Grandparents and Grandchildren Together: Summer Learning Fun, part 1

Summer Time is Fun Learning Time

Summer is here and going too fast for me. As a teacher, I know how important it is to keep the learning momentum going throughout the summer. But, I also know how difficult it is to motivate the kids to spend some time on their studies when the temptation to ride their bike, hang out with friends, swim, or spend time on things they can’t normally do when they are in school. What makes learning special in the summer? It can be fun because it allows more time for exploration and discovery.

Fun Summer Learning Tips for Parents and Grandparents

Take a fun approach to learning and you and the kids will enjoy your time together. Children learn best when they enjoy their activities. Don’t you? And, as I’ve said many times before, fun activities together help create a closer bond and create long-lasting memories.

Fun learning activities also build self-esteem and self-confidence when they are well-planned for success at your child’s level of learning.

Ana Homayoun, author of That Crumpled Paper Was Due Last Week – Helping Disorganized and Distracted Boys Succeed in School and Life (Penguin, Jan. 2010) – (www.thatcrumpledpaper.com), offers interesting tips and tricks to keep your kids stimulated and on their mental a-game this summer as they unwind and get prepared for the next school year.

1. Detach your kids from the video console and live in a non-virtual world as much as possible.
2. Stop overscheduling – an overscheduled kid can feel that there is never enough time to re-energize, regroup, and have unstructured free time.  Downtime is critical for kids today and it’s vital that a child is actively engaged in things they’re passionate about, not just time fillers that cause burn out and stress.
3. Nutrition: more water, more calcium, more SLEEP.  Summertime is the ideal time to rejuvenate.
4. Lemonade stands – it’s OK to work over the summer and be independent particularly outside of any family business.

Tips to Keep Your Kids Engaged and Learning (in a fun way)

Ana Homayoun is also the founder of Green Ivy Educational Consulting (www.greenivyed.com). Exclusively for my readers, Ana has contributed the following fun learning tips to help you help your children:

• Working on Penmanship and Fine Motor Skills – Have them create a comic strip.
  • Works on artistic creativity, humor, fine motor skills and writing skills.
  • New technology does not always give kids the ability to practice their hand/eye coordination. Writing skills and activities like these can make a big difference and help them get engaged in a fun way.

• Plan a Weekly Outdoor Outing – Visit your local library or go online.
  • Have your kids get online or use guide books to plan a weekly place they want to explore.
  • Set aside a half day and have them work with you to plan the journey – you will be amazed what happens once kids get engaged!
  • Have them pick places (if you have several kids, they can each rotate a week) and get involved with all stages of planning – getting directions, finding ticket prices, planning lunches, etc.

• Get them into the Kitchen – Plan and prepare a meal.
  • This summer, have your kids pick their favorite breakfast, lunch and dinner and learn how to make the recipe.
  • Pick something challenging but not overwhelming. Their goal should be to make it on their own (with parent supervision if the stove or oven is involved!).
  • They can also create a recipe box for themselves with all their favorite creations. If they love spaghetti sauce, have them learn how to make it from scratch. Pancakes and smoothies, same thing.
  • Again, if they write it down, it encourages them to practice their handwriting in a fun way!!

My next post will be Summer Learning Fun, part 2 – additional fun summer learning resources – free and inexpensive.