I have gotten tons of emails lately from people offering resources that will supposedly help my kids stay up to snuff academically while they navigate their summer vacation. I also know several parents that are consumed with using the summer months to “homeschool” so that their public school kids have a leg up when school starts again.
I can’t say that I don’t think about this sometimes but mostly I just realize that they are always learning. Maybe it is not the exact stuff they need to know for whatever grade they are entering but for kids in public school, summer is just about the only time that really allows for our children to direct their own learning experiences. And they do learn… all on their own.
A few weeks ago my kids asked me to renew their JumpStart subscription. Well, actually it was my son’s subscription and he used to play the JumpStart game when he was being homeschooled. When he went back to public school he lost interest and I cancelled it. But for the past few weeks my kids have been playing the JumpStart game version for their particular age groups and having a blast. They solve math problems, do spelling, and learn a variety of other things from these games. My 5 year old daughter especially learns a lot because she watches her older brother while he plays too. For parents that seek activities to help their kids stay sharp this is a good one but it is only for kids on the 4-10 year old age ranges. I do have a few complaints about the actual performance of their software but the activities are awesome. The games also really help them learn how to use a computer quite well.
My nearly 9 year old son also got to fulfill a HUGE dream of his. He got to ride down a quarter mile racetrack as a passenger in a 11 second car. He kept saying over and over that it was the single best moment of his life. ;) Here he is standing next to a race car that runs on Ethanol. He is very interested in alternative fuel racing.
This week my 5 year old has also started reading and that was all her idea. She wanted to read before she entered kindergarten. She read me four books this morning from the BOB collection (which we adore).
To keep my son reading I have been a bit sneaky. When he wants to go to the water park in the morning or go to the skate park nearby I grab a book and have him read it to me first. I tell him I have been eyeballing this book and I would just LOVE to hear it before we go… works every time. In the evenings I read Harry Potter to him.
Learning is also occuring via weekly trips to the zoo and at the local Science Center. We are lucky to live 9 miles away from COSI, voted by Parents magazine as the best science museum in the country. I bought season passes so we can go as much as we want and this summer they have an Ancient Egypt exhibit with artifacts, mummies, and a replica of the Rosetta Stone. We also saw an IMAX movie there are about mummies. My son and I LIVE for that stuff. We both adore Egypt, history, and archaeology.
So all in all I see no reason to worry that their brains are rotting away and they will enter school and have difficulties. Their brains are fully functional and leading them to places and activities that truly interest them.
I think it’s good to have a nice balance … and if learning doesn’t feel like “learning”, then that is even better!
:–)
I’m a teacher and wish more of our parents were able to do what you are doing with your kids. Doing drill and kill type activities I see pushed on parents are NOT going to help during the school year. It leads to more burn out and hatred for learning.
We just got word that we won a $10,000 grant to build a greenhouse for growing organic fruit and vegetables in our Butterfly Garden. Students will be given food from the garden, and portion will be sold in a farmer’s market to help raise money for future improvements/crops.
Would love to know the information on the grant… I need to create a garden at my school and I need to find the money to do it with! Thanks!
It was on your site that I found the link to the article about hunter/gatherer children, right?
I think the lesson to take away from the article is that play is learning, especially when the play is done in a family setting.
We homeschool and go to the library several times wkly, yr round.
It always funny how the first 2 wks after school lets out, the library is packed. Long lines and packed parking lot.
I had intentions of doing some “school” through the summer. There are plenty of learning oppportunities that happen naturally, like trips to museums, zoos and just learning outside in NATURE! Many times in our own backyard.
Yes, I posted a link about hunter/gatherer kids a few weeks back. Very true!
Ihave a set “learning time with my kids” which includes but not limited too: reviewing site words with my 6year old,doing mazes/puzzles, together, working with manipulatives suchs as tanagrams and counting bears, silent reading for my 9year old, me reading aloud to my 6 and 2 year old, fine motor things like lacing beads, journaling for my 9yr old.etc. We alsogo tothe library EVERY MONDAY to get new books. I keep it new and fun. We alsomay spend 2 hours at a park on any given day (I know its time to leave when they want to sit on the bench with me inside of climbing). We are fortunate to have a spacious backyard where my kids can swing and play old-fashion catch whenever they please. Tiffany– I am always inspired with the things you do with your kids so remember follow their lead and you cant go wrong!
Your post illustrates how education and enrichment can still go on during the summertime. Why can’t learning and fun coexist? I’ve been part of team working to develop an online math learning game, DreamBox Learning, and we’ve kept this same theme in mind as we’ve fine tuned our software. We think it is a great way for K – 2nd grade students to interactively learn math fundamentals. You can check out our game on our website, at http://www.dreambox.com. Thanks again for an inspiring summer post!