How to Keep Toddlers Learning During Summer Vacation
Just because school is out doesn’t mean your kids should stop learning. In the case of toddlers who have yet to start school, summer vacation can be a great way to plan and prepare for the school years ahead. Even the simplest of activities can be turned into a learning experience if you are ready to put in a little effort.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
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Ask your child’s school if they offer summer programs for students. Some schools open these programs to pre-K children that are enrolled in the school for the next year. Summer programs are often a combination of sports and academics, which in the case of toddlers may be learning to sing the alphabet song or counting to ten.
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Visit your local library for story time. Some chain bookstores, such as Barnes & Noble, also offer story time. While this may run throughout the year, the sessions are often more frequent (or longer) in summer and many allow parents to actually drop off their kids and pick them later, rather than having them stick around.
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Enroll your toddlers in summer programs at local museums. In large cities such as New York or Los Angeles, you will have access to children’s museums, which are already in themselves a great way to learn and have fun at the same time. In smaller cities, museums may have a specialized children’s program running alongside adults’ workshops or lectures.
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Organize your own learning experience. Visit farms, go camping or take the kids hiking. While toddlers may not be able to enjoy the outing as much as an older kid would, it can still be a great learning experience if you prepare the trip in advance. For example, you can talk about farm animals, practice writing their names or discuss what they eat or how they live.
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Search for activities online. Websites such as the Sylvan Learning Center offer resources and information on how to make the best of your summer vacation and helping your kids learn in the process. Examples of activities you can do with toddlers include taking virtual tours, preparing for reading, creating your own books or stories and improving memory or concentration with games.
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Tips & Warnings
Learning doesn’t have to involve repeating the alphabet or practicing how to write numbers or letters. Learning about the environment, the sciences or the world around you is equally important.
