I see a lot of summer learning workbooks in the stores this time of year. While those are fine for kids who like workbooks and worksheets, they may not be the most exciting tool for helping children retain learning over the summer. Plus, doing something that so closely resembles some schoolwork can actually turn your children off to learning over the summer and burn them out before the next school year begins.
There are plenty of fun activities that children can do that will keep their minds active during the summer. Below you’ll find some ideas that you may want to try out with your children. You’ll find that many of these activities take a hands-on approach which makes them a little less humdrum than workbooks. With any luck, they’ll have your children learning in such a fun and engaging way that they won’t even know they are learning.
Summer Learning Activities
Trips.
Camping sites, museums, zoos, libraries, parks, and the beach are some examples of “educational” places you can take your children. While some of these are obviously learning environments, (i.e. museums and zoos) others may seem like purely recreational places to visit (i.e. the beach or park). But you have to remember that for young children especially, “play” is learning. Building a sand castle is a hands-on learning experience that helps children develop problem-solving skills. A camping trip is an opportunity for science exploration. So go ahead and take that beach vacation or short trip to the park. It will be a fun learning experience for your kids.
Hobbies.
Many hobbies are not only fun, but educational as well. Here are some examples of pastimes that your children can do that will engage learning:
- Sewing
- Woodworking
- Photography
- Drawing
- Crafts
- Cooking
- Pottery and sculpting
- Wood carving
- Model building
- Origami
- Sports
- Collecting
- Pet care
- Star gazing
- Bird watching
Of course, there are many more, but encouraging hobbies such as these may not only help your children learn, but also possibly help them find a skill they are passionate about which could turn into a future career.
Reader’s Theater
If your children don’t want to sit down to read this summer, they may enjoy doing Reader’s Theater. Reader’s Theater (or choral reading) is a form of drama where the script is read aloud instead of memorized. It encourages children (and teens) to develop reading fluency and speaking skills. It’s a wonderful cooperative learning activity. To top it off, it’s easier to put together than a regular play because no props are required, only the scripts.
Games and Puzzles
Educational games and puzzles always make learning more fun. Fortunately, you can find a wide assortment printables with learning games and other activities on the web for little or nothing. These can usually be printed on paper or card stock and laminated for longterm use. I have a collection of printable puzzles and games here you might like to use.
I hope this article helps you find some enjoyable summer learning activities for your children to do.
Many blessings,
