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Creative Ways to Keep Your Kids Engaged During Summer Break

Happy summer, everyone!

As summer approaches, many parents wonder, “How to keep your kids engaged during summer?” It’s a time for relaxation, vacations, and fun, but it can also be an opportunity for growth and learning. Here are a few key points to keep families and their kids stimulated until school begins:

  1. Educational Vacations:

Science museums, historical sites, and nature reserves are all great family-friendly places to go on a summer weekend adventure. Not only do these attractions offer educationally conducive environments that are safe and fun to explore at any age, many offer free admission; allowing families to have fun together while not spending a fortune! For even more excitement, try planning a nature scavenger hunt or historical tour with the kids while visiting the attractions to get the most out of the visits.

  1. Planning Hypothetical (Or Real) Trips:

It may seem strange at first, but actually, allowing kids to plan trips themselves (with parental guidance or feedback!) helps them understand the logistics that go into getting a group of people somewhere and can teach them important lessons about budgeting, travel times, and how to use different resources like the internet. It can even propel them to look inward to figure out what kinds of things they might enjoy instead of looking to parents to provide something interesting for them. In fact, this can even be an important opportunity for parents to practice letting their children figure something out on their own and providing valuable feedback only when necessary: Did you call ahead to see if that will be open then? You’re over budget “x” amount, can you find any cheaper places to stay or eat? Etc. It’s important to keep an open mind and not shut down their excitement, while also being realistic and setting boundaries. This dynamic will only become increasingly more prevalent, vital, and nuanced as they get older!

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  1. Creative Learning at Home

Engaging DIY projects can be tailored for any age and interest. For example, the prompt “build an instrument” can have a solution as simple as putting an old shoelace or rubber band over a shoebox with a hole, or as complex as woodworking or digital software synthesis. It can take an hour, a day, or the whole summer! Finding the right prompt can give kids a boost of imagination and creativity, and finding the thing that sparks their interest is key. Maybe a child wants to try cooking or baking something, or maybe they want to write a song or make a painting. How can I make learning fun and engaging? Regardless of the tasks, exploring topics through creation is engaging and can teach countless new skills.

  1. Flexible Downtime:

Finding enjoyable and acceptable entertainment to balance outdoor time and family activities is key. Got a bookworm in the family? Whether there is one or not, establishing reading habits over the summer can be an exceptionally rewarding way for children to stay mentally engaged during their off-season. Instead of forcing a child to start reading, try setting up a cozy reading nook, or hosting a family book club where everyone can share their thoughts and ideas about a certain book. If a child is more oriented towards online games or digital media, parents should keep an open mind! There are online resources and educational games that make learning fun, interactive, and interesting. Even games parents may not think of as conventionally educational can teach history, math, politics, strategy, and more through immersion. Talking to the child, asking questions, and watching them play are all good ways of engaging with what they enjoy and making sure parents feel comfortable with what they are playing. How do I keep my child busy on school break? This can be a great way to explore various interests together.

There are many ways to incorporate a mix of adventure, creativity, and learning to keep children engaged and excited all season long without adding stress and exhaustion to the parents’ plate. With these tips for keeping kids engaged during the summer months, families will be well-equipped to make this summer both enjoyable and educational for their kids. Remember, summer is a wonderful time to foster new skills, create lasting memories, and strengthen family bonds, so don’t forget to enjoy yourselves too!

Wishing everyone a summer full of joy, growth, and unforgettable moments!

Katherine Sellery
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