Fun Summer Learning Activities for your Kids

Summer is here! You made it through the school year, congratulations! We often feel a rush of relief once summer hits, but after a week or two, we need some fun ideas to occupy our kids during those long summer days.

We’ve put together a list of great resources and ideas to continue an active learning environment for your little ones this summer.

1. Check with your local department of parks and recreation about camps and other activities. Find out what exhibits, events, or concerts are happening in your town over the summer.
2. For the Kindergarteners, encourage them to read and write every day. See if they can read a few simple items on your grocery list. Or help them to write a postcard to their grandparents.
3. Be active citizens. Kids who participate in community service activities gain not only new skills but self-confidence and self-esteem.
4. Active bodies. Active minds. From the American Library Association, ilovelibraries has suggestions for staying fit and having fun that start at your local library.
5. Get into geocaching. Everyone loves a scavenger hunt! Get in on the latest outdoor craze with geocaching, where families search for hidden “caches” or containers using handheld GPS tools (or a GPS app on your smart phone). Try a variation on geocaching called earthcaching where you seek out and learn about unique geologic features. Find more details about geocaching plus links to geocaching websites in this article from the School Family website, Geocaching 101: Family Fun for All, in Every Season. Or follow one young family on their geocaching adventure: Geocaching with Kids: The Ultimate Treasure Hunt.
6. Watch a garden grow. Get outside and plant things together. The kids will love watching their seeds turn to flowers and vegetables. Check out the Kids Gardening website for lots of great ideas and resources for family.