Summer vacations offer many stimuli and have significant benefits for the development of children. Parents can seize even the slightest opportunity to learn, to teach their children and to enrich the world of their experiences. We suggest you some simple and easy solutions for a creative and pleasant summer.
The beach game has the characteristic of entertainment, as it satisfies the child's need for free action, for movement, adventure, experimentation and relaxation. The most fun for kids on the beach is swimming, but that alone is not enough. The child's stay on the beach for a long time will tire him and you should be ready to offer him alternatives.
Η exploring new things fascinates all children. Encourage the child to observe, explore and describe what he sees (the sea, the waves, the beach, the stones, the shells, the rocks, the boats, etc.), talk to him and give him the relevant information. . At the same time, assign the child various activities such as finding stones and shells and taking advantage of the material he will collect for summer crafts at home.
The toys in the sand offer suitable opportunities for the development of imagination and ball games offer joy and fun while children exercise and develop the their motor skills. Get organized and provide the child with the necessary tools so that he can dig and create castles, houses, lakes, mountains and anything else he can imagine. You can even write on the sand with a piece of wood and play various things word games.
But summer is not just about beach games. A trip to the mountains gives children the opportunity to get close to nature. It is important to stimulate all senses of children. Ask them to observe and describe the colors around them, ask them to close their eyes and try to hear the different sounds, the birds but also to smell the scents of nature.
During the day you are given many opportunities (shopping, cooking, walking or in the garden) to practice descriptive and narrative discourse. All these activities help in the exchange of views with the child, in the acquisition of knowledge and in vocabulary enrichment.
Other important excursions that offer knowledge and experience to children is a visit to an aquarium, a zoo, a museum, theater, cinema and art events where children have the opportunity to learn about the history and tradition of their place.
You can also cultivate and enrich your child's vocabulary by reading stories, fairy tales and chatting with him about events that happened during the day. Give the child the opportunity to read a story to you. Do it in the yard, in the park, on the beach or wherever you have the opportunity. Books during the holidays should be entertaining. The book should be a means of joy and fun and complement the carefree summer holidays.
Encourage the child to make one "Summer vacation calendar". As the child enjoys moments of relaxation and carefreeness he can record his experiences and stick photos, tickets and other souvenirs from the holidays.
Maria Stathi - Special Educator Learning for all Training Center