From the desk of Joline Riddle, Senior Director of Early Childhood Education
We understand – after a full school year of learning and playing, preschoolers and parents alike are ready for some relaxing summer fun. But even though structured learning has paused, ages zero through five are when a child’s brain is at its most flexible, making the summer an important time to keep the learning going.
Summertime learning can be fun and requires less planning and structure than you’d think. Read on to discover five ways you can seamlessly integrate educational opportunities into the summer so that when your child returns to school in the fall, they will be off to a fantastic start.
Take fun-filled, educational field trips as a family
Tucson is filled with free or low-cost parks, libraries, museums, and so much more! Planning an occasional afternoon field trip allows children to explore the community, build social skills, and learn new information.
Some ideas include:
Explore STEAM activities at home
STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) education is particularly important for preschool-aged children because it encourages creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, and communication. Especially engaging, STEAM activities are hands-on, allowing children to play as they learn and teaching them to ask questions, try new things, and question the world around them.
Here are a few ideas to get started, but the internet is full of ideas!
- build a solar powered s’mores oven
- collect materials from your home and build small boats (have a competition to see whose can hold the most pennies, marbles, or other small objects)
- make a mini volcano with baking soda and vinegar lava
Create fun sensory activities to help you child with their big emotions
Toddlerhood is full of, if not defined by, big feelings. And no matter how big, as educators and caretakers, our job is to ensure that children can develop the skills necessary to understand and healthily express these feelings.
One way to support emotional development is through the use of sensory toys. While you can purchase them, you can also easily find tutorials on how to make these toys at home, such as homemade stress balls or dough and sensory bins or bottles.
Sensory play empowers children to self-regulate their emotions, knowing that they are in control of their sensory experience. Just as with adults, sensory toys can have a calming effect on children, providing them with a safe outlet to manage anxiety or stress.
Go for a nature walk to spot the unique desert life native to Tucson
Desert summers are not the best for enjoying nature, but an early morning or after-dinner walk or hike is the best way to beat the heat and enjoy the outdoors.
On your walk, keep track of all the nature you see, like birds, lizards, bugs, squirrels, coyotes, javelinas, or plants such as saguaros, ocotillos, cholla, wildflowers… the list is endless!
See who can spot the most variety of wildlife, or track if you can spot a plant or animal for every letter of the alphabet.
Engage with loose parts play, making something completely new from something old or used!
In line with STEAM activities, gather items from around the house (empty cereal boxes, milk cartons, paper towel rolls, scraps of paper, tinfoil, yarn, large cardboard boxes, etc.) and let your imagination run wild!
Have each family member create something individually or create something as a family. Maybe you build a rocket ship to take you on a space adventure, or you open Tucson’s hottest new ice cream parlor, or you create “fairy houses” for the critters in your backyard. The sky is the limit!