Now that summer is finally here, parents and children are excited to start their summer vacation. But just because school's out doesn't mean we should take a vacation from learning. Research shows that children who don't read over the summer lose some of the literacy skills they gained during the year and have a difficult time adjusting to school in the fall. So try out these fun activities this summer to keep skills sharp all year long!
1. Follow a recipe together and make a dish for a summer picnic. It's a fun way for your family to practice reading, math and comprehension.
2. Road trip! When traveling in the car, read signs, billboards and license plates together and show your children how to find your destination using a map.
3. Head to the beach with a good book! Not only are there some great summer reads out there, but children learn from their parents, so let them catch you reading.
4. Zoo outings and visits to museums and galleries can be fun and educational. Be sure to read all the descriptions on exhibits and displays.
5. Don't forget to write! Send friends and relatives postcards from different places along the way, or better yet, send one to yourself as a visual reminder of your trip.
6. Bring some board games up to the cottage for a family game night. Board games are a fun way to improve literacy skills!
7. On a rainy day, surf the Internet for information on your hobbies, or the latest summer movies.
8. Create a family trip mini-blog to share with friends and family. It's easy using services like tumblr.com
9. Set up a lemonade stand in your neighborhood. Charge $0.25 for each cup of lemonade and when you're done, count how much money you've made!
10. Scrap it: Build a book of memories during your trip. Tape in pictures, souvenir tickets and brochures and ask family members to write in comments and captions.
