Do you have any suggestions for ways to make the summer a good one since the end of the school year is rapidly approaching. - For Some School Work
Answer: Children will soon be running out of the building with glee on the last day of school. However, the long, leisurely summer days for children of doing nothing special are rapidly disappearing. Nowadays, children are filling their vacation time with organized educational and recreational activities and jobs.
While we definitely support children having some structure to their summer days, we also think it is extremely important for them, especially younger children, to have considerable free time for playing and just lazing around. For in many ways, unstructured time teaches children so much, from how to avoid boredom to taking responsibility for filling their own time beyond television and video games.
Nevertheless, in these days of more and more emphasis on academic achievement, parents need to make plans for including some educational activities in their children's summer days. Children with serious academic problems who are working below grade level need a steady diet of formal help throughout the summer. This can be in the form of attending summer school or remedial classes at a learning center or college or having a tutor. Think about using a neighborhood teen who is a good student as a tutor. The teen might be able to relate well to your child. Right now is the time to consult with your children's teachers about the specific help that is needed. Summertime educational efforts can be miracle-workers for struggling children.
It isn't just weak students who can benefit from formal educational programs - so can gifted students who might be challenged for the first time and all the other students who would profit from enriching educational experiences at zoos, museums and parks. The problem is that all these programs fill up fast, so children need to be enrolled in them early. Parents also need to remember that education goes beyond book learning. Summer is a great time for picking up and refining skills, from playing the violin to hitting a baseball.
Don't forget about your teens. Encourage them to broaden their horizons as well as build their college resumes by working, volunteering, traveling and attending college summer programs. If they need ideas, they can discover a wide range of great things to do by reading "The 500 Best Ways for Teens to Spend the Summer" (The Princeton Review), which tells about programs, from working on a conservation crew in a national park to backpacking in the Himalayas. Older teens who plan to go to college can use some time to prepare for admissions tests, select a school and get a head start on applications.