Plan Ahead to Make Summer Vacation Educational

The school year is starting to wind to a close and that means your children will soon be home for the summer. One of the best ways you can prepare them for another year at one of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's top private schools is by continuing their education throughout the summer. A little planning on your part can encourage your child to learn all year long!

Family Calendar: The easiest way to keep your family on schedule is to display a family calendar in a prominent location. The calendar should span from the last day of school to the first day of class in the fall. This calendar can include camp, family vacations, swimming lessons and anything else you and your children plan to do this summer. It will give your children something to look forward to and mediate scheduling conflicts before they happen.

Summer Camp Getaway: Summer camps are a fun way children can get out of the house and have new experiences. Before picking a camp, consider both your needs and those of your child. Children six years of age and younger tend to be uncomfortable spending days and nights away from home. If you plan to send your young one to a sleepaway camp for the first time, try one that's local. That way if your child feels too uncomfortable staying, you will be close by. Work with your child when choosing the camp; it will keep them involved in the process and may make their experience more successful.

Family Vacation Getaways: Preparing for a family vacation is one of the best ways to teach your children about the importance of lifelong learning. Let your children act as "junior travel agents." Allow them to compare flight prices, research the area you are visiting and find tourist attractions that will appeal to the whole family. If you are visiting a new state, have your child research the state bird, flower, motto and more. They can even make a brochure for the family to use during the trip. If the family is taking an international vacation, help your student learn some phrases in the country's native language. Give your child a map and have them find the destination; then measure the distance and help them convert it to miles. This is an easy way for them to get an idea of how long the trip will take.

You can also incorporate what they learn in elementary school or middle school with activities on your trip. If they studied the Civil War last year and will study the battle of Gettysburg next year, visit Gettysburg. When the topic is introduced in class, your student will have a personal connection to the material and will remember it better. When you get home, help your child create a trip scrapbook. Include pictures the child took, postcards, brochures, menus and everything you picked up along the trip. Have your child write a small description of the item and decorate the pages together.

Plan for "In Between Days": There will be days between basketball camp, swimming lessons and family vacations - don't miss these opportunities to help your child learn. Consider creating a reading list, helping your child learn a new language or doing other small projects to keep them busy through the summer months.

And don't forget---ask your child's teacher for additional ways to help bridge the summer learning gap. You will be glad you did!

By planning such summer activities, you are better preparing your children for the school year ahead and are encouraging a lifelong love of learning.