
The reason why I love working with children and discovering what their brains can do is that each one is different and dynamic and beautiful. Each child has their own quirky way of thinking and doing things and I love the puzzle of trying to put those pieces together to make a complete picture. The problem with learning here in the US is that we have a break during portions. I am all for time to be with family, explore the world, and to play more than you work, but when you are trying to develop something, stopping in the middle inherently slows things down. Most families are familiar with the process of their child’s brain going into sloth-mode over the summer. Research suggests that most kids lose about 2 months of skill set (not stall out, actually lose) during this time. This is why the first part of every school year is for review and refreshers. In the age of COVID-19, it may be that sloth-mode and the associated brain dump is already well under way. The inconsistencies in educational implementation since being sheltered at home are likely to impact the learning of children (and the sanity of their adults) most. So, I figured now might be the time to start the conversation about ways to keep those little brains sharp and growing over the summer (or at the end of a school year stalled out by virtual classes).
- Consider interests- all children have interests and most will not pick sitting and doing educational workbooks as a high interest activity. Whatever your child is really into is an area for potential growth. This does not mean letting your child do nothing but play video games. It means using this interest as a “deep dive” for learning. Use this area of focus to build in experiences. Maybe you can sign up for a virtual class just for fun that covers video game design. Maybe you explore virtual museum trips to feed the fire. Maybe you put your little chef in charge of meals for one day per week and see what meal planning, grocery shopping, and using measuring cups look like. Maybe you work with your social media obsessed child to develop and launch their own blog, vlog, or podcast. Interests are good because you don’t have to convince your child of their worth. Use nuggets of that interest to help your child expand on what they know. That is the essence of learning.
- READ!- one of the main reasons that brains go into hibernation during the summer is that kids don’t read enough. The summer reading list offered by the school is a great way to keep reading going, but is only really going to be helpful for that child who reads naturally as a hobby. Not all kids do. So, consider all reading to be good reading. Take your child to the library or bookstore and set them free. My favorite is the used bookstore version, where there is a wide range of reading options and genres. It doesn’t have to be a novel. It can be a book about baseball players, manuals on wiring security systems, craft guides for beading, a compendium of alternative music, or a series of graphic novels. The purpose is to foster a love of the written word. I personally don’t care that it be long, detailed, or at a child’s actual reading level. Interest should be the goal. Now is a great time to explore magazines, textbooks, manuals, tabletop picture books, and other materials that stimulate the willingness to turn the page.
- Camps? In the age of COVID, I am certain that summer camp options will be drastically impacted. When you are selecting such options, consider something that is less paid babysitting and more actual learning. This may mean a cooking class, painting lessons, ceramics course, virtual acting lessons, or a webinar that covers the basics of website design. Take your child’s interests into account versus picking the one that is most convenient. It may be more of a hassle but you are likely to get more bang for your buck regarding knowledge. If summer camps are out fully, consider an apprenticeship. Make contact with someone who works in a field that your child is interested in and see if they can shadow (with a mask on), get some guidance on summer courses, or can volunteer in some way that makes them a part of the team.
- Explore-learning can be most effective when it is applied. This means stepping away from the iPad and possibly even your home and doing something different. In the age of social distancing, this may mean being creative. Go on a nature scavenger hunt at your local hiking trail. Try an overnight camping trip, maybe even in your back yard. Consider letting your child pick a venue for travel and exploration and seeing what amazing things you can explore there. Let them determine the itinerary. For older children, give them a budget and see what they come up with for activities. This is an opportunity to work on planning, research, logistics, and to see first-hand the things that get talked about in classes. Catch bugs and complete a study to see how many legs each one has. Make a collection of pressed flowers. Learn how to tie knots together. Consider how best to plant your summer garden and let your child jump in on plant placement and digging. Learning is not just about data and figures. I would assert that real learning allows you to interact with the world and to develop the skills needed to be a part of it comfortably.
- Language based learning- consider this a time to try something that truly helps your brain stay flexible; learning a new language! Whether this means exploring options in Duo Lingo or another foreign language source, learning a second language builds cognitive flexibility. Consider educating your child’s ears through language. This may mean tracking down podcasts of interest. You could sign up for an audio option like Pinna, which offers radio shows, audio books, and audio story telling for a wide range of ages. Consider an audible book account that lets you listen to books. Children may benefit from listening to a book that is slightly above their independent reading level because of it’s variable content, more complex vocabulary, and wide range of interest areas. Kids spend some much time visually plugged in, working those auditory systems is essential.
- PLAY!- with a specialty in cognitive rehabilitation, I truly believe in the power of game play in learning. Dust off your board games and play with your children. Teach them a new card game. Buy a book of Perplexors or other problem solving games. There are so many essential skills needed to play a game. You need to be able to follow directions, keep track of who’s turn it is, count/tally scores, plan an approach, monitor the process of the game, and use social skills to negotiate, mediate, and to communicate. This is learning at its finest, I promise. Video games are not the same. I am talking about teaching your child to play Bocce Ball, croquet, horseshoes, cornhole, or any of a number of traditional outdoor games. My sister plays darts competitively and is able to compute numbers in her head like a champ. I love to play poker and the inherent understanding of odds and statistics is something that I work on with my kids. I like beating them too, but a sneaky math and logic lesson is good. If you play golf, take your child with you. If you have a Mah Jong player in the family, sit down and provide a lesson. Maybe its time to teach the brutal process of playing Pinochle by all those rules. Make it fun and you will make them learn and they won’t even see it coming!