I am hoping that you can give me some ideas of activities that my children can do this summer. -- Searching
Answer: Since school is probably out for your children, you should immediately start looking for some out-of-school summer activities for them. You may discover that many programs are full because parents enrolled their children in them much earlier.
Try to find things that will expand your children's horizons. You want to find things that are different from what they have been doing all year in the classroom, unless they have found an activity very appealing. Activities that really pay dividends are those that enhance their socialization skills.
Begin by checking with your local school district to see what programs are available. However, with budget cutbacks, you may not find the usual selection. The next place to look is in the community to see what is offered at local libraries, museums, zoos, parks, colleges, 4-H clubs, scouting groups, churches and youth organizations. And don't forget family activities, from gardening to shared hobbies. Once you have found all the possibilities, give the list to your children so you can select together the ones that appeal to them.
On the education side, it is possible to find programs at colleges and learning centers. This is an important thing to do if your children struggled in any subject. You are probably too late to enroll them in most school programs. Be sure to look for fun educational activities under "Resources" on our Web site.