Your Child’s Brain Needs Exercise All Year

Are you afraid your child may be “losing it” this summer? I’m talking about the brain. Sure, your child is a smart kid, but summer is coming. Just like a muscle, the brain, when left un-exercised, will weaken and atrophy. “Use it or lose it” applies equally to the brain as it does to any other muscle group. Your child’s brain has much more to offer than reptilian responses. All those smarts will disappear if the brain “muscle” is not flexed.

Let’s compare two athletes. Athlete A trains in her particular sport ten months out of the year and then takes two months off to relax. Athlete B trains throughout the entire year. When Athlete A starts training again after the two months sabbatical, she’s going to notice a discouraging amount of sluggish muscles and difficult recovery time. Athlete B, on the other hand, will maintain her athleticism, even improving every day.

Imagine this same scenery only this time we’ll call them Student A and Student B. It’s easy to see where this is going. The same thing will happen to our students as our athletes. If Student A puts down her books for two months every year, she’ll have some catching up to do when she returns to her studies. Student B is way ahead of the curve by just maintaining her study schedule.

How do we help our children exercise their brain this summer? We know about physical exercise, but what is brain exercise? Creating fun, imaginative projects that provide challenge and stimulate thought is the way to keep your child’s mind active and bright. There are many ways to create an atmosphere this summer that will entice your child to want to learn. Here are just a few examples of areas you’ll want to cover in your summer learning program.

Reading Skills – If your local library has a summer reading program, sign up. These programs are excellent ways to surround your child with brain-flexing fun. Normally, these programs are free, although some may have a supplies charge on occasion. Bookstores often have reading programs, as well. You may also want to start your own “junior book club” at home with your children and their friends. Create a reading schedule for the summer and include prizes when children reach certain levels.

Writing Skills – If your child has a favorite book series, like ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ or ‘Clarice Bean’ you may want to offer a writing challenge. Have your child write the next book in the series. Provide a notebook and help your child write out the outline. Then encourage your child to let their imagination soar. This is not for a grade, so tell them to relax and enjoy!

Math Skills – If simple arithmetic skills are not maintained, they can be very difficult to recall. Here’s one area where you can have a scrumptious time honing your skills. Gather in the kitchen for these lessons and dig in! Haul out the ingredients for your child’s favorite dinner, cookie, cake, or smoothie and start mixing and blending. Double or triple the recipe and bring out the pencil and paper. Have your child do the calculating and the measuring. When the work is done, you’ll be happy to know your youngster is learning new math skills and your child will be happy with the cookies coming out of the oven!

Problem Solving and Logic Skills – You can’t really teach children how to problem solve out of a book. They must learn it for themselves. And, it’s a skill that has to be learned over and over again, and expanded on. Card games and board games are great ways for a child of any age to learn about strategy and problem solving. Keep your child’s problem solving skills honed by playing games like Sorry, Go Fish and Uno with your little ones, and Cribbage and Poker with the older ones. Not only is the brain flexed, but it’s fun, too!

Art Skills – Find a great book with famous works of art at your library, bookstore, or resale shop. Page through the book with your child as you discuss which pieces they like and why. Set out water colors, chalk, crayons, modeling clay, and colored pencils alongside big sheets of paper and have your youngster try their hand at recreating the objects and pictures they liked, or create something new using their own imagination. Visit museums to discuss artwork in a variety of forms and ask your child what they think art is.

Music Skills – Choose a little time each day to listen to music while relaxing. Discuss the style of music you are hearing; classical, jazz, opera, blues, rock and roll, country, reggae, musicals, etc. If you have a music store in your town, they may offer short courses in their store so a child may try out an instrument they have been interested in without a big commitment. Take in free summertime concerts in the park, church socials, or other gatherings available in your community.

It’s summertime and the living is easy. Unfortunately, that easy living may have your smart kid’s brain getting lazier and lazier. Perk up those neurons with projects that make learning fun. School will be back in session before long and your children need to be at their best. Plan activities that are challenging and exciting to keep your child bright and ready for the coming school year.

When you are looking for Summertime activities make your first stop ShowKidsTheFun.com where you’ll find crafts, activites, and ideas for all sorts of fun things to make your vacation time special.

Related posts:

1. Home School Math Book: To Advance The Education Of Your Child
2. How Past Test Papers And Effective Note Taking Can Help You Succeed At Tests
3. Home schooling Picking the Best Summer Camp
4. Information on Homeschooling: Do I Have What It Takes To Teach My Child?
5. Home Schooled Kids Need Summer Camp

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