Beat the Summer Slump

How to Incorporate Learning into Summer Play 

It's summer, which means kids are home all day, and parents are looking for ways to keep kids entertained. It's also important though to keep kids motivated to learn and read over the summer along with enjoying their free time. During a "summer slump" kids may not want to sit down and read a book or practice their numbers or colors. Here are some tips to fight the summer slump, and incorporate some learning and reading into your kids' summer play time. 

1. Make Reading a Challenge

It's no secret that kids love a good competition. To get your kids to read more, challenge them to a reading competition. If your child can read more books than you by the end of the summer, then he or she gets a prize! 

2. Make Learning an Adventure

Send your child on a nature scavenger hunt, where they have to find things in nature according to a set of rules. For example, find something red, find a flower with more than four petals, etc. This allows children to learn and spend some quality outdoor time! 

3. Incorporate Learning into Sports

For example, when playing basketball, choose more challenging words than "Pig". Your child won't even realize he or she is practicing spelling!

4. Make Learning Hands On

Crafts are always a sure-fire way to maintain attention and interest. Practice geometry with cut and paste projects, practice numbers and fractions with baking, etc. Here are some more great hands on learning activities to try. 

5. Take Advantage of Car Time

Since you'll likely be spending a lot of time this summer in the car, driving to and from practices and vacations, take advantage of time in the car to practice learning states from license plates or colors from other cars. 

6. Take Advantage of Activities and Events for Kids

Museums, libraries, bookstores and many other places have excellent activities available for free (or very inexpensive) for kids in the summer. These activities tend to do a great job of incorporating education into fun play time. 

Resources such as Time Out New York Kids and Red Tricycle have some great events for kids and families. 

Have a safe, fun and educational summer!