Keeping Kids Busy this Summer!
We are in unprecedented times and uncharted territory. It’s been a seemingly endless number of days, weeks, months of being home and we are desperate for life to return to the way it was. But until this time comes (and hopefully it will soon!) we somehow need to keep our sanity. And in an ideal world, our kids need to be learning and having fun.
Research has shown that over the summer, kids lose a month on average, of the academic gains they have made during the previous school year. This is more likely to affect kids who don’t have the same access to enriching learning opportunities. As we head into summer, children have already missed 3 full months of school. I think most people would agree; online instruction can never replace what is gained by being immersed in numerous interactions with peers, teachers and materials, and the familiar environment of school.
We recognize that things are far from ideal right now and we understand the sometimes overwhelming stress that families and kids are experiencing from the ripple effect of this shutdown due to the pandemic.
Over the course of the summer, we will be devoting a series of blog posts to ideas for activities as well as links to local places to check out and online resources. Until then, here are a few suggestions:
Stick to a regular routine: Routines help to foster feelings of safety, security and predictability. Try to stick to regular mealtimes, bedtimes, and other routines throughout your day.
Read for at least 20 minutes a day. For young children, reading can be part of a bedtime routine. For older children; encourage them to read, or even read a book out loud together, or listen to an audio book together. This can foster a love of books and reading, improve reading performance, and can create shared meaningful memories.
Start a garden: Now is a better time than any to plant seeds and watch them grow. You can start with fresh herbs or vegetable seeds, plant them indoors and then transfer them to an outdoor planting area. This gets kids outside, teaches them about gardening and nature, and can offer an endless number of learning opportunities.
Go Berry Picking: There are several great U-Pick farms in our area! Check out:
Cobblestone Valley Farms: https://www.cobblestonevalley.com/
Grisamore Farms: http://www.grisamorefarms.com/. U-Pick Strawberries starts around June 20th.
Hall’s Hill Blueberry Farm: http://www.hallshillblueberryfarm.com/
Additional Resources in the surrounding area: http://cortland.cce.cornell.edu/agriculture/buy-local/u-pick-strawberry-farms
Explore nature: Get out and explore the beautiful nature trails, parks, and gorges around our area. Bring your bike, go for a run, swim in a creek, or take a brisk walk. Exercise and fresh air can do wonders for our spirit, maybe now more than ever before.
Keep a nature journal: Writing and drawing everyday serves more than one role. It can be engaging, fosters creativity, encourages the use and growth of vocabulary and can be healing, in and of itself. While on a walk, collect leaves, rocks, and listen to the birds.
Involve your kids in some cooking or baking: This can be both fun and can create teachable moments at the same time. Take out the measuring cups and spoons, and you are using math. Have your child find a recipe, and read it together. There are many teachable moments here, take advantage of them!
Practice some form of self-care: Last but definitely not least, make sure to take care of you. Think of some things that bring you joy or peace, and try and find ways of doing something kind for yourself each day. Some examples are: Exercise (running, walking, swimming), yoga or meditation, tending to a garden, creative pursuits of any kind, even keeping a gratitude journal.