Making Summer Learning Fun

The summer months offer many opportunities for exciting learning and play. Summer is a great time of year to plan adventures to the park, beach, pool, museum, or zoo, or to take walks around the neighborhood together as a family. These outings are ideal occasions for hands-on learning that children of all ages can enjoy.

Create interesting learning and bonding experiences for the whole family by trying these ideas and activities:

Shape Fans

These colorful fans help children learn shapes and colors while keeping themselves cool.

You will need:

Cardboard (old cardboard boxes or cereal boxes)

Construction paper (or white paper and markers)

Scrap paper

Pencils or crayons

Scissors

Glue

Popsicle sticks

Talk with your child about different shapes and have him/her practice drawing them on scrap paper.

Together, cut out circles, ovals, triangles, squares, rectangles, and pentagons from pieces of cardboard.

Cut out matching shapes from different colored construction paper (or use white paper that children have colored).

Match the cardboard and paper shapes and guide your child in gluing them together.

Glue a popsicle stick to the back of the cardboard for a handle.

Let dry for 1-2 hours.

Once dry, take turns fanning yourselves and have your child name the shapes and colors of each fan. Take them with you to the beach or on errands.

Sand Writing

These pieces of art combine letter and name recognition, writing skills, and nature.

You will need:

Construction paper (or white paper and markers)

Sand

Glue

Scrap paper

Pencil or crayon

Do this outside in the yard, on the sidewalk, on the front steps, or in the park to avoid getting sand in your house.

Have your child write her/his name in big letters on scrap paper. (you can guide your child's hand if he/she does not know how or write it and have him/her trace the letters)

Have your child practice writing her/his names on the scrap paper.

Write your child's name in glue (you can gently guide her/his hand if needed) on a piece of construction paper (or colored-in white paper).

Together, sprinkle dry sand over the glue until it is completely covered. Let it sit for 2 minutes and then shake off excess sand.

Let dry for 1 hour and hang it up at home.

Summer Reading

Baby Beluga (Raffi Songs to Read) by Raffi

This musical book about a baby Beluga whale teaches children about how animals depend on each other and of the importance of protecting the environment, all through a delightful song (Crown Books). Comes with CD! This book is available through our website by clicking on the Amazon link: www.parent-child.org.

Otto Goes to the Beach by Todd Parr

On his adventure to the beach, Otto, a lovable and silly dog, faces many situations that young children can identify with. Like Todd Parr's other books, this one is warm and reassuring (Megan Tingley). This book is available through our website by clicking on the Amazon link: www.parent-child.org .

123 to the Zoo
by Eric Carle

This counting book is the perfect introduction to the zoo. With Carle's colorful illustrations, children meet all of the animals they will see at the zoo and practice number recognition and basic counting (Philomel). This book is available through our website by clicking on the Amazon link: www.parent-child.org.

Recommended books and toys are available on our website by clicking on the Amazon.com link: www.parent-child.org

The Parent-Child Home Program

1415 Kellum Place, Suite 101

Garden City, New York 11530

www.parent-child.org

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