AVOID THE DREADED SUMMER DROUGHT WITH YOUR CHILDREN
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Once summer rolls around, your children could be off school for weeks or even months. It’s always a difficult time as a parent. Fortunately, there are ways to cope. For instance, you can explore summer camps and book a vacation that everyone will enjoy. However, you need to be prepared for the summer drought. Often described by teachers, this is the idea that children come back after summer like a blank slate, wiped clean of everything they learned the previous year. Essentially, they are back to square one because they have been away from education for too long. Luckily, there are some ways that you can bake learning into your summer activities. Here are some of the key possibilities that we recommend you explore.
Camping
If your family is looking for something fun and exciting to do when the summer hits then how about camping? Lazing about under the stars can get you and the kids away from technology and closer to nature. If you have an RV or a touring caravan then you are well on your way to enjoying some of the best camping sites around the world. However, don’t be disheartened if you don’t have these. You can still enjoy a night or two under the stars in a tent and sleeping bag, the old-school way.
If you do have a caravan then you may be able to join one or two caravan clubs. Here you can meet new people and make new friends on your travels.
Online Activities
Do your children love all things online? Children nowadays are very much technology-orientated and can at times struggle without it. However, you don’t have to worry about your children wasting time using their consoles. Instead, you could get them involved with online activities such as solitaire or even chess. This gets their brain going and gets them thinking strategically. Better yet, if they have friends who are also using these platforms then they can play along together.
Workbooks
There are plenty of workbooks that you can find online which are perfect for teaching children of all ages. These are just small activities that you can complete with your kids when you’re not having fun in the sun. For instance, you can download no prep rhyming worksheets. These are great for teaching children, even while you are away from home.
Natural Learning
There are natural ways to learn through the summer. For instance, you could encourage your children to keep a diary of all their adventures. This is a great way to improve their writing skills. Alternatively, you could task them with reading a book through the summer and then sharing their thoughts with you on the writing. These are just a few of the small activities that will help your child stay focused even while enjoying a vacation.
Tours
Next, you might want to think about booking a tour on your next trip. No matter where you are exploring, there are lots of different places to go and things to see. This includes a guided tour which will provide insights into the history of the area. For instance, you might be planning on booking a trip to Cyprus with your kids. While beautiful, the island is also embedded with history and a wonder to explore. Many lessons can be learned by taking a trip across the island and if you book the right hotel, it’s all built into your package.
Theme Parks
You might be surprised to see theme parks on this list, but the reality is that they can be highly educational for little ones. For instance, you could take a trip to Disney. This is far more than just a trip of thrills and wonder. There are lots of educational elements here too. For instance, the World Showcase at Epcot provides a fascinating snapshot of different cultures from around the world. Spaceship Earth also provides a glimpse into both the past and the future while Living Off The Land provides insights into the natural world. This is just one example of how a theme park can be both fun as well as educational.
City Breaks
Have you always wanted to take your children away somewhere for a city break? If so, there are plenty of locations just waiting to be explored by you. Families that enjoy adventure and exploring typically prefer city breaks as there is always something to see and do. If you visit London for instance you can see sites such as Big Ben, Tower Bridge, and even the London Aquarium. Big kids and small kids alike will never be bored on a city break.
Take a look at last-minute breaks online as you can sometimes find a great bargain if you are willing to pack and head to the airport with just a few days to arrange everything.
Theatre
Lastly, if you are looking for something amazing to do with your children then the theater is always a great option. You need to be sure your children will enjoy it and are old enough to sit through it. The last thing you want is to have to take your children out halfway through a performance. Figure out the best choices for you and your family – Aladdin, wicked, or even Harry Potter are all wonderful choices. Speak to your children about it, try not to book it without allowing them an opinion on what they want to see. If you have more than one child and they all want to see different things then you might have to venture to a few shows if your budget allows.
We hope this helps you understand some of the key steps that you can take if you want to avoid the dreaded summer drought with your children. Remember, this is a balancing act. As such, you need to avoid falling into the trap of making summer all about work for your kids. They still need to have fun and the break they deserve from a long year of school.
