Today marks the unofficial start to summer, which means school is out soon and the kids will be home. Working in a middle school, I am well aware of the activities the kids enjoy….can anyone say video games:( Yes, a little bit of time playing video games is fine, however, the 4+ hours a day some of my students play is a little concerning. Here are some ideas that working parents can do this summer to increase language skills while promoting fun for kids of all ages!
1. Try out a new sport:
Frisbee, badminton, flag football, and bocce ball to name a few.
2. Build a kite:
This could be a great activity for following directions! What’s better than working on receptive language skills and having a fun accomplishment in the end that can be used.
3. Rock painting:
This is a fun art activity to get your child’s creative juices flowing. Their artwork can then be displayed in your garden/yard:)
4. Take a hike:):
I am in Washington state and there are many local hikes of varying levels. Getting outdoors and unplugged is a great way to reset from a busy school year.
5. Have a garage sale:
This is a great way to teach money skills! If your house is like mine with kids, there is a lot of accumulation that happens over the school year of stuff. Have your child collect a few items and practice money and negotiating skills.
6. Lemonade stand:
This fun summer activity is great to practice planning, following directions, money skills, and expressive communication skills.
7. Have a camp out in the backyard:
Set up the tent, roast some marshmallows and hot dogs, all from your backyard! Setting up a tent could be a great way to work on cooperation and group planning skills. If you don’t have a backyard or tent, fort camping in the living room is a great option too!
Most importantly, have fun and get creative!
As always, your dedicated SLP,
Dayna Sanders, MA, CCC-SLP
