Summer Skills Practice
Summer is a great time to put all those skills we learn throughout the school year to practical use. It’s easy to sneak them into your summer activities to keep your child using their skills and strategies throughout the summer. Here are some ideas to add to your summer routine (just don’t tell them it’s practice/work!)
Math
Play games like Uno, Go Fish, Blackjack, Monopoly, The Game of Life, or The Allowance Game.
Practice geometry by finding different shapes in your house, yard, neighborhood park, or any location you are visiting.
Cooking is a great way to work with fractions through measuring ingredients.
Discuss topics such as how many ¼ cups are in a whole cup.
At a higher level, work with your child as you halve a recipe or double it.
Talk about time with your child. Think out loud.
What time is it?
What time will it be in one hour? How do you know?
What time do we usually eat dinner? AM or PM?
If you are going to a movie, plan the time out together.
What time does it start? How long does it take to get there?
What time will we have to leave home?
How long does the movie last?
What time will we get home (after getting ice cream, of course!)?
Grocery shopping is a great way to practice math skills using money.
Check the prices online ahead of time.
Keep track of prices as you shop; round the prices and add them to estimate what your bill will be.
Use the weekly coupons you get in the mail to figure out real-life costs after discounts.
Go old school and pay with cash.
If you don’t have any change, how much money do you need to give the cashier? (rounding up to the next dollar)
Count the change you get back. Is it the correct amount?
When dining out, how much should you give as a tip? What is 10% of the bill? 15%? 20%?
Going on vacation? Involve your child in the planning.
Talk about how many miles your destination is from home.
How long will it take to get there if you drive? For a longer trip, what might be a good place and time to make a stop?
If you’re flying, when does your flight leave? When should you get to the airport if you want to get there two hours early? What time should you leave your house?
Reading
Sign up for your local library’s summer book program.
Many local bookstores like The Bookies or Tattered Cover have summer reading programs and book clubs for teens, as well as adults. Check them out!
Use your student’s Learning Ally account to listen to the book as they follow along with the words..
Read menus, signs, packaging, cereal boxes…all the things!
No matter where you’re going, whether it’s out of town or to a local museum or attraction, look it up online and do some research before you go.
Look up the lyrics to your child’s favorite song and read them. What is the song really about?
Read or listen to a book together, then discuss it together. Talk about what happened, how the characters change, your favorite part, sequence the events.
Writing
Keep a journal - add photos, drawings, and ephemera, along with some writing. This can be a journal for a specific trip, or a daily journal. It’s fun to look back at all the receipts, photos, and other goodies you collect during your adventures.
Write letters to relatives or friends.
Research a favorite singer, author, sports figure, historical figure, event, etc. and make an informational poster using the facts you found.
Example: Keeping a journal of the Nuggets’ NBA Finals experience could be fun! You could include newspaper articles, advertisements, online articles, pictures, scores, memorabilia, etc. to record this historic time in Denver sports history.
Speech
Learn a new word each day…and use it!
Retell a story your read together, a chapter of a book, or a show you just watched
Discuss figurative language when you hear it, specifically idioms. What does it mean? Why did the person say it? Have you heard it before? In what other situation might it be used?
Practice describing things and adding more detail to their thoughts by asking the 5 Ws…Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
For example, when your child says, “He’s over there.” Ask Who? Or where? “The boy wearing the Rockies shirt is sitting in the third row.”
OT
Make To-Do lists…then cross off things when you finish!
Practice sequencing by following recipes
Keep a calendar of events
Help with more chores around the house. What chores do you not know how to do yet?
Volunteer your time doing something you love!
For example, if you love animals, see if you can volunteer at an animal shelter, Happy Dog Ranch, or Freedom Service Dogs
Social Skills
Make playdates with friends
This can also support executive functioning: Work with them to set a date, how much time is needed, and plan activities
Practice being flexible and problem solving if you go out to eat and they don’t have what they want on the menu!
Remind your child it’s important to have a plan A and a plan B
If they become upset, name the feelings you see and ask them if they can identify what zone they are in!
If they are really upset and angry (in the RED zone), remind them to first take some breaths and then take some space to help calm
For other fun activities and ideas, check out:
