With school officially out for the summer, parents can do their part to ensure children continue learning and staying active while home during the sunner break. It is important for parents to encourage studying over this vacation just as much as they would during the year to make sure kids do not experience common learning losses. This time off can also be a great time to promote exercising by finding fun games or activities that inspire physical and academic growth.
There are many effective and affordable ways to incorporate learning throughout the summer. Parents can find entertaining programs online that will help children develop a variety of skills and knowledge.
A few ideas to keep education top of mind over the summer include:
Summer Reading & Writing:
Reading and writing are essential to the development of our kids’ minds. One idea is to take your kids shopping and let them peruse all the aisles appropriate for their age, then have them pick out a book they are interested in. Daily journals throughout the summer are also a creative way for kids to stay engaged. In the morning, when they wake up or before they go to sleep, have them set aside a couple of minutes to write anything that’s on their minds or happened to them that day. Other easy ways to subtly incorporate reading and writing into everyday activities include having them write a grocery list or find a recipe they can read aloud to you while you cook dinner. If your child enjoys watching television, you can even lower the volume slightly and turn on subtitles instead.
Local Learning Experiences:
Over the course of the summer, kids should be encouraged to participate in various volunteer opportunities that will help them learn more about their local community. Arizona has abundant options for kid-friendly projects like gardening, trash cleanups, and packing meals at local food banks. These can support new skill development and boost a child’s self-esteem and self-confidence. Keep in mind that temperatures reach over triple digits throughout summer in Arizona, so be safe and cautious with any outdoor activity you and your child are involved in.
Get Outside and Play:
This summer, focus on strengthening your children’s physical endeavors too. Exercise programs can have a positive impact on academic achievement by improving’ concentration. Turning off the TV, video games, and other forms of screen time will help your kids keep moving. Youth summer sports leagues and camps can be found online through websites such as https://www.i9sports.com/ or your local city website.
Author: Ben Smith is the CEO and creator of Gnosis IQ, an artificial intelligence software that predicts students’ future performance and tracks students’ emotional status throughout the day. The platform also allows students, parents, teachers, and administrators to intervene and help academically struggling students before it becomes a significant problem. Smith designed Gnosis IQ during the pandemic as he saw the impact remote learning and social distancing had on students’ emotional and academic performance. For more information on Gnosis IQ, visit https://www.gnosis-iq.com/.
