Fun Summertime Learning

Parents and children often equate education with tedious months spent in the classroom and summertime as a break for the brain. In fact, learning can and should continue during the summer, though perhaps in a more enjoyable form.

There are many opportunities during the next few months for kids to participate in activities that will help them appreciate the relevance of future academic lessons and allow them to develop new interests and skills that build confidence.

The City of Santa Clarita offers an array of fun summer recreational programs for all ages. Kids can sing, or act, learn woodworking or cooking, all the while improving their reading, listening, communication, and math skills, and their physical coordination. Some classes are geared toward children with special needs. Some are parent and child courses. What a great way to learn something new and spend quality time together!

Summer evenings are good for reading books together as a family or playing games that build vocabulary and reasoning ability. If the weather is acceptable, you might consider setting up an outdoor garden. Kids may not eat tomatoes from the store, but they’ll give their own homegrown variety a try.

Working together to set up and review the daily family schedule can give children a clearer sense of the time required for certain activities and teach them how to arrange their days to fit in all the things they want to do. We can show them how fit in more time for fun by getting and keeping their belongings organized with minimal effort.

If academic assistance is in order, you might want to make arrangements before school ends to get a copy of next year’s textbook. Work through the book with your son or bring in a tutor who will help him get the head start he needs to enter the next grade fully prepared.

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Diane Trautman owns and operates StudyPros In-Home Tutoring at 661-296-9206 or studypros.com.