Answer……..Nothing.
As a former teacher, I remember thinking of all the things kids could be working on and skills they could be practicing while at home during the summer. I have since changed my way of thinking on this topic. Sometimes kids need time to disconnect from school work, just as adults need a break from their careers. I have pushed Summer Learning Workbooks on my kids in past summers, but this summer I thought I would just let the kids do what they want. No camps. No summer curriculum. No workbooks. Just fun.
Guess what? Kids will learn from the world around them. I see them counting things and figuring out math problems while baking with me. I see them reading signs, license plates, and books of their choice, just because they want to read. I see them catching frogs in the backyard with their friends and building habits for them on the deck. I see them learning new skills as their dad takes them paddle boarding for the first time on the Narrow River. I see them going off the diving board and learning to swim better. I see them taking in the world around them as we travel and visit new places. They ask questions….many questions…..and we answer them. They are very curious and want to learn when it is not pressed upon them.
I am no longer counting their minutes of reading at night like we do during the school year. No calendars to mark those minutes on. Instead, I see them just getting lost in a book and staying up later because they love to read. Or asking me to go to Barnes & Noble to find a new book.
My kids may not have gone to camp this summer. They may not have completed Summer Workbooks. But I can tell you they are still learning every day. I used to be worried about the “summer slump” with kids while I taught. Now that I have my own kids, I can see that engaging them in learning through activities, play, travel, and by example (my hubby and I both love to read), is way more important than making them sit at the kitchen table for 30 minutes twice a day for math and reading lessons and/or counting their reading minutes at night.
Kids will learn when you least expect them to learn. Let them have fun. Let them explore. Let them engage their minds in something new. Have fun the rest of the summer! Make sure to relax and bond with your kids! A happy and rested child will be ready once the first day of school arrives. You will also have fun memories that will last a lifetime.
That’s because you’re a great Mama and you set a wonderful example! Your kids can look at you and see dedication, commitment, and intelligence! That they are happy and had a great summer is testament to the work that you and Tony do to expose them to fun experiences. I love this post. I LOVE it! <3
Thank you Brandi! Yes, experiences for your kids help them in so many ways. I know you do the same with Ayva! =)
I work hard to make sure my kids learn, too! I think it’s important for them to keep their brains active when they are not in school.
I agree! It is so important for children to be able to learn outside of the classroom! Summer is a great time for that!
I think that a lot of their choosing to learn and read and count has to do with what you and your husband have taught them over the years. They love to read because you helped them learn to love books. They like to cook and measure things because it is fun. They learn new things because their minds are open to it. No they don’t need Workbooks over the summer. Learning comes in all shapes and sizes and as long as they don’t sit around going nothing for 2 or 3 months they will learn and have so many stories to tell when they get back to school.
Awesome! I cant agree more! My kids are learning every second of the day!
Sounds like a nice relaxing summer and stress free! Our homeschool year ran longer this year and we are still trying to finish up – not much relaxing here!
I agree to a certain extent. Kids do need and deserve ample free time over the summer, however if they are like my nephew, they absolutely run from any form of mental stimulation aside from video games over the summer. My sister forces him to read for thirty minutes daily just to keep his brain somewhat active.
What a great reminder! Kids actually need the time to unplug and just have fun and learn from the world around them. That is how they become well rounded and exercise other areas that sometimes get neglected during school…like the imagination. I still require my kids to read each day; but I don’t track it like I do in the school year. We like to do a lot of hands on FUN and use that as their stimuli to learning in the summer.
This is really important to keep them up to par in school during the year.
I’ve always found that my boys learn more just by experiencing life than through books.
Your title almost made me faint – total FAIL!!! lol Then, i read and yes – you are so totally right. love this post! 🙂
Best list ever 😉 You’re such a wonderful mama. Those are some lucky kids you’ve got there <3
Great post!!!! I remember as a kid we had a lot of lazy days, and then my sister and I would go to the library and pick up books to read for days!
Learning without feeling like they are learning is the best way to get things to sink in.
We do fun things all Summer but being how my kids are just now starting to read, we have enforced reading every day. I feel that it is important to get them in the habit at a young age… I remember reading books all Summer then having great discussions with my Dad about them. It was a great bonding experience for me and I hope to do the same with my kids.
I think if you’re providing stimulating activities it can definitely keep their brains in shape. It’s all a personal preference though, so I don’t fault parents who do prefer to do workbooks.
If that works best for them that’s great! But there are other ways so learn, and parents that feel like they are failing are not. As long as kids are being active and engaged in activities and the world around them, they are learning more than their parents know. To each their own though. I agree. Whatever works best for your family!
During the summer, I always let my kids learn by doing more activities that they enjoy, like reading for fun. It helps keep their minds sharp without wearing them down on learning!
You rock!! I think traditional education ins extremely important, but you know how I feel about ADVENTURES and non traditional education as well!! I love watching Avery learn from her environment, it’s amazing!! I will definitely be following your lead as she gets older!
Great points–I hadn’t thought of a lot of these!
I think they sound learn, but in a different way than they would normally learn in school.
I love your answer, I was expecting a long list!!! I agree kids most definitely need a break, they are already growing up to fast these days.
My kids do workbooks but because they beg for them. I would never force anything on them though. You are right that they learn a lot with the day to day playing that they do.
What a great idea! My girls have been doing lots of nothing! If that makes sense! 😀 I’ve been doing some work with my pre-schooler but, other than that. TONS of fun.
Before summer vacation started I had planned on finding educational websites for my kids to use to keep them entertained. Instead we have been doing crafts, swimming in our new pool and exploring nature!
Great post. My kids are older so they are busy working etc in the summer but we do family stuff and have fun. It is a break for all of us to relax and enjoy.
Such a great post and totally agree.. they should learn things during the summer to keep up with school in the fall.. My daughter has to read at least 30 minutes every day and write 30 minutes, too… thanks for sharing
LOL! I was surprised by your answer. However, I think they learn tons and tons without enforcing it!
What a great post. I completely agree.
My kids aren’t doing hard core learning but I do have them sit down with a few activity books just to have fun (and kinda learn at the same time!)
Thanks fo a blog post my girls discovered they loved to read. My sis paid them $5 a book plus bought the books for a scholastics reading program. After the first book they declared reading was fun and my oldest even said “I think reading is making me smarter!”