Summer is a much-needed break from school for young kids. It’s a way to recharge and learn what to do with a long stretch of free time and explore different options to keep themselves occupied. While it’s normal for children to turn to gadgets and video games, sometimes it can prove a less-than-satisfying pastime, especially for younger ones with shorter attention spans. Younger kids might need more hands-on activities.
You might not know it, but your local community could be offering these very activities. Programs like recreational camps and fun skill lessons could be a way for your child to get in touch with others in the same age group and have fun with the bonus of learning new skills. Some activities make for fun conversations at home, so make sure to look at different ones to ensure maximum fun.
Should You Enroll Your Child in Summer Classes?
Enrolling kids in fun summer activities is different from standard classes. There is no pressure to keep going once your child decides it isn’t fun for them anymore, and it allows them to learn more about themselves and the world they live in, as well. Recreational activities can be as simple as planting seedlings at the local community garden or as focused on learning a new instrument. Still, one thing is certain: summer activities like these will be a world away from being boring.
1. Enroll your child in music classes
To younger children, hearing music can be a fascinating experience. Give your kids a chance to learn to make their own through different music classes. Lessons in singing and playing instruments are a popular fare during the summer because it’s a one-two punch in both recreation and education. Taking music classes teaches children discipline and patience without pressure, and they get to meet local musicians and tutors who will be more than happy to help eager minds learn the craft.
2. Sign them up for a local science and nature exploration tour
Getting kids into science at an early age can foster a healthy sense of curiosity. Signing them up for classes that explore the subject is a good choice. Some programs offer short classes that let kids perform simple and fun experiments that explain concepts. Others have guided tours to nature parks to look at the local flora and fauna. This is a better avenue to introduce your child to science than making them read on their own. Think about it; they can keep being curious that they can end up as specialists when they grow older.
3. Look at different kinds of summer programs together
When we say “summer camp,” the image that might pop into your head first might be one of making baskets, singing around a campfire, and log cabins. While that image is the standard fare for summer camps, there are other forms of day and sleep-away camp programs that your child can enjoy once school’s out.
Summer camps offer more skill-based programs that focus on performance arts like dancing and acting. The amount of bonding with peers is the same, if not better, and they’ll be exploring a craft under professional guidance.
4. Teach them a hobby from your own childhood
When other activities don’t feel like the right fit for your child, go with something closer to home. Do you still remember that special recipe for homemade cookies that Grandma taught you in your childhood? What about the papercrafts your older cousins taught you in the summer, back in the good ol’ days? Passing down special activities that your elders taught you can be a good way to spend time together and teach them about your family.
Summer isn’t just about letting the days go idly by. It’s the perfect time to enjoy the sun and allow your younger kids to learn through play. Enrolling them in programs is a great form of encouragement and will give them the boost they need to understand that you’ll always be in their corner, ready to cheer them on as they learn, fail, or succeed. Extra education is always good, but it’s important to consider how the child will be educated, too.
At the end of the day, your kid’s happiness and growth take center stage. Boasting about how they’ve been enrolled in a summer violin class won’t mean anything if the choice completely excluded their opinion on wanting to take a swimming class instead. Have a good talk with them, find out what they want to do, and support them through and through.
