Education in the Summer?? Absolutely!!
What am I going to do with my kids?! You don’t want your children to be over-scheduled, but you don't want your children to experience the “summer slide”! Summer is quickly approaching and many families are wondering what will the summer look like, sound like and feel like?
Research has long said that over-scheduling children leads to stress for children and also their parents. Try to select one or two activities that will be weekly. This will help develop continuity and routine. Next, ask your child what may interest them. Try an important skill such as swimming. Research a few doable activities for them to choose from. Doable means; it’s in the budget, they can get to and from pretty easily without disrupting your day. Remember that just about everywhere learning can take place and does not have to be a huge expense. Summer time is the perfect time to learn and appreciate the world around us. How about a box garden? A trip to one of our Metro Parks? Did you know that you can bird watch in some of our parks? You could build a birdhouse, research the various bird seeds and set it up in your backyard. These activities show Curiosity and Creativity
Remember to cook! Cooking is a good integration of reading, math, science and cleaning up! Jello is simple, bake a batch of cookies, make a cake from scratch, or a fruit or veggie cold pizza! You can even make slime or playdough. Practice doubling recipes.
Don’t forget to visit the library or some of the free book boxes around. You can donate a book and take a book. This is teaching to recycle and share with others. Take a day to pack up toys that are in good condition but are not being used. This is teaching compassion for others and responsibility by cleaning and tidying things up.
If you are able to take time off, day trips are so awesome! What about a free trip to Belle Isle? Make a picnic lunch, grab balls, bats, bubbles and have at it! The aquarium is free however, they do accept donations.
Once your day is over, take some time to do yoga, mindfulness, journaling or just go sit or lay while listening to quiet sounds, classical or jazz. This is teaching self-care and self-compassion.
All learning is not pencil and paper. Children learn through doing and experiences. This type of learning is beneficial to a child’s self esteem by developing a relationship with the world around them and helps them become independent by learning self-help skills.
Summer Programs
Free and nearly free!
Belle Isle (there is a nature center, many playscapes, the Giant Slide, botanical garden, aquarium and the Dossin Museum)
Metro Parks
The River Walk
The Library
Neighborhood Parks
Backyard grilling days
Smores in the Fire Pit
Walks around the local high school track or neighborhood
Grab inexpensive watercolors and paint outside
Interview a family member
Take pictures of nature with the tablet
Take a trip to one of our many beaches around Michigan
Go lighthouse chasing ( start right on Belle Isle!)
Make a pizza, taco bar and have a board game day
Visit the Detroit Cultural Center ( DIA, The Children’s Library, The Detroit Historical Museum, The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History)
Set a sprinkler and have a water day