During summer vacation kids need to rest, as well as, keep busy. So many parents are concerned about making their kids have a productive summer that they forget that summer is also a time to sit back and relax. Here are some tips for a fun, educational, and relaxing summer vacation:
- Check out your local library and/or bookstore for summer reading programs, free craft classes, etc. Our local library has something pretty much every day for kids.
- Explore Town: Give kids some cameras and go around and explore your community. Make photo-essays. Take "up-close and far away" pictures of the town. With everyone driving everywhere, it's sometimes hard to notice the fun and interesting things that are in your community. Create a scavenger hunt, go on a bird watch, do rubbings of interesting architectural features, etc.
- Do-It-Yourself: Provide your kids with do-it-yourself activities: A bunch of dollar-store puzzles, a bag of books from the thrift shop, dress-up clothes and a big box of arts and craft supplies (scissors, construction paper, markers, etc.) can help kids learn to amuse themselves.
- Free Fridays: Lots of children's museums (and some science museums) offer free Friday admissions to their museums. Check this out online. Often I type in "Free activities kids" + my zip code or town's name to find out what is going on for free in my area.
- Budding Scientists: Check out the old show ZOOM's website for some great science and art activities (activity guides, printables, and other cool science stuff.) at www.pbskids.org/zoom.
- Let Them Be: It is very important to let children have some time to just relax and be themselves - to putter around and relax. Nowadays in our schools, kids have lost their recesses, their days are scheduled by teachers and daycare providers, and they spend way too much time in front of their video games and TVs. Make sure you give kids some free, electronics-free time, to use their imaginations, read, learn to play with friends without adult interference and referees, and figure out who they are.
By Veronica
