Have your children attended summer school this year? Or are their days full of fun and games? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could combine the two? With a little creative thinking you can accomplish both! Life is full of discovery and learning and education, if we only open our eyes. Learning comes naturally to children, if we give them space and freedom to explore and grow.
Step back and look around and you’ll see all sorts of opportunity for your children to learn this summer – they are probably already learning more than you realize. And you don’t even have to call it Summer School!
Getting together with friends to build with Lego is really a gathering of budding engineers. Sitting down to create a gift for someone special encourages a child to use and polish skills learned in art lessons earlier in the year. Taking advantage of local programs and events by our library and community college adds variety to our routine and gives everyone the chance to try out activities we wouldn’t normally think of trying.
Go ahead, give your children permission to experiment in the kitchen and they just might amaze you while learning new skills and having some fun, too! The family gathered around the table for a favorite game involves some critical thinking and problem solving skills, strategy and good ol’ math.
Wiffle Ball games with neighborhood kids is phys ed in disguise. A camera in the hands of a your young person could bring out the photographer you didn’t know was hiding beneath the surface. A trip to the zoo can become a scavenger hunt if you prepare the children ahead of time to be on the lookout for particular animals. Stop and read the roadsigns, ask questions when visiting local sights. Visit your county or state fair and observe skilled craftsmen and competitions and demonstration. You just might spark their interest in a new pastime.
Take a hike! Literally, in your backyard, when camping, while out for a Sunday drive, through the neighborhood. Open their eyes to the world around them, learn to recognize and identify your local flora and fauna and wildlife. All the world is a classroom and the very best education occurs as we live day to day. Take advantage of the classroom, the experiences, the opportunities God brings your way everyday and let your children get an education this summer, but don’t tell them it’s summer school!
This post is part of our Summer Family Fun Series and linking up to our Summer Family Fun Linky Party. My co-hostesses are sharing wonderful ideas for summer fun, I hope you’ll visit them, too!
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http://www.mommalewsblog.blogs
http://www.funfindsforfamilies
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http://www.superexhausted.com/
http://blog.HomeroomAtHome.com
http://www.supermommyclub.com
http://www.thevintagemom.com
Also sharing this post at some of these wonderful places.
Just the way we like to learn!
🙂 It’s the kind of learning that sticks with them for a lifetime, isn’t it?
I love these ideas!!! 🙂
Thanks, Robbie 🙂
Why stop at summer…we like learning this way all year round!
You are absolutely right, Phyllis! This kind of learning takes place all year long – a Lifestyle of Learning 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Loving these ideas – I think kids learn so much better when they’re just playing and having fun, mention school and they just switch off. I can’t wait to introduce my two to a camera!
It is loads of fun to download pictures after my children have spent an afternoon ‘snapping’ away 🙂 Playtime is Education time in a child’s life – ours too!
I, too, am a fan of stealthy homeschooling! Truly though, I doubt that they’re fooled…it’s just all part of a lifestyle of learning! We are reading through a book that we didn’t finish during our “formal” school year (The American Story), and we’re also reading Ginger Pye as a fun read aloud. Trips to the beach, reading for fun, outdoor play…all ways to extend the learning.
Hope you’re all enjoying your summer!
That’s an excellent way of describing it, Cheryl – stealthy homeschooling 🙂 Sounds like a wonderful summer of learning. Ginger Pye is such a sweet story, one of my favorite read alouds – enjoy!
My favorite kind of learning!