Family Bonding Activities to Keep Children Learning All Summer Long
Source: Reading is Fundamental Summer is here and that means it’s time for baseball games, barbecues, camping trips, and vacations. The summertime provides an opportunity for parents to slow down and spend quality time with their kids. There are many easy, fun, and affordable summer activity ideas for after work or on weekends that will create special family bonding moments.
However, it’s also a time for continued learning, whether you’re staying at home or out on the go exploring your community and beyond. During the summer vacation, it is important that children continue to keep their minds and bodies active.
Research shows that children who don’t read over the summer risk losing up to three months of important skills they obtained during the school year.
Whether families are planning a staycation or a vacation to a far away destination, reading and sharing stories together is easier than ever. Always have a book, mobile phone or tablet handy and use these activities to help your children thrive during the summer months. With a little time and creativity, parents can play an important role in making sure that summer advances their children’s learning and health.
In your own backyard
Staycations aren’t just for those on a limited budget; they provide an opportunity for the family to research and explore places in their neighborhoods. From a hike in a state park to a day at the county fair, there are lots of places to go near you.
• Visit a museum or art gallery. When you get home, use sidewalk chalk to make your own mural or paint your own masterpiece.
• Have a “book-nic”. Grab a blanket, snacks and books to celebrate a beautiful summer day together.
• Plant and tend a flower, vegetable, or herb garden. Make a list together of the things that need to be done to help take care of the garden.
• Plan a backyard camping trip for friends. List all the things you will need to survive the night outside, including a flashlight to read scary stories.
• Plan a picnic lunch at the park. Children can help make summer salads, wash vegetables, measure and mix ingredients, and help pack.
• Visit the library and check out book about local birds or insects. Go on an adventure walk to see which ones you can find in your neighborhood.
• Walk around your neighborhood and look at the houses. Draw pictures of your favorites and make up stories about someone who might be in them.
• Plan a family day bike ride.
• Organize a scavenger hunt that leads your kids around a local playground or park.
• Create musical instruments from materials found around the house.
• Create science collections together. Collect leaves, stones, or seashells and place them in a container.
• Try some children’s water activities such as pool games, water balloons, or bobbing for apples.
• Make a reading scrapbook. After reading a fantastic book, encourage your child to draw pictures about the story.
On the go
Vacations and adventures are filled with easy ways to expand your child’s mind, vocabulary and creative side. Be sure to talk about what you see, where you’re going and what you loved most about your trip. • Hit the library before you leave, or download e-books at RIF.org/50ebooks, to make sure everyone in the family has a book to enjoy during downtime. • Play the alphabet game and find objects beginning with letters from A-Z while traveling. • Browse online and look at maps together to identify where you will visit, how far you will travel and keep track of any must-see places or must-do activities along your route. • Write letters to friends and family. Tell them all about your adventures away from home. • Keep an explorer’s journal. Draw pictures of your favorite sites and keep notes about what you learned and how places differ from home. • Involve your child in the packing and preparation process. Teach them how to make a packing list. • Play car games such as I Spy or Twenty Questions to help your child become more observant of their surroundings. • Act out certain things, such as people or places, and have the other members of the family try to guess what it is.For a full list of recommended books for children and downloadable summer-themed activities, visit rif.org/summer
