A lot of kids are now out for the summer and they are easily bored. We want our children to keep learning and growing during the summer months so they are ready when school starts back in the fall.
Summer vacation affords us a lot of non-traditional ways of stimulating our kids intellectually. Below you will find some tried and true methods and others that will give your kids a wealth of information they can use and also introduce to their friends.
The public library: A lot of us use our computer but we forget what the library has to offer. You can take your kids and they can read and learn about things of the past and the future. You can truly educate yourself by going to the library and search for any subject that you want. You can teach your kids about studying in a nice quiet environment. A lot of libraries have a movie night and arts and crafts. The library, in my opinion, is a free, public educational institution where you can learn any subject at your own pace.
A Museum: This is another wonderful place to take your children so that they can see paintings and sculptures from the past and it is a great place to go and spend time with your children and teach them about art and its beauty.
The Zoo: The zoo is such a wonderful and fun place to take your kids to learn about different animals. It exposes them to animals that they would never see in their ordinary environment. Kids who love animals are usually more friendly and tolerant.
Money management: We can let our kids make a list of things that they want from the store. Tell them that you will get coupons for the items. Give them a budget or make them pay for these things from their allowance. Teach them to calculate to the penny how much they need and add in taxes and they will learn that they have to learn how to save and budget for the things that they want. Get the Sunday paper and show them how to clip out coupons.
Play Monopoly: Monopoly is a good game that will teach your children about money in a fun way. We all have played and loved this game but this is a way to teach kids in an entertaining manner.
Day trips: Take your kids for a drive through the most disadvantaged areas in your state and then have a discussion with your children on ways you can end up living in these areas. Such as poverty, drug abuse, drinking alcohol or not doing well in school . The next day drive through wealthy areas in your state and have the same conversation on ways you can improve your odds of living in these areas and living the best life possible. Tell them about living a clean life, excelling in school, staying drug and alcohol-free and staying out of jail.
Cooking: Get your children together and let them participate in preparing meals for the family. This activity is good for both boys and girls. This is a skill that they will always have and they could also make a career out of it.
Teach your kids about exercising: I wish I had embraced this concept earlier in my life but it is never too late. I know a lot of people go to the gym to do exercise and there is nothing wrong with that but, I think that you can get fit by running in the park. walking, exercising at home and if you start your children early, they will never have to shell out a lot of money to keep fit.
Start a container garden: Take your kids to a store such as; Home Depot and get some seeds and containers and watch some YouTube to learn how to garden. Let your kids start this and let them enjoy the "fruits of their labor" when the plants or vegetables start growing.
I hope you all enjoyed these tips. Happy Summer!
