Students experienced a monumental transition with the switch to online learning platforms this spring, and their experiences and levels of success have varied dramatically. Many kids (and parents!) have experienced Zoom fatigue and are eager for a break from online learning, but at the same time some parents and teachers are wondering if academic enrichment should continue through the summer, particularly for struggling learners. While some kids may need specialized academic support this summer, all kids will benefit from activities that encourage them to think critically and ask questions. To that end, we’ve put together a few ideas for fun family activities that will spark kids’ curiosity and keep their brains sharp this summer.
Puzzles and Podcasts. One of my favorite ways to spend a rainy afternoon with my son is to do a puzzle together while listening to a podcast. A favorite of ours is Brains On, a science podcast with a variety of topics that my seven-year old and I both find engaging. Sometimes we talk about what we are hearing and pause the podcast to look up answers to our questions, and sometimes we listen in relative silence as we piece together our latest puzzle; either way, I am always amazed at how much information my son retains from the podcasts, and the time together also feels special to him. Our “puzzles and podcasts” afternoons combine learning and relationship-building in a fun and relaxed family activity. Like the idea? Check out these family-friendly podcasts.
Big Word Challenge. A creative way to instill a love of language is to make learning new words a family game. Create a family word list—choose just a few words a week—and make it an ongoing challenge to use the words in conversation as often as possible. Even better: up the ante by choosing extra challenging words. When I did this with my middle school students, their vocabulary became quite sesquipedalian, and the energy in the classroom was logophilic! Keep it light and fun by modeling creative examples of how to use the words, i.e., “Don’t masticate with your mouth open,” or “These IKEA assembly directions are befuddling.” Remember that the goal is to enjoy the process of learning new words rather than to emerge with a long list of memorized vocabulary. For inspiration, try this word-of-the-day calendar or this weird and wonderful word list.
Family Book Club. Encourage reading this summer by choosing a few family reads. Decide together on a couple of books for a summer family book club, and get the audiobooks so you can listen together over breakfast, during car rides, or for a few minutes of quiet time in the evenings. If it’s hard to stay focused on an audiobook, try a graphic novel or a collection of short stories. The library apps Libby, Hoopla, and Overdrive have great selections of both ebooks and audiobooks, and you can get ideas for what to read by checking out New York Times children’s book reviews or Common Sense Media’s book reviews. Mix it up by incorporating nonfiction books, or make it a current events book club and choose news articles to read together. Good sources of age-appropriate news articles include Newsela and HuffPost Teen.
Dinnertime Debates. Research shows the many benefits of time together around the dinner table, including improved grades and mental health for kids and reduced stress for adults. This summer, try turning mealtime into an opportunity for kids to refine their rhetorical skills. In learning to argue effectively, kids must think critically, assert opinions, use evidence to support their ideas, and appreciate the nuances of seemingly dialectical ideas. Choose a discussion topic and let everyone around the table articulate an opinion, then ask follow-up questions that push kids to explain their rationale, provide examples, and consider different contexts and circumstances that might influence their stance. Add an additional challenge with a second round where everyone switches sides and argues the opposing view. If you need ideas for debate topics, Time for Kids is a great resource for elementary-aged kids, and ProCon.org has a wealth of topics for older debaters. For less controversial conversation starters, TableTopics question cards have rich discussion prompts.
Question Journal. Journals are generally seen as a forum for solitary self-reflection, but creating a shared journal is a great way to build connection. Let your child choose their own notebook or journal, and set up a system where the journal is passed back and forth between the child and a parent or caregiver—maybe it gets tucked under the person’s pillow, set on their bedside table, or placed in another designated spot. Start off with a question, and take turns writing responses and posing new questions. Journaling encourages kids to self-reflect and open up, which for many is easier to do in writing rather than face-to-face, and the journaling will also push them to ask thoughtful questions. A quick Google search will bring up plenty of ideas for journal prompts, but consider posing questions that are tailored to your child’s interests, relationships, and moods, such as, “What is the hardest part of the video game you were playing today?” “What is something that you wish I would do more of with you?” or “I noticed your mood shifted this afternoon–what happened?” If you’d prefer to purchase a journal that comes with prewritten prompts, I highly recommend Big Life Journal.