Keep Learning Alive

Local learning adventures can prevent summer boredom

It's smart and easy to keep kids learning all summer long. Here are some ideas from KNEA members to help children of all ages enjoy the summer.

Kid Projects

Regular reading
Kids can volunteer for your local library's 'Book Buddy' program. Your local librarian can match older kids with younger children and they take turns reading aloud. Parents report that reading improves, as does the patience with working with younger children.

Backyard business
Kids can create and distribute flyers to family, friends and neighbors. They offer to pet-sit, garden and baby-sit. Not only do kids learn to budget, they learn how to market a business and schedule their time.

Community central
The local recreation center offers lots of free or inexpensive programs. Every week check the paper to see what's scheduled. You'll find art programs and sports programs, movies and supervised teen parties.

Excursions

There are museums, the library and the zoo. But there are many other places to learn in your community that you might not think of. They are familiar places. But when you take children there to learn, they'll see their community in a whole new light! Check out these places:

A garden store or nursery. This is where you can find some hands-on science. Observe nursery workers planting and pruning. Introduce children to "natural pest controls" - lady bugs and praying mantises.

The mall. Instead of buying, go on a treasure hunt. Give each person an imaginary $30 to choose something the whole family would enjoy. Discuss value, quality and trends.

A fast food restaurant. What's behind the scenes at your local burger or pizza place? Call the restaurant manager to schedule a tour to find out. Check out the machinery. Talk about nutritional choices.T

The ballpark. Here's a place you can reinforce math skills. Help children keep score. Figure batting averages and RBI's. Keep time.

Hometown tour. Imagine you're from another place. Visit local sites including monuments, and natural as well as human-made wonders.

Rainy Day Fun Tips

Keep a collection of old - but entertaining - clothing so that your kids can play dress-up. Some items may include hats, shoes, dresses, wigs and trousers with suspenders. You'll be surprised what sorts of games kids will play when they take on new characters in their new clothes.

A puppet show can cure boredom. Make a stage out of old cardboard boxes or even buy one and have the kids help make puppets out of old socks or popsicle sticks.

Have an indoor picnic. Pack a basket of goodies, spread a blanket out on the floor and pretend you're in the woods.

Be on the lookout for fun pictures that you find in magazines and newspapers. Cut these out and keep them in an old shoe box or ice-cream bucket then let kids pick out three pictures each. Ask them to make up a story that involves each of the pictures that they have chosen.

Bake and decorate cookies. Make multicolored frosting using a few drops of food coloring mixed with plain white icing. Kids can use toothpicks to decorate the cookies. Don't forget to supply them with plenty of sprinkles.

Read!