Learning Through Play: Summer Activities That Build Smarts
The school year might be coming to an end, but your little one’s education doesn’t have to hit pause. In fact, summer break is the perfect time for your child to recharge, explore and learn through doing what they do best — playing!
Play naturally promotes healthy brain development because it allows children to tap into creativity and imagination while also exercising cognition, physical movement and emotional intelligence. Whether it’s organized or a little more chaotic, play can boost skills in a range of areas, including reading, math, problem solving and collaboration.
All of that growth will give your child an important advantage in the classroom, from kindergarten through high school and then postsecondary learning.
To help you out, we consulted a few experts and came up with these fun games, activities and fresh ideas to keep your kids learning all summer long:
Language and Comprehension.
- A to Z Scavenger Hunt. This game is great outdoors or on the inevitable rainy day. The goal is simple — find 26 items, each one starting with a letter of the alphabet. To up the stakes, you can set a timer or award silly prizes.
- Family Tree. Help your child research their family’s genealogy through photos, an ancestry website or interviewing an older relative. Feature the family tree and interesting family stories in a personalized scrapbook that they can share with other family members.
- Vocabulary Hopscotch. Grab your sidewalk chalk and head outside. Draw your hopscotch squares and fill them in with grade-appropriate vocabulary words. Players toss a pebble and hop to their squares, defining words as they go.
STEM.
- Sum Swamp. This board game is a fun way for kids 5 and older to master addition and subtraction. Players race through a variety of math challenges, meeting zany swamp creatures on their trek.
- Oobleck. Teach your child about the states of matter, viscosity and measuring when making a slimy batch of this fun non-Newtonian substance, which is one that acts like a fluid when at rest and a solid when pressure is applied. All it takes is cornstarch and water — food coloring and scented oil are optional, but super fun — to get started.
- Minecraft. Some video games really can build brain power. With this wildly popular video game, your child can build entire ecosystems and worlds, explore the diverse roles of different animal species, analyze changing weather patterns, and come to understand the basic concepts of cause and effect. Set a timer so they don’t overdo screen time.
Problem Solving and Collaboration.
- Blindfold Obstacle Course. Set up a fun, slightly challenging obstacle course in your backyard. One player wears a blindfold at the starting line while the other player issues directions from nearby. It’s a great way to teach the value of clear communication and active listening.
- Stardew Valley. The premise of this well-rounded video game is that you have inherited your grandfather’s dilapidated farm and must start a new life. Players manage money, time and crops, raise animals, become part of a community and start families. Kids can play solo or with others, and it’s aimed at ages 10 and older.
- 20 Questions. This old-school gem is perfect for a family road trip. One player thinks of a person, place or thing, and the rest of the group must ask 20 yes-or-no questions to figure out the answer.
As you navigate the summer, remember that learning and play go hand-in-hand. When kids are playing hard, they’re also learning well. The key is tweaking your games and activities to be age- and skill-appropriate for optimal success!
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