KidSource Calendar/Summer Activities

Resources for Parents

Summer provides a nice break from school, but it's important for schoolchildren to retain what was learned. Talk with your child's teacher about areas that might need emphasis during the summer months in preparation for next year.

Cultivate new friendships. Invite your child's new friend over to play during summer months. Reach out to those who might not expect it.

Television can be an important learning tool. Use it wisely, with help from tips found in the Learning Partners -- Let's Use TV article.

A variety of great ideas can be found in the article Enjoying Stress-free Summer Activities.

If your child is having difficulty with penmanship, consider enrolling him in a class that's fun, yet at the same time gives him the ability to strengthen his fine motor skills. A class in cartooning and comic book art might be better than the more traditional approach of hiring a tutor.

One way to help eliminate what educators call the "summer slide" is to read-read-read. Have a reading hour (or half hour) several times a day. It's a nice end to a busy day, too.

Staying up late can be a fun part of summer vacation. Some children sleep in, others awaken at the same time regardless of the bedtime. Know your child and what works best, but ensure that he gets enough sleep.

Water is one of the basic raw materials for learning mathematics and science, developing language, and fostering social skills. Learning Through Water Play and Water play: A key to children's living-learning environment tells us how.

The article Discovering Interests and Talents Through Summer Experiences discusses ways to open the doors of your child's future.

"The Education Program for Gifted Youth (EPGY) from Stanford University is an outstanding online program offering classes in math, physics, computer science, writing and music for qualifying students in elementary and secondary school. Visit them at http://epgy.stanford.edu/

Great Books for Activities: Reading, Fun, Education provides a listing of books relating to activities at various ages. Whether you purchase it here or check it out from your library, this is a great place to get ideas. Click on Activities.

Children should be encouraged to keep a summer journal with text and drawings. Whether it's written in once a day or once a week, a journal is a good way to keep up writing skills, and provide a memorable keepsake of their summer activities.

Check with your local Parks & Recreation Department, the YMCA, or other similar groups for summer classes. Make it fun, make it educational, make it both!

Visit the library once a week and check out a pile of books for kids to read, or for you to read to them. Don't forget the occasional trip to the county library, which is usually grander in scale and impressive to those who love books.

Whether your child is playing on a comp team or with the neighbor kids, read through Children and Sports: Don't Forget to Practice Sportsmanship.

If your child and his friends say they're bored, take advantage of the situation. Rather than packing them in the car and taking them somewhere, have them create their own fun. Sometimes it takes a while for the imagination to kick in, but usually it does.

Set up an informal co-op with neighbors or friends to provide time without the kids. "I'll watch yours on Tuesdays if you watch mine on Thursdays" can be hugely beneficial for all concerned.

If your local Parks & Rec doesn't offer the class your child wants, call and ask them about it. Offer to find the participants (saves them the advertising costs) if they find the instructor.

Some chores are more fun with more people. Have your child offer to help a friend clean up his room or yard, then have the friend reciprocate. While they're at it, they can help clean a neighbor's yard, too.

Teach your child keyboarding skills, or have him work to improve his skills. Then have him practice by sending emails to a friend. All with proper supervision, of course.

Many amusement parks and other admission-based areas offer discounts to groups of 10 or more. That might be just two or three families! Try renting one big house or condo rather than several hotel rooms when traveling with a group.

If money is a bit tight this summer, don't deny your family a vacation--just make it a day trip. Fill up the car with gas, pack lots of food and drinks, and take the entire family to a special place within a few hours driving time. Leave early and get home late. You'll be exhausted but feel as if you've really gotten away!

Look into how your family can give back. Perhaps bake weekly goodies for someone who is housebound, call a lonely friend, or mow the lawn of an elderly neighbor. Don't wait until the holiday season to get in the giving spirit.

It's not too late to start your own garden. Consider sharing the bounty with friends, or drop off vegetables at a food bank or homeless shelter.

Many amusement parks give discounts for admission, but you have to ask. For example, if you posess membership in the American Automobile Association, ask if your AAA card entitles you to a reduction in price. Often it does!

Take the children to a different park each week. Venture far and wide, or stay close to the neighborhood. Pack a picnic and enjoy!

Teach your children about the beauty in nature by exploring local woods. Bring along a small trash bag to collect trailside garbage, explaining the importance of leaving our earth as clean as possible.

Summertime Funtime Activities

If you're unsure what to do, read through the daily activity list of fun activities for you and your children.