Incorporating review into their normal day can be a challenge when all they want is free time. So we take the challenge and try to make it fun for them at the same time. This is what we do to help them stay on track.
- Scheduling and Planning Ahead. Meal Planning and a trip to the grocery store can help young ones with spelling, reading, following directions. (Include them in making the grocery list, reading the list and finding the items in the store) Older kids can learn price comparison. Not to mention the lessons in attention to detail, they pick up from being helpful and following directions.
- Counting. My 4 year old helps make coffee everyday. He counts the scoops of coffee we put into the coffee basket. He is so excited he gets to push the button to start it. If we are reheating it in the microwave, we tell him what numbers to push on the microwave.
- Reading. Going to the library often, really encourages them to read. I know my 12 year old is outside reading through book after book, while she sits in the sun. My 9 year old is trying so hard to find something that she is interested in, that she starts books and doesn’t finish them. The point is she is reading regardless. My 4 year old loves the library and enjoys our trips there,
- Computer Skills. I have set my girls (12 and 9 years old) up with limited email accounts, and have encouraged them to become pen pals with their friends over the long summer break. This teaches them essential skills in computer literacy, reading and typing skills, they can’t get enough of it.
- Intermediate Math. Helping cook in the kitchen. My 12 year old is adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing fractions. While my 9 year old is learning and becoming familiar with fractions.
- Basic Math. Now to brush up on memorizing simple math facts, I have replicated a game for them that I played in my 4th grade class. I found that it really helped me. It was called “Beat the Clock”.
- Making sure to creatively incorporate fun learning skills into as many activities as possible. Will really help your children from forgetting fundamentals over the summer. Good Luck, I hope this helped.
