Kim's Blog

School’s Out for Summer…

Today marks the official start of summer—the weather is warm, the days are long, and yet another school year has come to an end. But just because the school year is over, it doesn’t mean that the learning has to stop.

Here at Shakespeare Squared, we are big fans of “teachable moments.” Out for pizza?  Use it as an opportunity for a quick math lesson—if there are 6 of us eating and 20 slices of pizza, how many pieces does everyone get? As some of you probably know, many of my staff members are parents and former teachers, and they will be the first to tell you that learning can take place anytime and anywhere.

If you are trying to find activities to keep you and your kids busy, you need not look very far. Here are just a few other ideas that my staff came up with:

• Join a reading or book club.
• Go to a nature center.
• Plant a vegetable garden and a cook a meal with the food you grow.
• Go camping—in your backyard!
• Have a picnic.
• Go to the beach and have a sand castle competition.
• Start a summer business.
• Paint with water on your sidewalk or driveway.

Your local library and park district are great resources for some summer fun. Many libraries now offer free museum passes for members to check out, and my kids love the Get Out and Go outdoor treasure hunt that the Glenview Park District puts together every year. Chicago Parent and Oaklee’s Guide are two other great Web sites to check out for ideas, and they even offer coupons.

How to do you and your kids keep busy over the summer? Share your suggestions below.