The summer break lasts 10 weeks this year and this long break can result in children and youth losing or forgetting some of the skills they have been learning at school. Summer is a more relaxed time when parents are often able to spend lots of time with their child. Summer learning activities can boost skills, provide new and unique experiences and strengthen the child and parent bond. The following websites have tons of resources for parents on fun learning activities for the summer.
The school bell may stop ringing, but summer is a great time for all kinds of learning opportunities for kids. Reading Rockets has packed a bag full of activities for teachers to help families get ready for summer and to launch students to fun, enriching summertime experiences. In this article:
- Ideas for active summer learning
- Ideas for summer reading fun
- Online activities for families
- Print and share with parents
- Print and share with kids
Check it out at Reading Rockets
Summer Activities for Kids with Special Needs by Karen Wang
Between June and September kids have 82 days of summer vacation, and I’ve promised them something fun every single day. That means I need 82 fun summer activities for one child with a developmental disability and one child who refuses to participate in most activities. It’ll be a piece of cake, right? Here are some suggestions I found:
- Safety Sunday
- Make Something Monday
- Time to Read Tuesday
- What’s Cooking? Wednesday
- Thoughtful Thursday
- Somewhere Fun Friday
- Social Skills Saturday
Check out these activities at Friendship Circle.
25 Activities to Keep Kids’ Brains Active in Summer
As students set out on summer adventures, send their parents a much-needed “life preserver” — a list of 25 activities to share and enjoy with their children. These fun activities cover all subjects and grades; there truly is something for everyone. And, if you have your own summer adventurers at home, this list can rescue your kids from the boredom and blahs of rainy summer days. This year, do more than amuse and entertain your kids and hope for the best for your students, keep their minds working all summer long!
Check out these ideas at Education World.
David Suzuki – Connecting Youth with Nature
The message is clear — kids need nature! And so do parents, grandparents, caregivers and teachers.
According to a David Suzuki Foundation survey, people who spend time outside when they’re young are 20 per cent more likely to take part in outdoor programs or to explore nature on their own when they’re older. And getting kids into nature will provide some of their best childhood memories.
Check out David Suzuki Foundation activity ideas at Connecting with Nature.
ParticipACTION Canada 150 Activities
Canada! Let’s Move to Our Nation’s Play List.
It’s time to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday, and we’ve got the ultimate Play List to get you moving – 150 activities that define our land and people – from sledge hockey to lacrosse to snow shoveling and more. So get out there, try as many as you can, track your activities online and earn chances to win great prizes!
Check out the full list of activities at ParticipACTION Canada.
Starting Off Right – SCholastic Summer Learning Ideas
Even though you’re raring for summer vacation, students — especially young students and those with disabilities — may have a hard time moving from the structured school year to full-time vacation. “It’s important for teachers to recognize that many children with disabilities have difficulty transitioning,” says Dr. George Giuliani, president of the National Association of Parents in Special Education and director of the Graduate Program in Special Education at Hofstra University. The best thing teachers can do is sit down with parents to discuss summer. “Have a plan,” says Giuliani. “Discuss the options. What will the child do — take time off? Go to summer school? Go to camp?”
- Summer Math Activities – Help students maintain their math skills and keep them thinking in numbers all summer long.
- Summer Reading Activities – These ideas will keep kids engaged in reading, writing, and thinking creatively even on the hottest days.
- Summer Science Fun – Summer is the perfect time for children to explore their extracurricular interests, like science. Here are some activities that will have children hypothesizing all the way to September.
- Great Books in the Movies – These movie releases of favorite children’s titles will keep you entertained all summer long!
- Roadworthy Car Games – For kids on the bus or families on vacation, put those long rides to good use with activities that keep the kids busy and build reading and math skills.
Check out the full list of activities at Scholastic.
10 Fun Summer Activities for Kids
To help kids get the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day, the American council on exercise suggests these 10 fun summer activities.
Check out these healthy activity ideas at American Council on Exercise (ACE Fitness)
10 fun ways to keep your child learning this summer. Backyard gardens, puppet theaters, scrapbooks and crafts are some of the ways to keep your children active and their minds working all summer long.
Check out these 10 fun activities at Great Schools.
For more ideas check the blogs on this site for Success over the Summer:
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