As we settle into the summer, and with the July 4th holiday behind us, the newness and excitement of the end of the school year have likely worn off. Chances are some child, somewhere, someday soon, is going to tell you they’re bored and expect you to don your Activities Director hat, pop open your umbrella and conjure up a Mary Poppins-worthy adventure. If you’re feeling uninspired and need summer learning activities that check off all the boxes – fun, educational, easy, and inexpensive – these ideas are sure to make for a memorable summer for all!
Is Summer Learning Loss Real?
So, why educational activities? Why not just let them play video games or watch TV all day? Well, you could. I don’t have any hard and fast rules about screen time; after all, I earn an income from my computer and my phone, so who am I to judge? And my 12-year-old is obsessed with programming and coding, so there’s that. But you do you. You may not want your child’s nose buried in their device all day long. I respect that.
Parents are continually inundated with advertisements, articles, and advice from well-meaning educators encouraging them to help keep summer learning loss at bay, by signing kids up for this class or that workshop.
The truth of the matter is that we truly don’t know as much as we think we do about learning loss over the summer months. Research from 2019 indicates as much. Summer learning loss really may not be as big of a concern as it’s been made out to be. Some would further argue that if something is truly learned, and not just memorized until test time, is it possible to actually forget it? It’s me, I’m “some.”
But whichever camp you’re in, you’re still likely interested in keeping your kids engaged and learning throughout the summer months. If that’s the case, these simple summer learning ideas are inexpensive, ideal for a variety of ages, and will pique your child’s sense of adventure and curiosity.
Simple Summer Learning Activities for Kids
- Build a solar oven:
Our Lowcountry summer days are ideal not only for beach days and boating. If you’re staying home for the day, a solar oven for S’mores might be a fun way to pass the time. Alternatively, you could also make a solar hot dog cooker using a potato chip can. - Nature journaling for all ages:
A simple hike in nature, or a trip to the beach along with a sketchbook, colored pencils/watercolors make for a fun, meditative and educational activity, no matter your child’s age. Just adjust expectations and supplies accordingly.
- Schedule weekly library trips:
Charleston area libraries are a great place to spend a day any time of year, but a special respite during the summer months. With special programs, free kids’ lunches at select branches throughout the week, and a multitude of upgrades and renovations in the works, they’re a great community resource. - Read aloud to one another:
One of our favorite things to do, before my now 12-year-old was an independent reader, was to read chapter books aloud. Some older kids enjoy read-alouds beyond the age of 12 (mine does not), so if you can get away with it, the benefits are many. Read-aloud advocate and author, Sarah MacKenzie touts these benefits on her podcast and website.
- Read some poetry:
There are countless poetry books for kids at the library, so while you’re there, pick out a few that appeal to you and your child. One of our favorite things to do in our elementary homeschool days was poetry tea time. We’d read poetry and eat snacks together. Which brings us to . . . - Get cooking and baking with your kids:
As a homeschooling family, routine was key in those early elementary years. Much in the style of Waldorf education, we’d have soup day, bread or baking day, and of course, poetry tea time day as noted above. We would pair baking day with poetry tea time — a welcomed part of our routine that brought on lots of laughter, conversation, connection, and learning.
- Storytelling with LEGO stop motion:
For a while, between the ages of seven and 10, my youngest was obsessed with LEGO stop-motion videos; so much so, that he began creating his own with my phone. There are several Youtube tutorials, books, and kits that teach kids how to create their own stop-motion movies. - Follow the International Space Station:
I’m a bit of a space nerd, I have to admit. I happened to pass that nerdiness along to my youngest. I have space apps on my phone that track when the International Space Station (ISS) is flying overhead. It’s fun to run out and see if we can spot the big bright white light as it passes over our house. Yes, I’m sure my neighbors think we’re that weirdo family. It’s fine; we’re fine.
- Climb a tree:
Exercise is important, even in the hot, summer months. But who wants to get all sticky and sweaty in the sweltering heat? Not only can climbing trees help boost your child’s confidence, but it can also stimulate your child’s vestibular system for balance and spatial awareness. Hampton Park in downtown Charleston has great trees for climbing!
Summer learning doesn’t have to be tedious or relegated to bookwork only. Although, settling in with a quality workbook, some brownies, and a nice cold glass of lemonade won’t hurt anything. But by incorporating simple summer learning activities that involve the whole family, your kids likely won’t even see the “educational” side of things, they’ll just know they’re having fun with family.
