How to inspire kids to keep learning during summer break

Summer is a break from school but it doesn't mean it's a break from learning-- it doesn't have to be a chore for parents or their kids. In between camp days, sleepovers at grandmas, and trips to the ice cream shop there will always be some downtime (or rainy days).Today, there are many great ways parents and caregivers can fill the gap between break and school. 

Tips on how to keep learning fun AND boost confidence with younger kids during the holidays (or any time of the year!).

Be positive: We should approach learning positively. Instead of saying "okay, let's get this over with!" How about trying "I think you can do this!" When kids are younger it's important to set a positive tone from the start. 

Work together: We've all grown accustomed to leaving kids in front of the TV or gaming device so we can get to what we need to do (make dinner, answer emails)  and we all know how quickly that time can go by! Set aside time (stick it in your calendar if you need the reminder)  to focus on a learning activity. If you've got 15 minutes or half hour to spare, why not use the time here? 

Time your learning realistically: If you go for activity books set reasonable expections and gauge the interest. Activity books usually break down learning in chapters. It may be simply one or two pages. That's all you need. If your child wants to do more..then go for it! 

Rewards: Often parents are too quick to reward kids for completing a project. Hey, whatever works for you. But if you haven't gone down that rabbit hole, try rewarding first with stickers and happy faces. Remember the feeling of accomplishment is a reward in itself!

Here are some fun resources to help inspire learning anytime:

NELSON & DISNEY HOME LEARNING: This collection of learning resources blends educational content by NELSON, a trusted educaitonal source, taught in Canadian Classrooms with popular Disney stories and characters. The books, activity cards, and picture books are ideal for parents as they support current curriculum based activities. The co-branded series reinforces shapes, letters, numbers and colours to support early learning, and reading writing and math for older children. Each book or activity card pack comes with 'Tips to Support Learning' -- guidelines to help parents. A great example is in the pre-K Ready to Read and Write Activity Book we had discovered tips on how to grip a pencil properly. It's an often overlooked function that can affect kids learning. The activity books also come with stickers and certificates for parents  to motivate and empower their kids. More info at nelson.com/disneylearning and available in select retailers across Canada. 

APPLE SWIFT PLAYGROUND: You may have a child who really enjoys their devices and playing games. Beginner coding is gaining more interest even in younger grade classrooms and is considered as language that is essential for future learning. Coding touches our everyday lives from riding the bus to order a burger. While many parents admit to not knowing much about coding there's an easy way to learn together. Apple's Swift Playground iPad app (FREE) is designed kids (and really for any age) to learn the basics of coding in a fun way and even create apps. It teaches users how to solve problems and be creative in finding ways to achieve a goal with BYTE, the main character. Basic challenges require basic commands to help move BYTE around. There are helpful resources for parents and teachers in the app as well. 

INVENTORIUM at the Ontario Science Centre: A trip the Ontario Science Centre (Toronto) to visit the newest hands-on maker space and exhibition is a treasure trove for all ages. It's a fun blend of creativity and technology. Kids can help continue to build on a tunnel structure made with tape -- 700 lbs have already been used and visitors are encouraged to climb in and explore. Build a laser-cut creature and race it to the finish line, and make tiny drawings through a microscope and more. The activities inspire conversations and sparks the mind with curiousity. Scientists, makers and volunteers are all on-hand to answer questions and prompt thoughtful conversation. 

TVOKIDS: Aside for quality entertainment with educational value, TVO's online component offers a variety of learning game apps. Match-a-Match is a fun math based arcade style app for kids ages 4 to 7. The object of the first two games is to match an original image to its rotated, not-reflected image. Rotations progress in angle difficulty along with level progression. For pre-schoolers, check out the Canada 150 'The Canada Crew' discovery game that spotlights the country's amazing points of interest and history.