Summer’s Here – Time to Refresh!

“Summer is a great time to visit art museums, which offer the refreshing rinse of swimming pools – only instead of cool water, you immerse yourself in art.” – Jerry Saltz

Summer’s finally here.  Our children are ready for a break, but more than that, they’re ready for F-U-N!  Will they find it in swimming pools?  Probably.  How about art museums?  You’re thinking “maybe”?  Indeed, art museums may hold the elements of wonder and discovery that our children need after a year of worksheets, required reading, and science projects.  BUT, art museums are hardly your only option.  The important thing is that you use this time to help your child reconnect to his interests and explore.  Here are just a few things your child might do this summer:      

    

Do something new.  Make time for your child to try new hobbies.  Look for workshops your child can take that allow her to try new things without making a long-term commitment.   Local venues, including museums, community centers, sport centers, and theaters frequently offer such opportunities.  

Try new sports.  Summer may be an ideal time for your child to tackle a new sport without the pressure of tryouts during the school season.  Aside from sessions at day camp or sports clinics, consider asking a neighbor who excels in a sport that interests your child to give him some pointers.  If there is an opportunity to join your child, allowing you both to stay fit while having fun together, go for it!  There was friendly camaraderie in our house when my husband and I took up Tae Kwon Do, shortly after our sons started.     

Explore new worlds through reading.  With many reading assignments during the school year, students often find it difficult to catch up on their favorite series or branch out to other areas that interest them.  See if your child’s school reading list offers any wiggle room so that your child can meet her school’s requirements while diving into something that will really spark her curiosity and imagination.  Reading is fundamental for learning across all subjects, so keep those skills sharp. 

        

Get away.  Whether you take day-long field trips or plan family trips outside of your area, give your child a change of scenery.  It gives your child a broader perspective of life in this world and adds to his store of knowledge which he can apply to his classroom learning.  For example, if he is an American history buff, he’s sure to enjoy the Smithsonian’s Museum of American History, but he can really immerse himself in that era at Philadelphia’s Constitution Center and neighboring historic sites, all within a 4-block range.  The same can be said of many cities around the country, many of which are also in close proximity to more classic summer entertainment like amusement parks and beaches.      

Connect with family and friends.  Not only will you be nurturing bonds with true social and emotional anchors in your child’s life, but your child can learn more about who she is and her heritage through treasured conversations and experiences with loved ones and dear family friends.

Parents – do revel in the time you have with your children this summer.  Yet, it is important to provide balance because school awaits in the fall.  Ultimately, make sure your children find time to:  (1) READ, (2) Practice (math and other skills), (3) Connect learning to real life, (4) Explore, and (5) have fun.  

~Carol~

Copyright ©2013 by Gardener Parenting Consultants, LLC

 

Summer's Here -- Let 'em ride, but don't let 'em slide!

"School's Out for Summer" - Alice Cooper

Forty years later, Alice Cooper's rebellious chant stands as the anthem for kids around the country as the school year draws to a close. And who can blame them? They've worked hard and they're ready to let the good times roll with "no more pencils, no more books, no more teachers..." We should let them enjoy the ride -- bikes, roller coasters, skateboards, waves, and the like. But, we cannot let them get on the slide; the "summer slide", that is.

Educators use the term 'summer slide' to refer to the loss of academic skills children often experience during the summer. The National Summer Learning Association estimates that students lose between one and three months of learning during the summer months. A study conducted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Summer Learning states, "It's common for teachers to spend at least a month re-teaching material that students have forgotten over the summer." Research has also shown that the loss of math skills tends to be even greater than that of reading skills, during the summer months. The news sounds gloomy, but summer doesn't have to be a 'bummer'. You CAN keep your child off the slide and make time for recreation, too. Here are a few ideas:

- Keep reading. Allow your child to select books that interest him in addition those on assigned reading lists. Encourage him to read independently, but also plan time to read aloud together, even if he is a competent reader, as this can improve speaking and listening skills while providing a special connection as you learn and explore ideas together. Discuss what is being read and ask questions that encourage him to dig beneath the surface for meaning and purpose in the material. Read books that are also movies to expand on the experience, visually. Show the importance of reading in everyday life (ex. signs, instructions, correspondence, news/information, etc.). Have your child enroll in a summer reading program at your local library. Help your child develop the habit of reading the newspaper.

- Write on. Your child can practice her writing skills by keeping a journal of her daily activities and thoughts. Select a journal together, with a design or theme that interests her. This activity can strengthen her skills in many ways including handwriting, communicating for understanding, as well as critical thinking. Journaling can also encourage introspection that is vital as she grows and develops a better sense of who she is and how she wants to 'be' in the world. For more ideas, go to www.scholastic.com/parents/activities/writing.

- Incorporate academics such as math and reading into family activities. Allow your child to join you on errands that involve purchases and payments. Plan family travel together, including the itinerary and budget. Include your child in household jobs and projects that require planning, measurement, or management of materials.

- Take advantage of educational websites featuring learning games and activities. Your child may get carried away and not realize how much he is 'learning'. For suggestions, by subject area, visit http://www.goodsitesforkids.org.

- Take trips. Visit historic sites, libraries, zoos, county fairs, and museums, and attend artistic performances.

- Allow your child to explore special interests with camps and field trips as well as related books, magazines, and movies. Community service or a summer job can provide new learning opportunities for your child or, on the other hand, allow her to practice what she already knows how to do (ex. tutoring, serving as a camp counselor, etc.)

- Play games (not just electronic) that involve math, reading, and critical thinking. These might include board games, card games, crossword puzzles, logic games, and even games that require physical action as well as strategy. Finally,

- Set aside time to work on academic skills everyday. Alternate between formal lessons and other activities such as those described above.

An unknown philosopher once said, "Every summer has a story" and indeed that is true. Make sure your story has a happy ending with your child feeling rejuvenated, yet prepared to forge new pathways, because, alas, he remembers the ground he has already covered.

~Carol~

Copyright © 2012 Gardener Parenting Consultants, LLC
info@gardenerparenting.com