The end of the school year is just around the corner. Many students (and teachers!) have been counting down the days and cannot wait for the start of summer vacation. Some children likely have mixed emotions about the school year ending because they love school and spending time with their friends and are also excited about summer activities. The end of the school year is a good opportunity to check in with your child and to reflect on the school year, celebrate everything they have accomplished, find out what they are looking forward to about the summer and talk with them about how they are feeling as the school year comes to a close. The information they share during that conversation can help you respond to the variety of emotions they may be experiencing over the next few weeks.
For many children the school day provides not only structured learning opportunities but also a schedule and a routine that is beneficial to them. If you have a child that benefits from having a schedule to follow and knowing what to expect, consider ways that you can plan out daily/weekly activities during summer break. Just because the school year is coming to an end doesn’t mean that learning stops over the summer. What are ways both formally and informally that you can provide for your child to be enriched over the summer? What are the skills such as reading that they can continue over the summer? One idea is to schedule regular times to go to the library for your child to pick out books to read over the summer. Another idea is to let your child help prepare a meal providing an opportunity to follow directions and to even do some math.
In addition to the structured learning opportunities and a set schedule during the school year, children also benefit from playing and social interactions with their friends. What are ways this summer that you can create space for your child to play, explore their imagination and to have social interactions with their friends? The summer break provides an opportunity for kids to relax and take a break from the day to day school schedule. Ideas of things to do close by include Movies in the Park at Town Common, NC Estuarium in Washington, Fossil Museum in Aurora, Neuseway Nature Park, and Lions Water Park in Kinston. Or, stay right at home and choose items off this checklist of 100 things to do in the summer: https://happyhooligans.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/100-Fun-Things-To-Do-At-Home-This-Summer.compressed.pdf
