by Jaimi Bird, M.A., CCC-SLP
Summer break is upon us! Are your kids excited to have a break from their daily school routine? Summer break gives kids and parents a sense of relief and excitement to have another year of school finished. It also gives kids a lot more free time. Summer is usually a bit more low-key, but giving kids some structure will keep the whole family happy.
The key to a great summer is to find the right balance of free-time and structure that works best for your family. Here are some easy ways to build structure into the summer months.
Set a routine to each day. If each day has a familiar framework, you will hear less, “I’m bored”, coming from your kids. Keep a family calendar so your kids an see what events are planned. Find a balance that includes:
Chores. One strategy is to keep a white board of daily chores. Let the kids help create the list.
Exercise and Activity. Encourage kids to brain storm a bucket list of fun activities that keep them moving. Plan to do one each day! Go to the pool. Take a walk. Go on a bike ride. See how many area parks you can visit over the summer . . .
Reading and Learning. Exercising the brain is important too! Read— visit your local library. Try a logic puzzle. Practice math facts. Draw. Make music. The opportunities are endless!
Make this summer successful right from the start. Give your kids a bit of structure to their days and provide them with fun and engaging activities. You can help your kids stay sharp over the summer months.
If you would like to add the structure of summer learning, at Enrichment Therapy & Learning Center we have summer programming to give your child a boost in their reading, math and social skills too! Learn more about our Des Moines area programs here, and our Iowa City area programs here.
Jaimi Bird is a Speech-Language Pathologist at Enrichment Therapy and Learning Center. ETLC has locations in the Iowa City, IA area and Des Moines, IA area. We provide individual speech language therapy and tutoring as well as offer a unique group, the Language Enrichment Academic Program (LEAP). At Enrichment Therapy and Learning Center our passion is to help kids achieve effective communication skills and gain academic success. Contact us for more information on how we can help your child succeed.
info@enrichmenttherapies.com
740 Community Drive, Unit A
North Liberty, IA 52317
319-626-2553
infodm@enrichmenttherapies.com
5530 West Pkwy, Suite 300
Johnston, IA 50131
515-419-4270
0 Comments