Home Activities
SUMMER TIME IS HERE!
As much as we would like to believe summer is a totally care-free time, odds are we still have planned activities on our calendars. Therefore, time schedules still dictate some of our day. Not having to get the kids up and off to school at a specific time is a wonderful treat for everyone, however it can often hinder our ability as parents to accomplish daily tasks and/or get ready to go out the door at a specific time.
If your children are old enough to grasp time and schedules, sit down with them in the evening to talk about the next day and what is planned. Decide on times in which you will be engaged in their play and activities and when they will be left to play on their own. Post the plan/schedule on the fridge or bedroom door so they can refer to it through out the day. By involving the children with the planning and decision making, you will more than likely have their cooperation, and nagging and complaining can be kept to a minimum.
Keeping the academic skills sharp throughout the summer is easy and fun! There are many ideas on the websites listed below. Here are a few of my favorites:
READ READ READ! Don't forget the importance of reading with your children as well as TO your children. If your children are old enough to read on their own - have a time in which all of you sit down and read your own books/magazines! Remember - children are influenced not just by what you say - but what you do as well. Don't forget to ask them questions about their reading - as comprehension is a key factor in academic success.
For little ones - pick a site word each week! It's amazing how fast they can learn to identify "the" "and", etc.
Have them look for the words while reading to them. Let them search newspapers, restaurant menus, etc.
Fine Motor Activity:
Make a play-doh village, zoo, space station, etc. Let them add to it over a few days....their imagination will amaze you!
Rolling, pinching, squeezing....all these motions keep those fine motor muscles in good shape for handwriting.
Homeade Play-doh recipe:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
2 tsp. of cream of tarter
1 cup water
1 tbsp. oil
Mix in pot over low-medium heat until play-doh consistency. cool, store in ziplock bag.
Scrapbooking/Journaling!
This is a great idea for kids to keep track of what they did over the summer! Not to mention it keeps the writing and creative thinking skills up to speed! Most kids love to take pictures and working on a small scrapbook throughout the summer is a great activity for those "down" times or rainy days! Scrap paper, scissors, glue sticks, fun stickers - and let them at it!
Obstacle Course -
Dig out the jump ropes, bikes, sidewalk chalk, hula hoops, cones or little flags, water buckets, sponges, etc. Create an obstacle course for the kids and their friends.
Don't forget that learning to jump with both feet together and then alternating is an important developmental skill!
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