By Vikki Carrel, CALT
What do kids enjoy about summer vacation? They appreciate having no homework, classes to attend, or a strict daily routine to follow. A change of pace allows them to hang out with friends, enjoy the outdoors and spend more time with family. The summer months bring a variety of activities and adventures that kids will enjoy and find beneficial. There are several ways to make the summer months positive and still promote learning.
Summer fun begins with a combination of creative, interactive, unique, and diverse adventures. It also brings numerous opportunities to promote intellectually stimulating activities. Engage a child’s focus by planning structured outings that expand on what they learned during the school year. A perfect mix of activities encourages children and teens to realize their potential while learning new skills and developing personal talents.
To avoid learning loss, ensure that summer plans include instructional and motivating activities to elevate a child’s knowledge and inner talents. For example, promote a balanced summer schedule by enrolling them in a dance or music class, a community play, or a book group at the local library. It is vital to create outlets that allow kids to socialize and build friendships.
Social and emotional learning starts in the home. Responsible choices begin by teaching kids to navigate challenging situations and to engage in positive thoughts about themselves and their abilities. This summer, plan activities to enhance a child’s feelings of optimism regarding their talents and contributions to society. During the break, encourage teens to get a summer job. This will provide opportunities to exercise independence and develop positive relationships with peers. Gaining a sense of responsibility will enhance their growing independence.
Ideas to inspire summertime learning and social growth:
1. Take learning outside by organizing outings in local green areas. Zoos, botanical gardens, and surrounding parks are perfect environments for gardening, birdwatching, identifying local plants and wildlife, or hiking.
2. Provide opportunities to explore personal, transferable, or knowledge-based skills. Building personal skills may include opportunities to effectively express needs and wants, to resolve interpersonal conflicts, or learning the benefits of adaptability. Teaching transferable skills are critical in daily life, and summer is a great time to teach a child how to organize their environment. A perfect place to begin is in their bedroom, organizing drawers and closets. Time management and motivation skills should also be added to the list. In addition, these skills will help a child refine critical thinking and social skills that they can practice year-round.
3. Motivate kids to build positive interpersonal relationships. Begin in the home to strengthen positive family relationships by participating in activities together. Family outings allow a child to share their ideas and talents and exercise healthy communication skills. Interaction with friends also significantly affects a child’s overall well-being. Peer relationships teach kids and teens how to engage in positive communication, share thoughts and resolve differences. Calendar summer outings that promote social interactions and positive communication.
4. Plan educational day or weekend trips. Outings to museums, historical landmarks, planetariums, or local theaters will spark learning in a fun interactive environment. These activities will add knowledge to what has been taught in the classroom and help kids retain what they’ve learned.
5. Keep a child reading, writing, and working on math equations. Be creative when it comes to involving these activities in their summer schedule. First, make reading part of their daily routine. Consider visiting local libraries or participating in a book swap with friends. In addition, organize a reading treasure hunt or turn phonics into a game by encouraging a child to write words on the sidewalk with colorful chalk. These activities can also be adapted to reinforce math equations. Writing and creative drawing activities will elevate a child’s imagination while improving their language skills.
6. Plan interactive activities to encourage kids to bond and connect with their friends. Help them organize a book club or plan a multi-family field trip. This will promote opportunities to develop social skills and to affiliate with others.
Create a weekly schedule that includes activities that will boost mindfulness and build inner confidence and self-worth. Summer is the perfect time to take learning from indoors to the outdoors. Design structured activities: this will help kids and teens readjust to a rigid school schedule in the fall. Plan a well-balanced summer that allows kids and teens to play and learn; however, focus on factors that will also help them transition smoothly into the classroom environment.
Written by: Vikki Carrel, CALT
Contact Vikki at VikkiCarrel@gmail.com
Vikki is the author of Building Blocks: A Practical Guide to Supporting Kids and Teens with Learning Disorders and Academical and Behavioral Challenges. Her primary focus is to help kids and teens who struggle with aspects of Executive Function.
You can purchase Vikki’s book on Amazon at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Building-Blocks-Supporting-Behavioral-Challenges/dp/0976186136
Review of Building Blocks by Shanna Beaman: Building blocks is an informative, easy-to-read guide, providing information that will be useful for parents and care-givers of children and teens with learning disorders. The concepts in this guide are proven and referenced with citations. Vikki Carrel has done the arduous research and provided the information in a simple format, making the book a valuable quick reference guide. Each chapter can stand alone when you are in need of specific information. If you are looking to find useful tools for learning disorders, you will find them in this book.
