While summer offers a much-anticipated (and much-needed) break from our usual routine, we can often get lost in the unscheduled days. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of rest. Everyone needs it, especially after such a strange past school year.
But at the same time, we don’t want all the hard work put in during the school year to go to waste and for our children to lose their ability to learn. To keep the mind active, we need practice. Indeed, learning should be for all the time, not just for weekdays during the school year!
To help you and your family ensure this summer break will not also be a brain break, here is a simple plan of engaging summer activities for you to follow.
Read and Write Every Day
Reading and writing are two of the most valuable activities to do to ensure the brain stays engaged.
If you’re looking for book ideas for this summer, take a look at the books in our recent summer reading list post. The summer is also a great time to get read together as a family. Many families enjoy taking turns reading aloud from an easy-to-read novel like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe or The Hobbit. Or, everyone in your family could read just the dialogue from one character, acting out the story like a play.
In addition, whether it’s taking the time to compose a short story, a poem, or just setting aside a moment each day to journal, writing is one of the best ways to keep the mind active this summer. And if you have younger students, then be sure to practice writing, drawing, or painting to keep those fine-motor skills developing properly.
Memorize a New Bible Verse Each Week
You don’t want to forget about memorization just because it’s summer break! Memorization exercises are another fantastic way to ensure the mind stays active. And what better memorization exercise to do than to memorize Scripture!
Depending on what level your students are at, you can memorize just one or two Bible verses or a whole passage. If you’re unsure what Scripture to memorize, the Psalms are a great place to begin.
Having your students memorize Bible verses not only keeps their brains engaged, it also helps them understand the Lord and their faith better.
Study Nature by Spending Time Outside
Seize every opportunity the summer provides to experience the wonder of God’s creation with your children. Get outside on those hot, clear days!
Whether while digging and planting in your backyard garden or walking at a local nature park, your students can sketch and take notes of the plants, flowers, bugs, and animals they come across. Summer is also the perfect time to start a leaf collection from the plentiful trees!
Travel and Explore
With days off, summer is the time to travel and explore the world around you! This doesn’t have to be to a country overseas or even to another state. Take small day trips to the mountains, to the beach, to nearby cities or towns. Often, there are many close-by places that we have yet to set our eyes upon.
For more local adventures, you and your family can explore your own city’s history and art museums, parks, zoo, and farmer’s market.
Get Physical Exercise
It’s not just the physical exercise that helps keep the mind active; it’s also the confidence and creativity that come along with exercise that are essential to the learning process.
On these hot summer days, go swimming, play baseball or soccer, ride bikes, and just generally run around. Especially for younger students, getting physical exercise is necessary to develop their gross motor skills. As they run, jump, and climb they will become more confident in their abilities. How can this confidence not translate to the schoolroom?
Join a Summer Camp
Sign your students up for a summer camp in your area! Many churches offer Christ-centered summer camps like Awana and VBS for children to have fun and learn about God. This is a great way to socialize during the summer, to get exercise, and of course to keep the mind active and engaged.
Because of the pandemic, summer camps in your area may be shut down. If this is the case for you, check out our Explorers Digital Camp! It’s an entirely online camp with videos and activities designed for all ages, so that the family can enjoy learning and spending time together during the summer.
Let Your Children Have a Say
Even at young ages, children possess definite ideas about what constitutes a perfect summer. Whether it’s going out for ice cream, spending all day at the pool, or playing mini golf—let your children have a say in how they spend their days off.
A great way to do this is to create a list together as a family of all the things everyone wants to do this summer. Then, when you find that your family is getting into a summer slump, choose to do an activity on your list. Of course, be sure to include some of the activities listed above to keep the mind active this summer!
