Five Simple ways to prevent summer Learning Loss through play

Create cozy areas
Throw a blanket or sheets over a table, add some cozy pillows, stuffed animals, twinkle lights, and a bunch of BOOKS! Even if your child isn't reading independently, this area of your house is sure to be a hit. Children love to look at pictures in books and tell themselves a story and by making books a part of the fun, they are more likely to pick up new books and ask you to read.

Older children who are already reading love the cozy space too! Get them involved in the construction of your cozy reading nook! It's a great way to make space in their lives for BOOKS!

Practice problem solving with recycled materials.
Set up a table in your home with a table covering and lots of items from your recycling bin. Remember to include some scissors, glue, a ruler, and tape. Ask your child(ren) to make a castle, a boat, a house for a small doll, a pet carrier, or another object and watch the problem solving happen.
Kids love this open-ended activity that is so easy to set up!

For older children add additional supplies and challenges. For example, create a castle that floats or a pet carrier with a working door lock. Additional challenges add to the fun for older children. Encourage siblings or friends to work together to create their objects.
If allowed, children can research materials or structures online or at the library to assist them in making their creations. 
This activity is great for a rainy day too!

Get outdoors!
Get down low and find some bugs! Children can draw or take a photo of each one they find then go to the library or research on the internet to figure out the names of each insect.
Count your steps! Use a step counting app or your voice and count how many steps a walk around your neighborhood is. Keep a log each day and compare the numbers. Discuss why some days may have different numbers of steps.
Invent a new game with a ball. Use any ball and invent a new game like toss the ball in the bucket. If you make it in you have to spin around. Get creative!

Measurement with mud....
...or dirt or sand. Take some kitchen or dollar store measuring cups and spoons to a sand box or flower bed.  Children will have fun scooping up the sand with the cups. Ask them how many scoops of a smaller cup fit into a larger cup. 
Practicing measurement and math in this way is fun and educational. Playing with sand or dirt is very calming for a child's nervous system too. 
Add some water to the mix and ask questions about why some measurements change.

Print and play!
Play a fun print and play reading comprehension game! Farm Animal Find It was designed to get kids moving and learning at the same time. Children go on a scavenger hunt to find images based on written prompts that you hang with tape around your house or classroom. With each picture prompt is a collection of stamps that can be glued to a record sheet that is included.  Everything you see in the image is included in this fun set. All you have to do is download the PDF and print!
​(Directions are included. )

Download

Check out all of my print and play activities and lessons on my Curriculum page! Happy Summer Learning!