Sometimes it's challenging to balance summer fun with lessons, but it's not impossible. The key is to center FUN into any lesson you're teaching without overloading them with lessons. For instance, last month we went to a cookout at the beach, giving me the perfect opportunity to teach them more about summer safety. I used the opportunity to teach them more about sun safety by ensuring they understood the benefits of reapplying sunscreen as directed and the potential consequences of not doing so. We also covered water safety by using the buddy system and discussing the safe distance to swim. We took a train ride at a local park, allowing them to learn about electric trains.
This month, we will be attending a community block party featuring music, a kids' zone, food and drink vendors, as well as local businesses and assistance agencies. This will allow them to experience safety lessons, wise food and drink choices, as well as socialization skills while hearing a variety of music.
Next month's activities haven't been planned yet, but I would have a few ideas. I would like to see about a trip to learn how ice cream is made, a splash day to learn about waterworks, or maybe a trip to the local Farmers' Market to learn about eating seasonal produce for better health. No matter what activity we do, I try to incorporate fun into each lesson to keep it from feeling too much like school. In addition to these educational outings, we take part in our local library's summer reading challenge with weekly check-ins. This way, the kids can research topics they are interested in while working on their reading skills.