Toddlers are at that stage where learning is still fun. This is the key to keeping them school ready when the summer vacation season starts. Studies have shown that if you do not keep them sharp during the summer with educational games and study, they will struggle when they return to school in the fall. So how do you go about keeping them sharp and focused? Here are five outstanding ways to keep them school ready all summer long:
1. Word of the Day - This is a fun game that you can play with your child throughout the summer that will help to keep them focused on learning. The best part about this learning activity is that the child will not even realize they are “studying”. They will see it as a fun game that they play with Mommy and Daddy. Every single morning, you tell your child the “word of the day” and ask them to tell you what it means. Once you work out the meaning and the spelling for the word, you can then quiz them throughout the day about what it is and what it means. Also, have them try to use the word throughout the day. Each time they use the word in a sentence, they get a gold star by their name on a chalk board or poster that you can make.
2. Library Fun Time - The library is still one of the best places in the world for a toddler to learn, in spite of the explosion of the Internet. There is sill a huge amount of fun to be had in the rows and rows of books, and the kids should get that fun time on a regular basis during the summer. Reading is the key to learning, and your toddler will embrace this activity.
3. Science Fun - The best way to capture the attention of a toddler is to challenge their imagination. Nothing does this better than doing science projects. Look online for hundreds of fun and easy science projects you can teach your toddlers during the summer. Try to do at least one per week, and more if you have the time.
4. History Day - This is a fantastic and fun way to teach your toddler about the past. If you put “this day in history” into Google, you will get back a ton of information about what has happened on this day over our history. Use this information to teach your kids about their past and the past of those around them. Every single thing you tell them will enrich them in some way.
5. Art in the Sand - Sandboxes are still among the more popular past times for our kids, and they learn quite a bit about socialization and art in playing in them. Take your child and spend some time building, playing, and meeting other children. This time will be invaluable for keeping the child used to being around other kids, and in building their creative skills as well.
