by Selena Alexander, Pre-K
Keeping your child on track during Summer Break does not have to be a burden on your fun-packed schedule! There are many practical, convenient, and affordable ways to promote growth from home (or the pool, the boat, vacation, etc.)! By using what you have, engaging your surroundings, and keeping it fun, you can provide many opportunities for your child to learn.
Use What You Have
You don’t have to dish out a fortune on manipulatives, educational apps, and workbooks. Think about items that you have around the house/yard: loose buttons, sidewalk chalk, rocks, sticks, and toys. Legos are a great hands-on activity that can build (no pun intended) on their sorting, counting, addition, and subtraction foundation. Make a game out of it by using Lego Challenge Cards. Keep score, involve siblings, and provide incentive! Your child will be having so much fun; they will not even realize they are learning! You can download the Challenge Cards by clicking here.
Engage Your Surroundings
Whether you’re at the beach or the pool, there are plenty of ways to initiate learning play with your child. Practice writing letters/numbers in the sand. Not only will they be putting their handwriting to practice, but they will also be strengthening fine motor skills. Play alphabet I-Spy while driving to your next destination. Create pool games that will combine building your child’s swimming ability/confidence with reading by writing CVC or sight words on sponges and tossing them for your child to retrieve and read!
Keep It Fun
Chores, bedtime, and bath time do not stop when school does! Lighten the mood by giving subtle objectives that stimulate the mind and the fun. Create a “Chore Clock” to teach telling time and promote responsibility. Take the reading sponges that you made for pool games to bath time. You can even create number sponges! Let your child read you the bedtime story-even if it’s not even close to what the book actually says. Letting them mimic the way they see you read, using their imaginations to create a story for the pictures, and practicing inflection and tone are all building their essential pre-reading skills as well as promoting a love for reading.
Have a wonderful and safe summer!
Tate's School Alum Anne Allen recently graduated from the University of Michigan as the third Dr. Allen in her immediate family. She will be completing her residency in dermatology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and then she plans to complete a 1-year fellowship in dermatopathology. She hopes to eventually move back to Knoxville to practice as a general dermatologist and dermatopathologist.
Congratulations to you Anne, and to your parents as well.
I taught Anne's mother, Debbie, at Welch High School (math) back in the early 70's, and I was not surprised when she went into medicine. So, I am not the least bit surprised to hear that Anne is also going into medicine. I am sure she will be just as successful as her mom and dad. Congratulations Anne!