How to Encourage Learning on Summer Vacation

Most school age children look forward to the last day of school and the freedom of summer time! While it is true children need a break from the every day school routine they are used to the majority of the year, sadly many kids lose a great deal of learning while they are on vacation. Here are some tips to help parents encourage their children to keep learning even while on summer vacation.

Usually the middle of summer vacation is a great time to start a schedule that involves some learning activities. July is a good month to start since most kids have to go back to school starting in August. Parents who have younger children under the age of 10 will do well by setting up a special routine with a period of time during the day or evening dedicated just to these activities. While the child may be hesitant at first, once they have gotten into the routine it will soon become like any other part of the day. For older children they may treat like it a chore but usually will not protest for long.

Once you have come up with a schedule that works for you and your child you can then go about deciding what sort of activities you want to work on. It is important that parents make it fun. The best way to do this is look to things your child already enjoys. If like being on the computer but are having problems with spelling look for computer games that are geared toward helping kids learn to spell. For younger children there are special story books for those who are just beginning to read. Picking up a few of these at the store or local library will be very helpful.

Another way to keep kids interested is to try and spice up the routine by doing different things and going on field trips. Learning about local history is very important so parents can look for local museums or state museums to take kids to to learn about where they live. There are also many children science museums that prove to be not only educational and fun to kids but parents as well! Another interesting field to have your child study about during the summer months is the weather. With summer rains, storms, tornadoes and hurricanes it is the perfect time to get them learning about the weather and the different causes of these conditions.

Lastly parents should keep it short and simple. Unless their child has certain areas they really need help in or just show a greater interest in, keeping it short and simple is the best way to keep them interested and not frustrated with the whole idea. Even just 15 minutes a day will help keep kids interested in learning. Keeping it under a hour is a good idea, especially when dealing with very small children since they have smaller attention spans.

Practicing these tips will not only help kids be ready for school to start back up but give parents and kids a chance to learn together and spend quality time together.