HEALTHY KIDS · JULY 2018
HOW YOUR
KIDS CAN
HAVE FUN
LEARNING
DURING
SUMMER
VACATION
S
ummer is finally here, and those
of us with children are enjoying
a break from homework and
school projects. However, we
still can do some activities with
our children to ensure that they continue
learning during the summer.
Mega Skills, a book written by Dorothy
Rich, is filled with suggestions that can
help parents work with their children at
home. Rich, founder and president of
the nonprofit Home and School Institute
in Washington, D.C., is a national expert
whose work has been recognized by the
MacArthur Foundation. Her programs are
used by schools, parent-teacher groups,
universities, and organizations.
Rich believes that the success children
have in school depends on the parents
because home is the first school and
the most influential school a child will
ever have. She also believes that without
certain Mega Skills children will not do as
well in school. To experience success in
school, as in life, children need confidence,
motivation, effort, responsibility, initiative,
perseverance, caring, teamwork, common
sense and problem-solving skills. Mega
Skills is filled with activities that parents
can use with their children in order to
enhance their skills for success.
It is important for children to understand
that what they learn in school will have
an effect on their lives beyond the
classroom. For example, the child who
learns how to write an essay will later
know how to prepare a proposal for a
presentation; the child who can read will
be able to take tests, enjoy a novel and
understand an insurance policy; the child
who understands math will be able to bring
home the correct change from the grocery
store. He also will be able to budget his
money once he is living on his own.
Summertime is a great
opportunity to work with your
children in fun and creative
ways. The following are a few
suggestions from Mega Skills.
01
Makeup reading games. For
example, have a scavenger hunt.
Write out clues and deposit them
around the house and backyard. Make
sure one clue leads to another.
02
Give each child a list of things to
do. They can be actual chores or
silly things like hop around the table or
run up and down the stairs three times.
03
04
Tape notes around the house.
Tape them on light switches,
chairs or toys that need to be picked up.
05
Make a meal together and let
your children read the recipes or
read the recipe to the pre-reading child.
They will be learning how to read and
practicing how to follow directions and
work math skills.
06
Make a vacation bulletin board.
Ask the children what places
they would like to visit. Have them post
ideas about what they’d like to see and
do once they get there. Tack up a large
map of the world so that your children
can choose where they want to travel
to. For example, if they choose China, go
to the library and check out books on its
customs. Find out what kind of stories
children like to read in China. Go to a
travel agency and pick up brochures or
check out web pages that offer all kinds
of interesting facts about the country.
Have an “Evening in Beijing” and eat
Chinese food with chopsticks.
Don’t forget that summertime is for fun
and relaxation. Make it fun, and your
children won’t notice that they are also
learning something
useful.
Enjoy your children,
and have a wonderful
summer!
Write your child a letter and
“hide” new words you know your
child does not know. Mail the letters or
hide them under the pillow. Children
love to receive letters! Buy them
their very own children’s
dictionary. It will make looking
up words a lot more fun.
n
childr t e hey
r
o
f
t
porta d n that wha a t ve an
m
i
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i
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“ I o underst s a c n hool will es h beyond
t rn in
liv
lea ct on their ssroom. ”
effe the cla
10 HEALTHY MAGAZINE
By Maria Luisa Salcines