Summer
is often a time for family vacations and trips. But going away doesn’t mean that
learning has to stay at home. Try these activities to help keep young minds
active:
Put
reading skills to practical use whenever the opportunity arises.
Gather
bus routes, and schedules, to places like a zoo, a museum, or a baseball
stadium. Let your children plan a portion of a trip, figuring out the travel
time required, the cost, and the best time to go. Let them write out a schedule
to follow.
You
can also help sharpen their math skills while on a trip.
When
filling your tank, ask your children to compute the gas mileage for your car.
On
the highway, ask your children to read the signs and check the different speed
limits. They can check off license plates from different states. Have them
estimate distances between cities and check the estimates on a road map.
Of
course, one of the most important parts of a summer vacation is the valuable
time spent interacting with your children in a setting that is different from
your home, without the normal interruptions.
Showing
your children you love them and are proud of them is the best teaching tool of
all.
Combine
this with activities that stimulate the mind, and you will teach your children
to appreciate life and lifelong learning.
