Here is our top 10 list of ways to keep your kids learning after a long, and unusual, school year. After spending countless months learning digitally, it’s hard to keep kids engaged in learning all summer while still having fun! These 10 ways to stay connected to learning, and your kids.
#1. Cooking Teaches Life Skills & Science
Bring your kids into the kitchen. Cooking helps your child learn a major life skill as well as science and math. Cooking with your children can also expand their palate and taste profiles. We hear a lot about picky eaters now a days, cooking together is a great way to get kids to try new things.
#2. Swimming Helps Coordination While Being Fun
It’s getting warmer and warmer every day and swimming is a great way to spend time together outdoors. Swimming helps your child learn hand eye coordination and is a great sub for “physical education” or whatever summer activities they’d usually be up to on a team or at an activity. According to swimming.org- “Swimming keeps your child’s heart and lungs healthy, improves strength and flexibility, increases stamina and even improves balance and posture” just one activity to help them grow, stay healthy and beat the heat? That’s an A+ in our book!
#3. Stargazing Keeps Science Top of Mind
Long Island (especially Suffolk County) has some of the brightest night skies. From different parts of the south shore and the Long Island Sound you can get great views of major constellations. Invest in a telescope and a skymap, make some s’mores and spend a night stargazing. Or check google for the latest moon phases and eclipses. You’ll earn an A in science and astronomy for this one!
#4. Storytelling Improves Language Skills
For centuries, storytelling has been a way that nations and tribes taught their children. Even before written word. Children can learn language, reading and writing skills through storytelling. You can tell them stories, or have write stories. Read books together, or make up stories as a family. The possibilities for fun and learning are endless with language.
#5. Yoga is a Great Mind/Body Exercise
Yoga is great for self-regulation and to help your family get moving (physical education points for this one)! You can do yoga as a family, find an outdoor class or just play some fun yoga games via yoga books or Spotify. You don’t even necessarily need a mat or props! Yoga can be practiced anywhere at any time. You can take it with you on vacation, to the beach or try it at bedtime for a better nights sleep.
#6. Journaling Keeps Your Child Emotionally Engaged while Working English Skills
Journal prompts are a great way to start the day and help keep your child emotionally engaged. You can pick days of the week to journal or delegate a certain time each day to just write out your thoughts. This is a great way for the whole family to think through their emotions or anxieties and also helps with language and writing skills.
#7. Hiking/Trail Walks are Fun & Educational
Get outside and experience nature! Long Island has tons of beautiful trails and parks. You may even learn some science while you’re out! Keep your eyes peeled for different animals, birds or leaves. Make a list to research later on!
#8. Legos Scenes/Projects Teach Art & Engineering
Legos believe it or not teach your children art and engineering skills. They can be incredibly detailed and creative. Help foster their artsy side by building together. You can even make up stories about your Lego people and places!
#9. Make a Water & Land Formation Sightseeing List
When we’re traveling, we often forget that’s a lesson in itself. Social studies and geography teach us to learn about mountains and lakes, flatland and oceans but in real life, we never focus on these things that are literally right in front of us. We can drive to so many different places in New York. We have oceans, lakes, mountains and more. Make a sightseeing list and learn geography in real life. Your kids won’t forget an adventure.
#10. Learning Local History Brings it Alive
So much of Long Island is historic. Learn about the places near your hometown or surrounding areas. Check out local historical sites or museums that may be open. You’ll be surprised how much history is in your own back yard.
Top 10 Ways to Keep Learning Fun During the Summer
So while we’ve spent the last few months Zooming our life away, it’s okay to want to keep your kids engaged and learning. But there’s plenty of ways to disconnect from the screen & connect to your family instead.
