
Summer is here and many parents are already thinking about how to keep their kids learning during the break from school because we don’t want them to face the dreaded “summer slide” when school starts in the fall.
So, how do we help our kids to have fun this summer and keep them learning? We’ve come up with 50 ways to keep your kids learning this summer:
- Create a summer reading challenge to make a big impact on literacy skills.
- Make reading a joy by visiting your local library for story time and book clubs.
- Play educational games like Scrabble or Math Bingo.
- Visit museums and zoos for hands-on learning experiences needed for kinesthetic learners.
- Encourage outdoor exploration with nature scavenger hunts to help kids who fall into the naturalist style of learning.
- Practice math skills with fun activities like counting coins or measuring ingredients while baking.
- Take educational field trips to historical sites or science centers.
- Join a summer STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) camp.
- Go on virtual tours of famous landmarks or museums.
- Set up various art projects that promote creativity and fine motor skills.
- Keep writing skills going with a summer journal.
- Start a pot garden and learn about plants.
- Watch educational TV shows or documentaries together.
- Attend local cooking classes to learn new recipes and kitchen skills.
- Explore different cultures through cooking, music, and art.
- Join a summer sports league or camp to stay active.
- Set up a DIY science lab at home with simple experiments.
- Learn a new language with Duolingo
- Take music lessons or learn to play a new instrument.
- Volunteer in the community to teach empathy and social skills.
- Have regular family game nights.
- Explore virtual reality experiences for hands-on learning opportunities.
- Practice coding with online resources or coding toys.
- Create a summer book club with friends or family members.
- Set up a backyard obstacle course to promote physical activity and gross motor skills.
- Attend virtual story times or author visits online
- Host a weekly neighborhood science fair where children can present their experiments.
- Start a nature journal and document plants, animals, and weather patterns
- Explore DIY crafts and art projects using recycled materials.
- Play educational apps or games on tablets or smartphones.
- Attend free online workshops or webinars on a variety of topics.
- Create a DIY puppet show or theater production.
- Practice mindfulness and relaxation techniques through yoga or meditation exercises.
- Start a summer book swap with friends to encourage reading and sharing.
- Create a summer bucket list of educational activities to complete together.
- Watch educational YouTube channels or documentaries.
- Make homemade slime.
- Practice math skills with online math games or worksheets.
- Learn about different animals and habitats.
- Dress up and act out scenes from their favorite books.
- Make S’mores with a solar oven.
- Learn about different cultures and traditions through food and music.
- Attend a music or writing workshop.
- Play educational board games like Chess, Checkers, or Settlers of Catan.
- Create a DIY backyard bird feeder and learn about local birds.
- Practice geography skills by studying fun and colorful maps.
- Set up a DIY home theater and watch educational documentaries or movies.
- Have a stargazing night and identify constellations with guidebooks, or apps.
- Start a rock and mineral collection.
- Build complex structures with Legos.
There are plenty of ways to keep young minds active and growing during the break from school with these summer learning ideas. Some parents choose two to three activities each week from this list of 50 ideas to keep kids learning. That way they stay engaged and keep learning through hands-on activities, virtual experiences, or creative projects.