Keep Kids Engaged This Summer
When summer rolls around it can be easy to just hang out and chill all day. But, every parent knows that lazy summer days are not really good to do every day! Here are a few ways to help kids be school ready during the summer break:
-Keep a routine. Kids will always need time to simply be kids, but during the summer it can be beneficial for them to have a set bedtime, morning routine and a few chores or projects to work on every day. This will make them better able to bounce back to school when the time comes and help them stay grounded. Try having a morning to do list and then giving them the afternoon off! Kids do better on a schedule and will enjoy the downtime as well.
-Read all summer long. Reading is an excellent way to retain information they have already learned, keep kids interested in learning and help their literacy skills improve. It is also fun and can bring joy in a lot of ways! Magazines, crosswords, games, online websites, or any variation of reading is acceptable as long as it keeps your child engaged and learning.
-Find them a pen pal! There are programs like Students of the World that help international students get in touch with a pen pal from across the world. How cool would it be to make a friend in France or Spain? Your child could have the opportunity to learn about others and themselves as they expand their horizons and reach out to someone from a different culture.
-Limit screen time. Pediatricians are always concerned about the amount of time children spend in front of a screen. Multiple studies show that children will benefit greatly from having limited amounts of video games, movies, tv or computer game time. This is also true of a cell phone or handheld devices. One idea is to keep these things away from a child’s bedroom and only allow them for certain periods of the day.
-Have children help with everyday planning. Children need to know how to do everyday things, like meal planning, vacation planning or even just planning a family outing. This will also help them be involved and feel like they are a part of the family. They usually have great ideas as well!
-Help them earn money. It could be something as simple as a lemonade stand, cutting grass or walking a dog, but anyway your child can learn responsibility and earn some of their own cash can help them start to understand the real world.
At Lice Clinics of America, we are always striving to strengthen our local community. We love summertime and wish you and your family a happy, safe and healthy summer!
