door. Spending time in nature is a great way to stay active and healthy but also a great opportunity to learn and grow.
Consider starting a small garden with your kids, where they can learn about planting, watering, and caring for plants. Take a hike or explore local trails, parks, and preserves to learn about the natural environment around you. And why not try a backyard camp out for a night under the stars? There are endless opportunities to explore and learn in nature.
The learning doesn't have to stop when you come back inside! Encourage your little ones to journal their experiences, whether by observing their garden's growth, making lists for scavenger hunts on your hikes, or reflective journaling about their backyard camp out. This will keep their reading and writing skills sharp and help them reflect on and remember their outdoor adventures for years to come.
15 best plants for kids that are easy and safe to grow from our friends at Country Living.
Doing arts and crafts promotes fine motor skills, encourages creativity and imagination, provides opportunities for self-expression, and builds confidence in children. Consider incorporating daily arts and crafts into your summer routine and keep their minds and hands active.
To keep things fresh and exciting, try picking weekly themes. A "Cool Treats" theme could focus on popsicle and ice cream projects made with markers, construction paper, and glue. With a “Fourth of July" theme, colorful fireworks could be made with paper towel rolls and paint. Let your kids go to the beach with a “Seashells" theme and design mosaics with sand and seashells found at your local discount store.
Add to the theme by finding books that match your weekly themes and using them as inspiration for your crafts. This is a great way to encourage reading and connect literature and the real world.
Math skills such as measuring can also be incorporated into arts and crafts activities. For example, measuring and cutting out shapes for a collage or using a ruler to draw straight lines for a painting can help children practice their math skills while being creative.
If you're feeling stuck for ideas, plenty of templates and inspiration can be found on the internet and on platforms like Pinterest. But don't be afraid to get creative and develop your original ideas too!
Here are 18 fun and easy summer crafts for kids from We Are Teachers.
Summer reading prevents the summer slide and plays a critical role in fostering social-emotional development, encouraging a love of stories, and emphasizing the value of lifelong learning.
Words are all around us, and kids have endless opportunities to practice their reading skills throughout the day. Encourage your little ones to read all the environmental print they see, from cereal boxes to restaurant signage to billboards.
Plan a weekly field trip to your local library - summer is the perfect time to explore new books and find new favorites. Consider joining summer reading challenges, whether it's through your local library or an online program. This is a great way to keep kids motivated and engaged in reading all summer.
Don't forget about the power of reading aloud! Make it a family affair by taking turns reading a chapter each night before bed. And, if you've got kids who say they don't like to read, try letting them listen to audiobooks instead. One of my favorite free apps is called Libby, which allows you to connect your local library card and enjoy thousands of audiobooks at no charge. There's something for everyone (even mom and dad after the kids go to bed)!
Why you should make summer reading a priority from Scholastic.
What would summer be without a few family games that are not only fun but help keep math skills sharp? Flashcard games, in particular, are a great way to improve computation, fluency, and memorization skills. A few minutes a day can boost confidence and mastery in no time.
My favorite games include Ten Fish and Hunch by Absolute Zero. Ten Fish is a fun twist on a familiar game where players age 4-10 practice making groups of ten fish. If their opponent can't supply a requested card, they must fish for it. For kids 10 and up, Hunch is a great game that requires players to use their knowledge of adding and subtracting integers while strategizing how to get the score closest to zero at the end of five rounds.
But don't forget about regular board games, which offer plenty of opportunities to strategize and problem-solve, all while having fun with the family. Remember, a family that plays together stays together!
As summer approaches, it's important to remember its impact on children's learning progress. Incorporating these activities into your daily routine can help your children maintain their academic skills and grow their minds during the summer months. So why not try out some of these ideas and enjoy some family fun while preventing the summer slide at the same time? Your kids will thank you for it, and you might enjoy it too!
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