Click the play button on the video window to the right to see the show segmentSummer's almost over and you're probably hearing the famous words "I'm bored" from your little ones.
Primrose Schools recommends encouraging imaginative play and having a plan in place to keep children's minds engaged during the summer months.
Studies show that without stimulation, children can lose up to 60 percent of what they learned during the school year.
"It's important to keep children's minds active during the summer, but it doesn't take an expensive activity or big vacation to capture their attention," said Dr. Mary Zurn, Vice President of Education for Primrose. "After all, imagination is free."
Summer is a great time to encourage children to let their imaginations soar. School schedules can sometimes be demanding and time for less structured, imaginative activities is often scarce.
The freedom of summer gives children large blocks of uninterrupted time to create projects of their own choosing that can last several days or even longer.
Here are 10 ideas parents can use to keep young minds active during the summer months:
1. Beat the Boredom Jar: At the beginning of the summer, sit down with your family and brainstorm a list of activities that can be done alone or that you can enjoy doing together.
Encourage your children to share their own ideas and help you decorate and label a simple jar as the family "Boredom Buster Jar."
They'll feel more involved in the project and more likely to think this is a "neat" idea, if they participate in the creation and idea generation. Next, write everyone's ideas down on slips of paper and as a group decide which ones should go in the jar.
Anyone in the family can pull any idea out of the jar to fight the summertime boredom blues.
2. Stories Alive: It sounds too simple, but reading is one of the most important ways to keep young minds engaged during the summer. Make reading even more fun by finding ways to bring the stories to life.
For example, in the book Roxaboxen by Alice McLerran, children create a make-believe town in the desert out of rocks, boxes, and their imaginations. Read the book with your children and then challenge them to create their own town with materials they find in the backyard.
3. Art Treasure Chest: You'll need to gather basic art supplies-child safe scissors, glue, markers, tape, and construction paper.
Put them in a special box along with empty oatmeal boxes and paper towel rolls, colorful magazines, and bits of aluminum foil. Occasionally add a special surprise like chalk, stickers, or stamp pads so there's always something new for the children to find.
Even if you normally have these supplies around the house, it's fun for children to know that the Art Treasure Chest is just for them. They'll probably have some good ideas of other household items that can be recycled to fuel their creative energies.
4. Family Performances: Break out old clothes or costumes and encourage children to make up characters and create a play to act out. They are the directors, actors, and producers.
They can also make musical instruments out of pots/pans, wooden spoons, empty canisters and have a parade; or everyone can play along to your family's favorite songs. Record or video the performances, and enjoy the replay. You'll also be capturing a bit of family history everyone will enjoy for years to come.
5. Fort Building: Children love to build all kinds of structures--from small towns to large towers. Constructing forts or tents is an activity that can keep children focused and problem solving for hours. All the items you need can be found around the house-some chairs, cushions, blankets… and of course adult supervision.
