It’s officially summer! And while that doesn’t change the everyday for each family, particularly those with full-time working parents or continued childcare during the summer months, there’s something about a more relaxed pace and the freedom from so many demands that invites us all to slow down and exhale.
A break from school is often a welcome gift for parents and kids alike. But too much of a break from learning can undo too much of the progress made in the previous months.
Here at Pickens County First Steps, we want to pass along 5 EASY ways to keep your young child’s brain engaged during the summer months.
1. Books
We wrote about this last week and can’t emphasize it enough. Summer is the perfect time to immerse our kids in books.
Read to them. Read with them. As much as possible, make books a part of their world. The power of reading is downright magical when it comes to brain stimulation and engagement. Audiobooks, e-readers, trips to the library, enjoying novels together — summer is the perfect time to read for the pure pleasure of it. Making kids smarter is just icing on the cake.
2. Geography
Road trips are a great opportunity to talk about places and introduce {or reintroduce} your kids to geography. {One of my kids just told me Cincinnati was in South Carolina so clearly, we’ve got some reviewing to do.}
Maps, road signs, navigation, pointing out rivers and landmarks — kids love this stuff so take advantage of their enthusiasm!
Here are 10 great geography apps for kids of all ages.
3. Math
When it comes to the young child, summer shouldn’t be about worksheets. Thankfully math is part of our everyday. Sorting socks by color, counting items from the laundry, playing with measuring cups — it’s all math.
And if your kids have started learning math facts, summer is a perfect time for them to practice addition and subtraction facts. Remember, repetition is fun for young children. What seems like drudgery for our adult brains is actually delightful for them!
4. Writing and Fine Motor Skills
Once again, worksheets aren’t necessary unless your child happens to love them. Instead, consider grabbing some paint brushes at the dollar store so that they can write on the concrete with water from the pool or from a pail. {Kids LOVE to “paint” and write with water.}
Sidewalk chalk is another great thing to keep on hand. Few things make me happier than seeing my driveway brightly covered with murals and ABCs.
Remember, these activities are naturally fun for young children. They don’t consider it learning but you can feel good that their play is building brain development.
Which brings me to number 5.
5. Remember that learning is a lifestyle.
We tend to think of learning as something that’s carefully crafted and more complicated than it needs to be. But for the young child, it’s important to turn everyday activities into conversations and seize simple teaching moments.
Everything from making pancakes to taking road trips hold countless opportunities to practice letters and math or to explore geography and nature.
When you create a lifestyle of learning, you create lifelong learners.
Happy Summer to you all! We look forward to journeying through these slower-paced days alongside you.
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Share with us your favorite ways to keep the young children in your life learning through the summer!
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Related Posts
5 Easy Ways to Get Your Kids Into Books This Summer
Why Reading to Your Young Child Matters More Than You Think {plus a few helpful tips}
A Free & Simple Resource for Building Literacy in Your Young Child
