Kids look forward to summer vacation every year . The last day of school gives way to less structured days when kids can spend more time outdoors and less time cracking the books .

Summer vacation can be a dilemma for parents , especially in households where both parents work full-time . A pandemicrelated increase in remote working has made that problem somewhat more manageable , but even parents working from home must find fun way for kids to stay occupied until the new school year begins . No two kids are the same , so parents may need to try various activities on for size until they find something

their children enjoy doing during the lazy days of summer .

• Day camp : Day camps provide much of the structure of school without all the homework or time spent indoors . Many parks and recreation departments run summer day camps for kids . Camps can be generalized or specialized . For example , some may offer an array of activities , including sports and nature walks , in a given day , while others may focus on a single activity , like musical lessons or science-based programs . Camps run by local parks and rec departments do not typically last all summer long , which parents

should keep in mind when enrolling youngsters .

• Reading : Parents may be surprised by how much their children enjoy a good book . A recent poll from the National Education Association found that 70 percent of middle school students read more than 10 books a year . The National Literacy Trust reports that roughly 45 percent of children between the ages of eight and 11 enjoy reading “ very much .” When suggesting to children that they read more this summer , parents can note the many ways that reading for pleasure differs from reading for school . Point out that kids won ’ t have to submit book reports and

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Parents may need to try various activities on for size until they find something their children enjoy doing during the lazy days of summer .

emphasize that they can choose their own books . Depending on children ’ s ages , introduce kids to a series like “ Harry Potter ,” which is a set of seven fantasy

novels that has helped millions of young people across the globe discover and develop a fondness for reading . Weekly visits to the library , where kids

can pick from hundreds of books , can get youngsters even more excited about reading .

See Activities , Page 12