Summer Can Be Interesting, Too
June 03, 2013
Summer begins. At first it is glorious……no alarm to set, no schedule to keep, no running from appointment to appointment. But then comes, “I’m bored!” or “What are we going to do today?”
So parents, what are you going to do today? What can you do with your children that is fun but is also a real experience that you will all remember and enjoy? It’s simple…head outside! Sidewalk chalk, sprinklers and bike riding are always great stand-bys but what about something different?
Turn your outside time into an experience by teaching your child to compost, then plant and tend a small vegetable garden. This will encourage your child’s interest in botany while giving them something of their own to nurture. Plus, you’ll end up with some tasty snacks!
Don’t like to garden? Make an outdoor music area. Pots, spoons and cookie sheets hung from a fence make great musical instruments. They also sound lovely when hit with rain from a summer shower.
Too hot to even think about going outside? Have races across your kitchen table with ice cubes! As they melt, the ice cubes take on different properties and you can use the observation to throw a bit of science into your day. Clean up is a breeze too.
As a Montessori teacher, I know that children actually thrive on structure. They like to have a schedule. Keep this going through the summer. It doesn’t have to be managed down to the minute or even the hour. You can make it as simple as, “Today we will work in the garden, eat lunch, and then go swimming before dinner.” This gives your child an outline of the day’s events. They know what will come next and are then able to gauge the timeline of the day. Get the kids involved in the planning of the next day’s activities too. Interested children make for happy children.
As Montessori teachers for over 20 years, we at LifeSong Montessori are so lucky to get to do activities like these with children every day. We see children who are eager to explore the world around them and find their place in it. This eagerness doesn’t stop because school isn’t in session. It continues in the exploration of the tree they just climbed or in the pool of water from yesterday’s rain. Take advantage of your child’s interests and use them as a teachable moment and a bonding time. That’s what we do every day!
This month, LifeSong Montessori School is excited to host the New Member Breakfast for the Chamber of Commerce. Come out and join us in celebrating these new members on Friday, June 14th. We are thrilled to be part of this community!
If you’d like to find out more about our programs for children 2 ½ years to 6th grade, including our brand new June Summer Camp sessions, please visit our website at www.LifeSongMontessori.com. You can also follow us on FaceBook, call us at 770-382-0109, or stop in to see us at 324 West Cherokee Avenue (we share a parking lot with the Bartow County Public Library). Have a safe, happy and fun-filled summer!
Article by Maggie Wertz, Co-Owner and Primary Teacher at LifeSong Montessori School
Thank yo to The Daily Tribune for publishing!
So parents, what are you going to do today? What can you do with your children that is fun but is also a real experience that you will all remember and enjoy? It’s simple…head outside! Sidewalk chalk, sprinklers and bike riding are always great stand-bys but what about something different?
Turn your outside time into an experience by teaching your child to compost, then plant and tend a small vegetable garden. This will encourage your child’s interest in botany while giving them something of their own to nurture. Plus, you’ll end up with some tasty snacks!
Don’t like to garden? Make an outdoor music area. Pots, spoons and cookie sheets hung from a fence make great musical instruments. They also sound lovely when hit with rain from a summer shower.
Too hot to even think about going outside? Have races across your kitchen table with ice cubes! As they melt, the ice cubes take on different properties and you can use the observation to throw a bit of science into your day. Clean up is a breeze too.
As a Montessori teacher, I know that children actually thrive on structure. They like to have a schedule. Keep this going through the summer. It doesn’t have to be managed down to the minute or even the hour. You can make it as simple as, “Today we will work in the garden, eat lunch, and then go swimming before dinner.” This gives your child an outline of the day’s events. They know what will come next and are then able to gauge the timeline of the day. Get the kids involved in the planning of the next day’s activities too. Interested children make for happy children.
As Montessori teachers for over 20 years, we at LifeSong Montessori are so lucky to get to do activities like these with children every day. We see children who are eager to explore the world around them and find their place in it. This eagerness doesn’t stop because school isn’t in session. It continues in the exploration of the tree they just climbed or in the pool of water from yesterday’s rain. Take advantage of your child’s interests and use them as a teachable moment and a bonding time. That’s what we do every day!
This month, LifeSong Montessori School is excited to host the New Member Breakfast for the Chamber of Commerce. Come out and join us in celebrating these new members on Friday, June 14th. We are thrilled to be part of this community!
If you’d like to find out more about our programs for children 2 ½ years to 6th grade, including our brand new June Summer Camp sessions, please visit our website at www.LifeSongMontessori.com. You can also follow us on FaceBook, call us at 770-382-0109, or stop in to see us at 324 West Cherokee Avenue (we share a parking lot with the Bartow County Public Library). Have a safe, happy and fun-filled summer!
Article by Maggie Wertz, Co-Owner and Primary Teacher at LifeSong Montessori School
Thank yo to The Daily Tribune for publishing!
Contact:
Chamber of Commerce
770-382-1466
