It was mid-June and an anxious mom was talking to the elementary school principal.
Her son was in Grade 1 and his reading skills were not up to speed. She was looking to the principal to advise her about the best summer school program for her child. His advice was to let her son grow during the summer and he would be fine by the end of September. Sending him to summer school would simply put pressure on him.
Kids don't only learn in the classroom, they learn constantly. Whether we have the kids in programs or classes, they are learning. While the kids need a break from structured learning in the summer, we can certainly augment the daily summer activities to keep their minds alive to the academics we want them to maintain.
Now that we're well into the summer you may want to consider what your kids are learning during their holidays.
The most important support we can give our kids, right from infancy, is to read to them. Don't only read to them, but let the kids choose the book, hold it, turn the pages, and take their favourite books to bed with them (my three-year-old grandchild sleeps with his favourite stuffed animal toys and a book about dump trucks). Books should become their friends. Even kids who can read love to be read to. For school-aged kids in the summer it's a great idea to choose a chapter book a little above their usual level and read a chapter a night.
Check out the local library for their summer programs. The librarians are one of your best resources when it comes to helping your kids choose books that will interest them.
When you're in the car, chat about what you're seeing. Look at stop signs with a focus on the letters S-T-O-P and how those letters spell a word and lead to an action. Stop at construction sites and let the kids look at the work that is being done, describe and name all the equipment, and talk about why certain things are happening.
Teaching kids how to cook in the summer is fun and beneficial. First they learn to choose what they want to prepare and have some practice in making decisions from a range of options. Then they read the recipe and figure out whether they have all the necessary ingredients. They then need to measure and mix in the right order and cook the food. And the bonus is that soon they can take over some of the cooking tasks in the kitchen.
Some kids like to get involved in projects in the summer. They have time to take on an arts and crafts activity that requires time and patience. Or they may want to take out all their toys and build a village that can stay in place over days. All their Lego, toys, trucks and people and stuffed animals can become part of this mythical place. And to add to the fun they might want to draw blueprints for this village or for a house in the village.
Gardening is another great summer activity. And this summer you can also teach them about water, how the reservoirs work, why we need to conserve this year. The importance of the weather on our daily living is an important lesson.
If you're going to be travelling, get out paper maps or Google them, but have the kids learn how to plan the trip. Older kids can research accommodations, restaurants or special spots such as museums, theme parks or recreational activities.
When we remember that kids are always learning and are interested in the world around them we can be stimulating their brains without making it a chore. It's simply a matter of engaging kids in all their daily activities in a comfortable and fun manner.
It's not school, it's not structured, but they are constantly taking in new information and having fun doing it.
Kathy Lynn is a professional speaker and author of Vive la Différence, Who's In Charge Anyway? and But Nobody Told Me I'd Ever Have to Leave Home. If you want to read more, sign up for her informational newsletter at parentingtoday.ca.
