It’s not your imagination:

children can experience some learning loss

during the summer months. Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can
do to

keep your child’s mind active and engaged

until school starts back up again in September. Here’s how:

1. Get outdoors

There’s more to the outdoors than just physical fitness. Stimulate your
child’s brain by taking them on a nature walk and challenging them to
identify plants, birds, or other aspects of the great outdoors. If hiking
through the woods isn’t your thing, take them on a historic walking tour
around Philadelphia.

2. Rainy-day activities

Rainy, indoor days are inevitable during the summer months. But instead of
letting them spend the day in front of the TV, challenge your child to a
game or give them a puzzle that involves problem-solving. Not only will
this make being cooped up inside the house more bearable, it also creates
an opportunity to develop and refine logic skills and improve socialization
— especially if you invite some of your child’s friends over.

3. Trips to a museum

If you can’t stand to be in the house on a rainy (or particularly hot) day,
a museum is an excellent alternative to the movies. Whether it’s the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Franklin Institute, or the Please Touch Museum, a day
spent at a learning institution is one of the best experiences you can give
your child. As you guide them through the museum, have them read all the
information associated with each exhibit. You can even pick up a book at
the gift shop on the way out and use that as a continued education tool for
the rest of the summer.

4. Pick an educational summer program

An educational experience doesn’t always have to depend on you. There are
plenty of organized summer activities and camps designed to inspire and
unleash your child’s creativity. A woodworking class, a nature camp, or
even an introduction to 3D printing are all great ways to keep your child’s
mind active.

5. Work with their hands

Summer is the perfect time to do more kinetic work with your child.
Building a sandcastle at the beach, playing with clay, or using an
old-fashioned hammer and nails to construct a birdhouse can all offer
children an opportunity to flex their minds. To inspire even more
creativity, challenge your child to design something from their imagination
and help them build it. This can help them use a number of very important
skills that involve critical thinking.

Summer break may be a time for fun and relaxation, but that doesn’t mean
your child has to stop learning. These five activities can help keep their
mind active until school begins again in the fall.