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Summertime and the
living is easy. That is unless you are a parent trying to figure out how to
occupy your children over the long summer recess.
If you are a working
parent, you likely have the nagging concern about who will supervise your
children and what they’ll be doing while you are at work. For parents who are
home with their children, the concern can be how to motivate them to keep active
and involved.
Following are some
suggestions that families of elementary-age children have used with success
during the summer months to keep their children supervised, active and learning.
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At the beginning
of the summer, sit down with your children and talk about the types of fun
activities they would like to do. Gather up summer arts and music
schedules, information about local sporting events, pamphlets about local
points of interest and day trips (all available at local malls,
supermarkets, libraries and chambers of commerce) to jump start your
discussion. If there is preplanning involved, enlist your children’s
help in gathering necessary information, making reservations, preparing
lists and shopping for supplies.
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Make reading
part of your children’s summer routine and try making a trip to the
library a regularly scheduled part of your week. While at the library,
find out what exciting, enriching and free summertime opportunities are
available for your children.
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Start a summer
scrapbook. At the beginning of the summer, give children disposable
cameras and notebooks for recording information about summer activities
(vacations, camp, time spent with friends). Set aside a regular date (one
afternoon/evening each week) to create a page or two of summer memories
using their photos, text and any other mementos they have collected.
Inexpensive scrapbooks and other supplies (stickers, colored paper, glue
and other adhesives, photo corners) are readily available at craft and
discount stores. Scrapbooking is a wonderful way to help children preserve
their own history, to express themselves creatively and to practice such
skills as writing and drawing.
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Keep the
learning going. Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean learning has to
stop. There are many local colleges and service agencies that offer a wide
variety of programs for elementary students during the summer. Academic
enrichment programs range from sports camps or outdoor adventures to
journalism, music, art, computer skills, science and math programs and
more. For some great summer academic enrichment programs, visit the 2002
Edition of "Summer Programs at New York Colleges for Kids 8-18"
online at www.summeroncampus.com
or inquire at the local YMCA, Girls Incorporated, Boys & Girls Clubs
and other community agencies about the types of summer programs they
offer.
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For
permission to reprint this article, please contact the
Capital Region BOCES Communications Service at (518)
464-3960.
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