Smart Kids: Use It Or Lose It This Summer
The brain is like a muscle -- you use it or lose it. During
summer vacation is your child "losing it"?
Picture two different athletes. Athlete A is on a schedule where
she trains ten months and then takes two months off. Athlete B
trains year round. When Athlete A goes back to training after
her two months of being a couch potato, she's going to feel
sluggish, slow, and frustrated, while Athlete B is still in
prime shape.
So, how do we, as parents, keep our children's brains in tip-top
shape? Exercise your children's brains with these activities.
Writing Skills: Do your children have a favorite series of
books, like The Magic Tree House or Harry Potter? They can write
the next book in the series! Brainstorm the plot with your
children. Provide them with a special notebook for writing the
story -- and let their imagination take them on a journey. A
chapter each week will really add up!
Reading: Enroll your children in your local library's summer
reading program. These reading programs reward children for
reading during the summer months, and are usually free to join.
If your library doesn't offer a summer reading program, contact
your local bookstore. Or make your own reading contest. Simply
draw a chart with rewards at different levels. Every time your
children reach a new level on the chart, celebrate their
accomplishments!
Math: The easiest and most delicious place to incorporate math
is in the kitchen. Doubling recipes, figuring fractions, adding,
subtracting -- plus the experiments are yummy! It doesn't get
much better than that.
Logic Skills: Teach your children the classic card games like
Uno, Go Fish, Old Maid, Crazy Eights. Older kids can learn the
basics of Poker and Gin Rummy.
Music: Introduce your children to new styles of music on a
regular basis -- Classical, Reggae, Jazz, Blues, Opera,
Soundtracks from Musicals, Classic Rock, Popular Music from the
60's-90's, Music from all over the World. Not only will it
stimulate their minds, but it's a lot of fun!
Art: Go to the library and find a great book about famous works
of art. With your children, look through the book and ask them
which pieces they like and why. Then, give them the opportunity
to recreate the art they saw in the book, using whatever
materials they'd like -- chalk, paint, crayons, glue, etc. Your
children will surely surprise you with their creativity.
Summer is a fun time of the year. Take these ideas and run with
them. Not only will your children benefit from keeping their
brains active and in tip-top shape, but you get the benefit of
seeing their creative, brilliant minds at work. Have a great
summer!