Are you afraid your child may be “losing it” this summer? I’m talking about the brain. Sure, your child is a smart kid, but summer is coming. Just like a muscle, the brain, when left un-exercised, will weaken and atrophy. “Use it or lose it” applies equally to the brain as it does to any other muscle group. Your child’s brain has much more to offer than reptilian responses. All those smarts will disappear if the brain “muscle” is not flexed.
You can compare keeping the brain in shape to keeping the body in shape. If Athlete A trains only part of the year, the off-time is certainly followed by difficult weeks and months getting back in shape. The cycle repeats every year. Athlete B trains all year, never taking a long break. Since Athlete B never takes time away from training, there is no set back. Athlete B is in shape all year, and never suffers through trying to catch up.
Just replace the characters now and imagine Student A and Student B instead of the athletes. The same theory applies. If Student A stops using her brain to read and learn, she’ll need to re-train when she returns to the books. Since Student B has never stopped learning, she’ll have an easier time returning to school. Her brain will have been exercised all year long.
As parents, we are concerned about our children’s mental as well as physical well being. So, how do we help our children keep up with their “brain exercises?” By maintaining some sort of thought provoking activities throughout summer vacation. Here are a few simple projects that can help your child keep his or her brain in tip top shape.
Reading Skills – If your local library has a summer reading program, sign up. These programs are excellent ways to surround your child with brain-flexing fun. Normally, these programs are free, although some may have a supplies charge on occasion. Bookstores often have reading programs, as well. You may also want to start your own “junior book club” at home with your children and their friends. Create a reading schedule for the summer and include prizes when children reach certain levels.
Writing Skills – If your child has a favorite book series, like ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ or ‘Clarice Bean’ you may want to offer a writing challenge. Have your child write the next book in the series. Provide a notebook and help your child write out the outline. Then encourage your child to let their imagination soar. This is not for a grade, so tell them to relax and enjoy!
Arithmetic Skills – Improving math skills can be one of the tastiest programs to keep the brain active. Why tasty? Because the easiest place to learn math skills is in the kitchen cooking. Since you are cooking every day, you may as well have your youngsters help with the measuring. Double a few recipes and have your child come up with the answers. Doubling recipes is a good way to get your child to concentrate on math – especially when chocolate chip cookies are the end result of their hard work.
Logic and Problem Solving Skills – Young children learn simple problem solving skills often by playing board games and card games. A rousing game of Sorry, Crazy Eights, Go Fish, or Old Maid will have your little one learning the art of strategy in no time at all. Card games for older children can hone these skills even more. Cribbage, Gin Rummy, and Poker are games of logic just as much as they are games of skill.
Art Skills – It takes more than getting out the crayons to keep your child educated in art. Go to your local resale shop, library, or bookstore and gather up some books on art. Sit down with your children and have them tell you about what they think about the artwork they see. Visit the local museums, take notes, then get out the paper, crayons, paint, modeling clay, or whatever medium you have, and ask your child to express themselves in some form. You could also ask them to duplicate a work of art that they like. Anything that gets them thinking about art is good!
Music Skills – Choose a little time each day to listen to music while relaxing. Discuss the style of music you are hearing; classical, jazz, opera, blues, rock and roll, country, reggae, musicals, etc. If you have a music store in your town, they may offer short courses in their store so a child may try out an instrument they have been interested in without a big commitment. Take in free summertime concerts in the park, church socials, or other gatherings available in your community.
We all want to relax and kick back in the summer. However, your children can’t afford to let their brains get lazy. School will be back in session before you know it and you want your little ones to be ready. Keep your child’s brain busy and active this summer with fun, challenging projects to keep them, and their brains, in tip-top shape.
When you are looking for Summertime activities make your first stop ShowKidsTheFun.com where you’ll find crafts, activites, and ideas for all sorts of fun things to make your vacation time special.
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