We've been making a list of things we want to do this summer. Visit a maker fair, a renn fair, take a ferry ride, go see a lighthouse, visit Chicago. The kids have workbooks for their coming years in school so they can review what they already know and practice some new things. Did you know that the educational gap between kids from low-income families and high-income families broadens every year due to the summer break? Kids lose ground over the summer when they're just left to their own devices. Kids from higher income families are kept busy with learning opportunities and over time, say by the time the low-income kid is in high school and really really needs a scholarship, the gap is impossible to close.
Learning opportunities are everywhere. Local museums, planetariums, art galleries, parks. Books. Library summer reading programs. Kids just learning to write can draw their letters in a sand box or at the beach and develop their hand/eye coordination and get comfortable with writing shapes before they start having to hold a pencil. Kitchen science experiments are cheap and easy to do (baking soda and vinegar, classic!). Backyard astronomy. Planting a garden lets kids experience science hands-on. Geocaching (kids love treasure hunting, and learn how to use a map and GPS). With a little time and creativity, you can fuel your kids' desire to learn and keep them from falling into that education gap as they grow.
What do you want to do this summer? If you have kids, ask them and make a list together. Then you can pick something from the list each weekend, or whenever you hear the whine, "I'm booorrrred."
LOL I want you to adopt me.
LOL I want you to adopt me. Sounds like fun at your place this summer.
You're welcome anytime. *g*
You're welcome anytime. *g* There's a lot of fun stuff ahead.
Camping combines a LOT of
Camping combines a LOT of things on your list. And gets everyone out of the house. We camped a lot when we had kids at home. Some of our kids favorite memories were sitting around a camp fire in the evening, telling stories.
Actually, some of MY favorite memories from when I was a kid were also from camping out. Hmmmm.
LOVE camping! Our kids do,
LOVE camping! Our kids do, too.
I have plans: I'm going to go
I have plans: I'm going to go to Monticelloe/Ash Lawn/Michie Tavern in Charlottesville, visit Beth Williamson in Raleigh/Durham, and maybe go beach walking at the wildlife preserve. not sure what else.
That's an inspiring list!
That's an inspiring list!
I'm a Kindergarten teacher at
I'm a Kindergarten teacher at a low income school in FL and I agree. These kids are left to fend for themselves. So much of what is learned throughout the school year is lost in a matter of months. These poor babies have to struggle when they enter the next school year.
I think if more parents
I think if more parents understood how far kids fall behind, and how little it really takes to help them keep up, they'd jump in. It doesn't take a lot of time or money to take kids to the library, have them practice counting money or telling time, do outdoor activities like collecting and identifying leaves, etc.
We just got back from a movie and on the way home I quizzed the kids on who the antagonist was, what the story problem was that the protagonist had to solve, what the MacGuffin was, etc. Literally everything is a learning opportunity!