Wo ndering how to help your child retain reading , writing and math skills she gained over the school year this summer without making it feel like work ? Weave learning into daily errands and interactive activities found in your own backyard .
“ Summer is a great opportunity for parents to participate and come up with projects on their own and learn what their kids are interested in ,” says Dr . Ashley Norris , assistant dean , University of Phoenix College of Education .
According to the National Summer Learning Association , students who don ’ t participate in any summer enrichment or educational activities lose about 22 percent of knowledge and skills gained during the school year . Teachers generally spend the first two months of school reviewing past material .
Help your children make the connection between what they learn in school and how the material relates to the real world . They ’ ll retain more of their new skills and grow into more engaged , enthusiastic learners .
1 ) Calculate tips . Next time you and your family eat dinner out , help your child determine the tip when the bill arrives .
2 ) Grocery shop . Dictate your grocery list to your child and have him keep track of the list . As you shop , talk about prices , sales and healthy choices .
3 ) Visit the farmer ’ s market . Peruse seasonal produce native to the area . Ask about fruits and veggies you and your kids have never heard of before . Practice math skills by giving your child a list , a budget , and some money to shop at the market .
8 WNY Family August 2018
13 Ways to Make Summer Time Learning Fun
— by Christa Melnyk Hines
4 ) Grow a garden . Your child can learn more about her environment by cultivating her own fruits and vegetables . No room in your yard ? Grow a container garden together . Your child can take pictures or make notes in a daily gardening notebook detailing the life cycle of the plant , any problems encountered , and how she worked to solve those issues .
5 ) Cook together . Involve your child in meal planning and preparation . Depending on your child ’ s age , Jessica Velazquez , a healthy living director for the YMCA , suggests putting him in charge of a meal once a week . “ I remember being in third grade and having one night a week where I was in charge of dinner ,” she says . “ And , yes , we often had cereal or mac ‘ n ’ cheese .” Following a recipe also helps your child practice fractions and reading .
6 ) Play travel agent .
Thanks to the Internet , your child can easily research your family ’ s vacation or a hometown field trip . Give her a list of questions to answer about the location , cost , and hours of a specific site she wants to visit . Continue the learning when you arrive at your destination . Catherine Elder says she and her 8-year-old daughter like to observe and talk about the tides , climate , and sea life on their annual beach vacation .
7 ) Tune in . If your child is passionate about music , attend local concert series in parks , which are often free . Encourage her to learn about the history of the music she ’ s interested in and read biographies of favorite musicians .
8 ) Explore nature . Apply what your child has learned in life science to your backyard . “ We always talk about different birds , bugs , and how flowers and trees grow . My daughter actually teaches me some things that she ’ s learned in school . It makes her feel good to know she is helping me learn , too ,” Elder says . Science museums and nature outreach centers also offer inexpensive classes and camps .
9 ) Go digital . Got a bug or plant enthusiast ? Have him grab the camera and go on a scavenger hunt for different species . When he ’ s done he can make a digital presentation of his discoveries . “ Many elementary kids know how to use multi-media even more than parents . They find it fascinating and think it ’ s fun ,” Norris says .
10 ) Nurture creativity .
Art education enhances creative thinking , motor skills , and social and emotional development . Have a splatter paint party on canvas in your backyard . Water color on textured paper . Make collages out of old magazines . Further explore the visual arts at pottery cafés and art museums .
11 ) Journal . Purchase an inexpensive journal or notebook that your child can personalize . Write a prompt or